Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB
Author: Various
Date: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00
Publisher: Bible Hub
Rights: Copyright 2014 Biblos.com

Genesis  Exodus  Leviticus  Numbers  Deuteronomy

Joshua  Judges  Ruth  1 Samuel  2 Samuel  1 Kings  2 Kings  1 Chronicles  2 Chronicles  Ezra  Nehemiah  Esther

Job  Psalms  Proverbs  Ecclesiastes  Songs

Isaiah  Jeremiah  Lamentations  Ezekiel  Daniel  Hosea  Joel  Amos  Obadiah  Jonah  Micah  Nahum  Habakkuk  Zephaniah  Haggai  Zechariah  Malachi

Matthew  Mark  Luke  John  Acts

Romans  1 Corinthians  2 Corinthians  Galatians  Ephesians  Philippians  Colossians  1 Thessalonians  2 Thessalonians  1 Timothy  2 Timothy  Titus  Philemon  Hebrews  James  1 Peter  2 Peter  1 John  2 John  3 John  Jude  Revelation

Version Information

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

www.Biblehub.com

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020916633

This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain. Free resources and databases are available at www.BereanBible.com.

Berean Bible Homepage
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Berean Interlinear Bible (BIB)
www.InterlinearBible.com

Berean Literal Bible (BLB)
www.LiteralBible.com

Berean Standard Bible (BSB)
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Preface

Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true. – Acts 17:11

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a completely new translation of the Holy Bible, effective for public reading, study, memorization, and evangelism. Based on the best available manuscripts and sources, each word is connected back to the Greek or Hebrew text to produce a transparent text that can be studied for its root meanings.

The BSB represents a single tier of the Berean Bible. This printing contains the full BSB text, footnotes, section headings, and cross references. Additional components, including translation tables, lexicons, outlines, and summaries, are free online and in a variety of apps and software.

The Berean Bible Translation Committee has employed an open process where translation tables are freely available and all comments are welcomed and considered. These sources may also be downloaded and shared freely. Please see the Berean Bible website for a full description of the translation committee and process.

We pray that this text will enable readers to connect with God’s Word to study it, memorize it, share it, and proclaim it. We are inspired by the model of the early Christian church:

After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. – Colossians 4:16

The Scriptures belonged to the churches and were meant to be examined, copied, and distributed. The committee hopes to follow this example by sharing all the resources with which we have been entrusted.

Just as Paul encouraged the churches to pass on his letters, the Berean Bible is intended to be offered freely in websites, apps, software, and various text and audio formats.

Publication and Sharing

We desire to share a Bible text that is free from licensing and publishing constraints.

The Berean Bible is available through any of the following websites:

Berean Bible Homepage
www.Berean.Bible

Berean Interlinear Bible (BIB)
www.InterlinearBible.com

Berean Literal Bible (BLB)
www.LiteralBible.com

Berean Study Bible (BSB)
www.BereanBible.com

Reader’s Bible
www.ReadersBible.com

Emphasized Bible
www.EmphasizedBible.com

Annotated Bible
www.AnnotatedBible.com

Audio Bible
www.AudioBible.org

Tiered Translation Structure

The Berean Study Bible is the modern English translation tier of the Berean Bible. The four tiers are as follows:

1. An interlinear Bible to directly follow the Greek and Hebrew texts.

2. A literal translation to take the reader to the core of the Greek and Hebrew meanings.

3. A modern English translation, effective for public reading, memorization, and evangelism.

4. An emphasized translation to bring out the full meaning and intensity of the original texts.

All sources are linked through to the original source, making the multi-tiered translation process transparent. The translation databases and lexical information are freely available at the Berean Bible websites. Thus the translation process can be followed even by those without extensive training in Greek and Hebrew.

The translation tiers also provide study support by enhancing the expression of meaning on multiple levels. Since languages often do not translate in a one-to-one fashion, the multiple tiers facilitate a fuller translation that is able to contain both “word for word” and “thought for thought” renderings.

Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic Sources and Abbreviations

We are blessed to live in an era where God’s Word can be viewed through a vast collection of ancient sources. We believe that these original language sources serve to strengthen each other by their amazing consistency across thousands of years and thousands of miles.

The Scriptures in their original form are God’s inerrant word to us and to all generations. Scholars have sought to reconstruct these Scriptures by collating the manuscripts and sources deemed to be closest to the originals. For simplicity, we have footnoted significant variants between major collections of source texts. Please see the Berean Bible website for full documentation of these sources. The following abbreviations are used in the footnotes to document differences among original language sources:

NA (Nestle Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece)

SBL (Society of Biblical Literature, Greek New Testament)

ECM (Editio Critica Maior, Novum Testamentum Graecum)

NE (Eberhard Nestle Novum Testamentum Graece)

WH (Westcott and Hort, New Testament in the Original Greek)

BYZ (The New Testament in the Original Greek: Byzantine Textform)

GOC (Greek Orthodox Church, New Testament)

TR (Scrivener’s Textus Receptus, Stephanus Textus Receptus)

DSS (Dead Sea Scrolls)

MT (Hebrew Masoretic Text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia)

LXX (Greek OT Septuagint: Rahlfs-Hanhart Septuaginta, Swete's Septuagint)

SP (Samaritan Pentateuch)

◀   ◀   Genesis 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50)

The Creation
(John 1:1–5; Hebrews 11:1–3)

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

2Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

The First Day

3And God said, “Let there be light,”a and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.”

And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.b

The Second Day

6And God said, “Let there be an expansec between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.” 7So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so. 8God called the expanse “sky.”

And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

The Third Day

9And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered into one place, so that the dry land may appear.” And it was so. 10God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of waters He called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

11Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.” And it was so. 12The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

13And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

The Fourth Day

14And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years. 15And let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.” And it was so.

16God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well.

17God set these lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth, 18to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

19And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

The Fifth Day

20And God said, “Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.” 21So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every bird of flight after its kind. And God saw that it was good.

22Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

23And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

The Sixth Day

24And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, land crawlers, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that crawls upon the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itselfd and every creature that crawls upon it.”

27So God created man in His own image;
in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them.e

28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”

29Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food. 30And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good.

And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Footnotes:

3 a Cited in 2 Corinthians 4:6

5 b Literally day one

6 c Or a canopy or a firmament or a vault; also in verses 7, 8, 14, 15, 17, and 20

26 d MT; Syriac and over all the beasts of the earth

27 e Cited in Matthew 19:4 and Mark 10:6

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◀   ◀   Genesis 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Seventh Day
(Exodus 16:22–30; Hebrews 4:1–11)

1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work.a

3Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.

Man and Woman in the Garden

4This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORDb God made them.

5Now no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth, nor had any plant of the field sprouted; for the LORD God had not yet sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. 6But springsc welled up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.

7Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.d

8And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, where He placed the man He had formed. 9Out of the ground the LORD God gave growth to every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food. And in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it branched into four headwaters:

11The name of the first river is Pishon; it winds through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12And the gold of that land is pure, and bdellium and onyx are found there.

13The name of the second river is Gihon; it winds through the whole land of Cush.

14The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it runs along the east side of Assyria.

And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

15Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.

16And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, 17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”

18The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.”

19And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would name each one. And whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adame no suitable helper was found.

21So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he slept, He took one of the man’s ribsf and closed up the area with flesh. 22And from the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him. 23And the man said:

“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’

for out of man she was taken.”

24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.g

25And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.

Footnotes:

2 a Cited in Hebrews 4:4

4 b LORD or GOD, with capital letters, represents the proper name of the God of Israel and the one true God, transliterated from the Hebrew as YHWH; here and throughout the Scriptures.

6 c Or mist

7 d Or a living soul; cited in 1 Corinthians 15:45

20 e Or the man, as in verses 19 and 21

21 f Or took part of the man’s side; similarly in verse 22

24 g LXX and the two will become one flesh; cited in Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:7–8, 1 Corinthians 6:16, and Ephesians 5:31

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◀   ◀   Genesis 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Serpent’s Deception
(Romans 5:12–21)

1Now the serpenta was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’ ”

2The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’ ”

4“You will not surely die,” the serpent told her. 5“For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.

7And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.

God Arraigns Adam and Eve

8Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breezeb of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

9But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?”

10“I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

11“Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

12And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

13Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

“The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.”

The Fate of the Serpent

14So the LORD God said to the serpent:

“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and every beast of the field!

On your belly will you go,
and dust you will eat,
all the days of your life.

15And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your seed and her seed.

He will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.c”

The Punishment of Mankind

16To the woman He said:

“I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth;
in pain you will bring forth children.

Your desire will be for your husband,d
and he will rule over you.”

17And to Adam He said:

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten from the tree
of which I commanded you not to eat,
cursed is the ground because of you;
through toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life.

18Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.

19By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your bread,
until you return to the ground—
because out of it were you taken.

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

20And Adam named his wife Eve,e because she would be the mother of all the living.

The Expulsion from Paradise

21And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.

22Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...”

23Therefore the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24So He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden, along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew nachash, translated in this chapter as serpent, is translated in most cases as snake.

8 b Or at the breezy (time); Hebrew unto the Ruach

15 c Or He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel. The same Hebrew root for crush, bruise, or strike appears twice in this verse.

16 d Or You will desire to control your husband

20 e Eve sounds like the Hebrew for giving life or living.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Cain and Abel
(Hebrews 11:4)

1And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain.a

“With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said.

2Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel.

Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil. 3So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD, 4while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock.

And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.

6“Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you,b but you must master it.”

8Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.”c And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

9And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10“What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

13But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishmentd is greater than I can bear. 14Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

15“Not so!”e replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.

16So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod,f east of Eden.

The Descendants of Cain

17And Cain had relations with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch.

18Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methusael, and Methusael was the father of Lamech. 19And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.

20Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock. 21And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.

22And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23Then Lamech said to his wives:

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
wives of Lamech, listen to my speech.

For I have slain a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.

24If Cain is avenged sevenfold,
then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”g

Seth and Enosh

25And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth,h saying, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”

26And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh.

At that time men began to call uponi the name of the LORD.

Footnotes:

1 a Cain sounds like the Hebrew for acquired or brought forth.

7 b Or it desires to control you

8 c SP, LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew Then Cain spoke to his brother Abel.

13 d Or guilt or sin

15 e LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac; Hebrew “Very well!” or “Therefore:”

16 f Nod means wandering.

24 g Hebrew; LXX can be translated as either seventy times seven or seventy-sevenfold; see also Matthew 18:22.

25 h Seth probably means granted or appointed.

26 i Or to proclaim; some translators to invoke or to call themselves by or to profane

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◀   ◀   Genesis 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Descendants of Adam
(1 Chronicles 1:1–3)

1This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in His own likeness. 2Male and female He created them,a and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them “man.”b

3When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son in his own likeness, after his own image; and he named him Seth. 4And after he had become the father of Seth, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 5So Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.

6When Seth was 105 years old, he became the father of Enosh. 7And after he had become the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8So Seth lived a total of 912 years, and then he died.

9When Enosh was 90 years old, he became the father of Kenan. 10And after he had become the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11So Enosh lived a total of 905 years, and then he died.

12When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13And after he had become the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14So Kenan lived a total of 910 years, and then he died.

15When Mahalalel was 65 years old, he became the father of Jared. 16And after he had become the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17So Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years, and then he died.

God Takes Up Enoch
(Hebrews 11:5)

18When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch. 19And after he had become the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20So Jared lived a total of 962 years, and then he died.

21When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. 22And after he had become the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with Godc 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23So Enoch lived a total of 365 years.

24Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away.d

From Methuselah to Noah

25When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech. 26And after he had become the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27So Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.

28When Lamech was 182 years old, he had a son. 29And he named him Noah,e saying, “May this one comfort us in the labor and toil of our hands caused by the ground that the LORD has cursed.” 30And after he had become the father of Noah, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31So Lamech lived a total of 777 years, and then he died.

32After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Footnotes:

2 a Cited in Matthew 19:4 and Mark 10:6

2 b Hebrew Adam

22 c LXX pleased God; also in verse 24

24 d LXX and he was not found, because God had taken him away; cited in Hebrews 11:5

29 e Noah sounds like the Hebrew for rest or comfort.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Corruption on the Earth
(Matthew 24:36–51)

1Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them, 2the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.

3So the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever,a for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years.”

4The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown.

5Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. 6And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7So the LORD said, “I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.”

Noah’s Favor with God

8Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

9This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. 10And Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence. 12And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creaturesb on the earth had corrupted their ways.

Preparing the Ark
(Hebrews 11:7)

13Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth.

14Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood;c make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15And this is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high.d
16You are to make a roofe for the ark, finish its walls a cubit from the top,f place a door in the side of the ark, and build lower, middle, and upper decks.

17And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish. 18But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.

19And you are to bring two of every living creature into the ark—male and female—to keep them alive with you. 20Two of every kind of bird and animal and crawling creature will come to you to be kept alive. 21You are also to take for yourself every kind of food that is eaten and gather it as food for yourselves and for the animals.”

22So Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him.

Footnotes:

3 a LXX and Syriac My Spirit will not remain in man forever

12 b Literally all flesh; similarly in verses 13, 17, and 19

14 c Gopher is an unknown kind of tree; possibly cypress or cedar.

15 d The ark was approximately 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high (137.2 meters long, 22.9 meters wide, and 13.7 meters high).

16 e Or skylight or window

16 f A cubit is approximately 18 inches or 45.7 centimeters.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 7   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Great Flood
(2 Peter 3:1–7)

1Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. 2You are to take with you seven pairs ofa every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate; a pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate; 3and seven pairs of every kind of bird of the air, male and female, to preserve their offspring on the face of all the earth. 4For seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living thing I have made.”

5And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.

6Now Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came upon the earth. 7And Noah and his wife, with his sons and their wives, entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8The clean and unclean animals, the birds, and everything that crawls along the ground 9came to Noah to enter the ark, two by two, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.

10And after seven days the floodwaters came upon the earth. 11In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month, all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. 12And the rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.

13On that very day Noah entered the ark, along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and his wife, and the three wives of his sons— 14they and every kind of wild animal, livestock, crawling creature, bird, and winged creature. 15They came to Noah to enter the ark, two by two of every creatureb with the breath of life. 16And they entered, the male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.

17For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and the waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth. 18So the waters continued to surge and rise greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the waters. 19Finally, the waters completely inundated the earth, so that all the high mountains under all the heavens were covered.

20The waters rose and covered the mountaintops to a depth of fifteen cubits.c
21And every living thing that moved upon the earth perished—birds, livestock, animals, every creature that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind. 22Of all that was on dry land, everything that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. 23And every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark remained.

24And the waters prevailed upon the earth for 150 days.

Footnotes:

2 a Or by sevens; also in verse 3

15 b Literally of all flesh; similarly in verses 16 and 21

20 c 15 cubits is approximately 22.5 feet or 6.9 meters.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 8   ▶   ▶

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The Ark Rests on Ararat

1But God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark. And God sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to subside. 2The springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained. 3The waters receded steadily from the earth, and after 150 days the waters had gone down.

4On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. 5And the waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible.

Noah Sends a Raven and a Dove

6After forty days Noah opened the window he had made in the ark 7and sent out a raven. It kept flying back and forth until the waters had dried up from the earth.

8Then Noah sent outa a dove to see if the waters had receded from the surface of the ground. 9But the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned to him in the ark, because the waters were still covering the surface of all the earth. So he reached out his hand and brought her back inside the ark.

10Noah waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. 11And behold, the dove returned to him in the evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf in her beak. So Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.

12And Noah waited seven more days and sent out the dove again, but this time she did not return to him.

Exiting the Ark

13In Noah’s six hundred and first year, on the first day of the first month, the waters had dried up from the earth. So Noah removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. 14By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the earth was fully dry.

15Then God said to Noah, 16“Come out of the ark, you and your wife, along with your sons and their wives. 17Bring out all the living creatures that are with you—birds, livestock, and everything that crawls upon the ground—so that they can spread out over the earth and be fruitful and multiply upon it.”

18So Noah came out, along with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19Every living creature, every creeping thing, and every bird—everything that moves upon the earth—came out of the ark, kind by kind.

Noah Builds an Altar

20Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.

22As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
shall never cease.”

Footnotes:

8 a Literally sent out from him or sent out from it

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◀   ◀   Genesis 9   ▶   ▶

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The Covenant of the Rainbow

1And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2The fear and dread of you will fall on every living creature on the earth, every bird of the air, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are delivered into your hand. 3Everything that lives and moves will be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you all things. 4But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it. 5And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:

6Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man his blood will be shed;
for in His own image

God has made mankind.

7But as for you,
be fruitful and multiply;
spread out across the earth
and multiply upon it.”

8Then God said to Noah and his sons with him, 9“Behold, I now establish My covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth—every living thing that came out of the ark. 11And I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.

14Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16And whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of every kind that is on the earth.”

17So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and every creature on the earth.”

Noah’s Shame and Canaan’s Curse

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

20Now Noah, a man of the soil, proceededa to plant a vineyard. 21But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.

23Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.

24When Noah awoke from his drunkenness and learned what his youngest son had done to him, 25he said,

“Cursed be Canaan!

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

Shem’s Blessing and Noah’s Death

26He also declared:

“Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem!

May Canaan be the servant of Shem.

27May God expand the territory of Japheth;b
may he dwell in the tents of Shem,
and may Canaan be his servant.”

28After the flood, Noah lived 350 years. 29So Noah lived a total of 950 years, and then he died.

Footnotes:

20 a Or was the first

27 b Japheth sounds like the Hebrew for expand.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 10   ▶   ▶

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The Table of Nations
(1 Chronicles 1:4–27)

1This is the account of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who also had sons after the flood.

The Japhethites

2The sons of Japheth:

Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

3The sons of Gomer:

Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

4And the sons of Javan:

Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.a
5From these, the maritime peoples separated into their territories, according to their languages, by clans within their nations.

The Hamites

6The sons of Ham:

Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

7The sons of Cush:

Seba, Havilah, Sabtah,b Raamah, and Sabteca.

And the sons of Raamah:

Sheba and Dedan.

8Cush was the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty onec on the earth. 9He was a mighty hunter befored the LORD; so it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.” 10His kingdom began in Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.e
11From that land he went forth into Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, 12and Resen, which is between Nineveh and the great city of Calah.

13Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, the Anamites, the Lehabites, the Naphtuhites, 14the Pathrusites, the Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and the Caphtorites.f

15And Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn,g and of the Hittites, 16the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 17the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 18the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.

Later the Canaanite clans were scattered, 19and the borders of Canaan extended from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.

20These are the sons of Ham according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations.

The Semites

21And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth;h Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber.

22The sons of Shem:

Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

23The sons of Aram:

Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.i

24Arphaxad was the father of Shelah,j and Shelah was the father of Eber.

25Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg,k because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan.

26And Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan. 30Their territory extended from Mesha to Sephar, in the eastern hill country.

31These are the sons of Shem, according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations.

32All these are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their generations and nations. From these the nations of the earth spread out after the flood.

Footnotes:

4 a SP and some MT manuscripts (see also LXX and 1 Chronicles 1:7); most MT manuscripts Dodanites

7 b Sabtah is a variant of Sabta; see 1 Chronicles 1:9.

8 c Or who established himself as a mighty warrior or who became the first fearless leader

9 d Or in defiance of; twice in this verse

10 e That is, Babylonia

14 f Some translators adjust the Hebrew word order to the Casluhites, and the Caphtorites (from whom the Philistines came); see also Jeremiah 47:4 and Amos 9:7.

15 g Or of the Sidonians, the foremost

21 h Or Shem, whose older brother was Japheth

23 i Hebrew; LXX and 1 Chronicles 1:17 Meshech

24 j Hebrew; LXX (see also Luke 3:35–36) And Arphaxad was the father of Cainan, and Cainan was the father of Shelah,

25 k Peleg means division.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 11   ▶   ▶

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The Tower of Babel
(Deuteronomy 32:8; Acts 2:1–13)

1Now the whole world had one language and a common form of speech. 2And as people journeyed eastward,a they found a plain in the land of Shinarb and settled there.

3And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” So they used brick instead of stone, and tar instead of mortar.

4“Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.”

5Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building. 6And the LORD said, “If they have begun to do this as one people speaking the same language, then nothing they devise will be beyond them. 7Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”

8So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9That is why it is called Babel,c for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.

Genealogy from Shem to Abram
(1 Chronicles 1:17–27)

10This is the account of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad. 11And after he had become the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

12When Arphaxad was 35 years old, he became the father of Shelah. 13And after he had become the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.d

14When Shelah was 30 years old, he became the father of Eber. 15And after he had become the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

16When Eber was 34 years old, he became the father of Peleg. 17And after he had become the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

18When Peleg was 30 years old, he became the father of Reu. 19And after he had become the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

20When Reu was 32 years old, he became the father of Serug. 21And after he had become the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.

22When Serug was 30 years old, he became the father of Nahor. 23And after he had become the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.

24When Nahor was 29 years old, he became the father of Terah. 25And after he had become the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.

26When Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Terah’s Descendants

27This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28During his father Terah’s lifetime, Haran died in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans.

29And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30But Sarai was barren; she had no children.

31And Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai the wife of Abram, and they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans for the land of Canaan. But when they arrived in Haran, they settled there. 32Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran.

Footnotes:

2 a Or from the east or in the east

2 b That is, Babylonia

9 c Or Babylon; the Hebrew word for Babel sounds like the Hebrew for confused.

13 d Hebrew; LXX (see also Luke 3:35–36) 12When Arphaxad was 135 years old, he became the father of Cainan. 13And after he had become the father of Cainan, Arphaxad lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters, and then he died. When Cainan had lived 130 years, he became the father of Shelah. And after he had become the father of Shelah, Cainan lived 330 years and had other sons and daughters. Note that LXX also adds 100 years to the ages of Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, and Nahor in this genealogy.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 12   ▶   ▶

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The Call of Abram
(Genesis 26:1–5; Acts 7:1–8)

1Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.a

2I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.

3I will bless those who bless you
and curse those who curse you;
and all the families of the earth
will be blessed through you.b”

4So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and people they had acquired in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan.

When they came to the land of Canaan, 6Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the Oakc of Moreh at Shechem. And at that time the Canaanites were in the land.

7Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.d” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

8From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.

9And Abram journeyed on toward the Negev.

Abram and Sarai in Egypt

10Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman, 12and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”

14So when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15When Pharaoh’s officials saw Sarai, they commended her to him, and she was taken into the palace of Pharaoh. 16He treated Abram well on her account, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.

17The LORD, however, afflicted Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18So Pharaoh summoned Abram and asked, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!”

20Then Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning Abram, and they sent him away with his wife and all his possessions.

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in Acts 7:3

3 b See Galatians 3:8

6 c Or Terebinth or Great Tree

7 d Cited in Galatians 3:16

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◀   ◀   Genesis 13   ▶   ▶

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Abram and Lot Part Ways

1So Abram went up out of Egypt into the Negev—he and his wife and all his possessions—and Lot was with him. 2And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold.

3From the Negev he journeyed from place to place toward Bethel, until he came to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been pitched, 4to the site where he had built the altar. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

5Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6But the land was unable to support both of them while they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they were unable to coexist. 7And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land.

8So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are brothers. 9Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

Lot Proceeds toward Sodom

10And Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan, all the way to Zoar, was well watered like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11So Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan for himself and set out toward the east. And Abram and Lot parted company.

12Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.

God Renews the Promise to Abram

14After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram, “Now lift up your eyes from the place where you are, and look to the north and south and east and west, 15for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever.a

16I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. 17Get up and walk around the land, through its length and breadth, for I will give it to you.”

18So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaksb of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.

Footnotes:

15 a Cited in Galatians 3:16

18 b Or Terebinths or Great Trees

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◀   ◀   Genesis 14   ▶   ▶

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The War of the Kings

1In those days Amraphel king of Shinar,a Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim 2went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

3The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Seab). 4For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert. 7Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

8Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddimc
9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.

Abram Rescues Lot

10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.

11The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way. 12They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since Lot was living in Sodom.

13Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaksd of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treatye to Abram. 14And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.

15During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram
(Psalm 110:1–7; Hebrews 7:1–10)

17After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

18Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most Highf — 19and he blessed Abram and said:

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

Creator of heaven and earth,

20and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”

22But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”

Footnotes:

1 a That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9

3 b That is, the Dead Sea

8 c That is, the Valley of the Dead Sea

13 d Or Terebinths or Great Trees

13 e Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant.

18 f Hebrew El-Elyon; also in verses 19, 20, and 22; cited in Hebrews 7:1

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◀   ◀   Genesis 15   ▶   ▶

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God’s Covenant with Abram
(Romans 4:1–12; Hebrews 11:8–19)

1After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your shield,
your very great reward.”

2But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

4Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”a

6Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.b

7The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

God Confirms His Promise
(Numbers 34:1–15; Romans 4:13–25)

8But Abram replied, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?”

9And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”

10So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.

13Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 14But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.c
15You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age. 16In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

17When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses. 18On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates— 19the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

Footnotes:

5 a Cited in Romans 4:18

6 b Cited in Romans 4:3, Romans 4:22, Galatians 3:6, and James 2:23

14 c Cited in Acts 7:6–7

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◀   ◀   Genesis 16   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Hagar and Ishmael

1Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. 2So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.”

And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife. 4And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.a

5Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.”

6“Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her.

7Now the angelb of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert—the spring along the road to Shur. 8“Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied.

9So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.” 10Then the angel added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.”

11The angel of the LORD proceeded:

“Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son.

And you shall name him Ishmael,c
for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction.

12He will be a wild donkey of a man,
and his hand will be against everyone,
and everyone’s hand against him;
he will live in hostility
toward all his brothers.”

13So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me,d” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!” 14Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi.e It is located between Kadesh and Bered.

15And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. 16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him.

Footnotes:

4 a Or her mistress became despised in her sight

7 b Or Angel; also in verses 9, 10, and 11; corresponding pronouns may also be capitalized.

11 c Ishmael means God hears.

13 d Hebrew El-Roi

14 e Beer-lahai-roi means well of the Living One who sees me.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 17   ▶   ▶

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Abraham to Father Many Nations

1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty.a Walk before Me and be blameless. 2I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”

3Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5No longer will you be called Abram,b but your name will be Abraham,c for I have made you a father of many nations.d

6I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.

7I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

8And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”

The Covenant of Circumcision

9God also said to Abraham, “You must keep My covenant—you and your descendants in the generations after you. 10This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. 11You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.

12Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring. 13Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh will be an everlasting covenant.

14But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

15Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah.e
16And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”

17Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?” 18And Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live under Your blessing!”

19But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac.f I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”

22When He had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

23On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or purchased with his money—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised them, just as God had told him.

24So Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25and his son Ishmael was thirteen; 26Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the same day. 27And all the men of Abraham’s household—both servants born in his household and those purchased from foreigners—were circumcised with him.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew El-Shaddai

5 b Abram means exalted father.

5 c Abraham means father of many.

5 d Cited in Romans 4:17

15 e Both Sarai and Sarah mean princess; the change in spelling may reflect the difference in dialect between Ur and Canaan.

19 f Isaac means he laughs.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 18   ▶   ▶

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The Three Visitors

1Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaksa of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. 2And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

3“My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by. 4Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. 5And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. After that, you may continue on your way.”

“Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”

6So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour,b knead it, and bake some bread.”

7Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.

Sarah Laughs at the Promise

9“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked.

“There, in the tent,” he replied.

10Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!”

Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent. 11And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

13And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’ 14Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”c

15But Sarah was afraid, so she denied it and said, “I did not laugh.”

“No,” replied the LORD, “but you did laugh.”

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

16When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off.

17And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 19For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”

20Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous, 21I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”

22And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.

23Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there? 25Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

26So the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place.”

27Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes— 28suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?”

He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.”

29Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?”

He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”

30Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?”

He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”

31And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?”

He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”

32Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?”

And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”

33When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.

Footnotes:

1 a Or Terebinths or Great Trees

6 b 3 seahs is approximately 19.8 dry quarts or 21.9 liters (probably about 24.5 pounds or 11.1 kilograms of flour).

14 c Cited in Romans 9:9

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◀   ◀   Genesis 19   ▶   ▶

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Lot Welcomes the Angels
(Judges 19:1–30)

1Now the two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, bowed facedown, 2and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.”

“No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”

3But Lot insisted so strongly that they followed him into his house. He prepared a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

4Before they had gone to bed, all the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, surrounded the house. 5They called out to Lot, saying, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have relations with them!”

6Lot went outside to meet them, shutting the door behind him. 7“Please, my brothers,” he pleaded, “don’t do such a wicked thing! 8Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them to you, and you can do to them as you please. But do not do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.”

9“Get out of the way!” they replied. And they declared, “This one came here as a foreigner, and he is already acting like a judge! Now we will treat you worse than them.” And they pressed in on Lot and moved in to break down the door.

10But the men inside reached out, pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. 11And they struck the men at the entrance, young and old, with blindness, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the door.

Lot Flees to Zoar

12Then the two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—a son-in-law, your sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, 13because we are about to destroy this place. For the outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that He has sent us to destroy it.”

14So Lot went out and spoke to the sons-in-law who were pledged in marriage to his daughters. “Get up,” he said. “Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.

15At daybreak the angels hurried Lot along, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16But when Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters. And they led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them.

17As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, “Run for your lives! Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”

18But Lot replied, “No, my lords, please! 19Your servant has indeed found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness by sparing my life. But I cannot run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die. 20Look, there is a town nearby where I can flee, and it is a small place. Please let me flee there—is it not a small place? Then my life will be saved.”

21“Very well,” he answered, “I will grant this request as well, and will not demolish the town you indicate. 22Hurry! Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar.a

23And by the time the sun had risen over the land, Lot had reached Zoar.

The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
(Luke 17:20–37)

24Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. 25Thus He destroyed these cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground.

26But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

27Early the next morning, Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. 28He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace.

29So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that destroyed the cities where he had lived.

Lot and His Daughters

30Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains—for he was afraid to stay in Zoar—where they lived in a cave.

31One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man in the land to sleep with us, as is the custom over all the earth. 32Come, let us get our father drunk with wine so we can sleep with him and preserve his line.”

33So that night they got their father drunk with wine, and the firstborn went in and slept with her father; he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up.

34The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Look, I slept with my father last night. Let us get him drunk with wine again tonight so you can go in and sleep with him and we can preserve our father’s line.”

35So again that night they got their father drunk with wine, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him; he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up.

36Thus both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. 37The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab.b He is the father of the Moabites of today. 38The younger daughter also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-ammi.c He is the father of the Ammonites of today.

Footnotes:

22 a Zoar means small.

37 b Moab sounds like the Hebrew for from my father.

38 c Ben-ammi means son of my people.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 20   ▶   ▶

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Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech

1Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar, 2Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

3One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”

4Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? 5Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”

6Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”

8Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.

9Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.” 10Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”

11Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’ 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife. 13So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”

14So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him. 15And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.” 16And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver.a It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”

17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children— 18for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.

Footnotes:

16 a Or a thousand shekels of silver; that is, approximately 25.1 pounds or 11.4 kilograms of silver

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◀   ◀   Genesis 21   ▶   ▶

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The Birth of Isaac

1Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. 2So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised.

3And Abraham gave the name Isaaca to the son Sarah bore to him. 4When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him. 5Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

6Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.” 7She added, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

8So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.

Sarah Turns against Hagar
(Galatians 4:21–30)

9But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son,b
10and she said to Abraham, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!”c

11Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael. 12But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.d
13But I will also make a nation of the slave woman’s son, because he is your offspring.”

14Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. 15When the water in the skin was gone, she left the boy under one of the bushes. 16Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept.e

17Then God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “What is wrong, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he lies. 18Get up, lift up the boy, and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

20And God was with the boy, and he grew up and settled in the wilderness and became a great archer. 21And while he was dwelling in the Wilderness of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

The Covenant at Beersheba

22At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”

24And Abraham replied, “I swear it.”

25But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized, 26Abimelech replied, “I do not know who has done this. You did not tell me, so I have not heard about it until today.”

27So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 28Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29and Abimelech asked him, “Why have you set apart these seven ewe lambs?”

30He replied, “You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand as my witness that I dug this well.” 31So that place was called Beersheba,f because it was there that the two of them swore an oath. 32After they had made the covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army got up and returned to the land of the Philistines.

33And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.g
34And Abraham resided in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

Footnotes:

3 a Isaac means he laughs.

9 b LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew lacks her son

10 c Cited in Galatians 4:30

12 d Cited in Romans 9:7 and Hebrews 11:18

16 e Hebrew; LXX the child lifted up his voice and wept

31 f Beersheba means well of seven or well of the oath.

33 g Hebrew El-Olam

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◀   ◀   Genesis 22   ▶   ▶

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The Offering of Isaac
(John 3:1–21)

1Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he answered.

2“Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

3So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.

4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5“Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told his servants. “The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you.”

6Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together.

7Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!”

“Here I am, my son,” he replied.

“The fire and the wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.

9When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.

The LORD Provides the Sacrifice

11Just then the angela of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

12“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.b”

13Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ramc in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14And Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide.d So to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

15And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time, 16saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, 17I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendantse like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. 18And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,f because you have obeyed My voice.”

19Abraham went back to his servants, and they got up and set out together for Beersheba. And Abraham settled in Beersheba.

The Sons of Nahor

20Some time later, Abraham was told, “Milcah has also borne sons to your brother Nahor: 21Uz the firstborn, his brother Buz, Kemuel (the father of Aram), 22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.”

23And Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milcah bore these eight sons to Abraham’s brother Nahor. 24Moreover, Nahor’s concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

Footnotes:

11 a Or Angel; also in verses 12 and 15

12 b Or from Me

13 c Most MT manuscripts; other Hebrew manuscripts, SP, LXX, and Syriac saw one ram

14 d Hebrew YHWH Yireh

17 e Cited in Hebrews 6:14

18 f Cited in Acts 3:25

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◀   ◀   Genesis 23   ▶   ▶

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The Death and Burial of Sarah

1Now Sarah lived to be 127 years old. 2She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went out to mourn and to weep for her.

3Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and said to the Hittites,a
4“I am a foreigner and an outsider among you. Give me a burial site among you so that I can bury my dead.”

5The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6“Listen to us, sir. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in the finest of our tombs. None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.”

7Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. 8“If you are willing for me to bury my dead,” he said to them, “listen to me, and approach Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf 9to sell me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me in your presence for full price, so that I may have a burial site.”

10Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth. So in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham, 11“No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”

12Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land 13and said to Ephron in their presence, “If you will please listen to me, I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.”

14Ephron answered Abraham, 15“Listen to me, my lord. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver,b but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”

16Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard of the merchants.

17So Ephron’s field at Machpelah near Mamre, the cave that was in it, and all the trees within the boundaries of the field were deeded over 18to Abraham’s possession in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. 19After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20So the field and its cave were deeded by the Hittites to Abraham as a burial site.

Footnotes:

3 a Or sons of Heth; also in verses 5, 7, 10, 16, 18, and 20

15 b 400 shekels is approximately 10.1 pounds or 4.6 kilograms of silver; also in verse 16.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 24   ▶   ▶

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A Wife for Isaac

1By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. 2So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh, 3and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling, 4but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”

5The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?”

6Abraham replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there. 7The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there. 8And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”

9So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

10Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim.a
11As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water.

12“O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”

Rebekah Is Chosen

15Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up again.

17So the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jar.”

18“Drink, my lord,” she replied, and she quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink.

19After she had given him a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels, until they have had enough to drink.” 20And she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran back to the well to draw water, until she had drawn water for all his camels.

21Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.

22And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka,b and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels.c
23“Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”

24She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.” 25Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place for you to spend the night.”

26Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, 27saying, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”

28The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things. 29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he rushed out to the man at the spring. 30As soon as he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and heard Rebekah’s words, “The man said this to me,” he went and found the man standing by the camels near the spring.

31“Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.” 32So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions.

33Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say.”

So Laban said, “Please speak.”

34“I am Abraham’s servant,” he replied. 35“The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys. 36My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.

37My master made me swear an oath and said, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell, 38but you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred to take a wife for my son.’

39Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’

40And he told me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you may take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house. 41And when you go to my kindred, if they refuse to give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’

42So when I came to the spring today, I prayed: O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if only You would make my journey a success! 43Here I am, standing beside this spring. Now if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar,’ 44and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will draw water for your camels as well,’ may she be the woman the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.

45And before I had finished praying in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’

46She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels.

47Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’

She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. 48Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD; and I blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right road to take the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.

49Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; but if not, let me know, so that I may go elsewhere.”

50Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter. 51Rebekah is here before you. Take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the LORD has decreed.”

52When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD. 53Then he brought out jewels of silver and gold, and articles of clothing, and he gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother. 54Then he and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night there.

When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way to my master.”

55But her brother and mother said, “Let the girl remain with us ten days or so. After that, she may go.”

56But he replied, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey a success. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master.”

57So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.”

58They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”

“I will go,” she replied.

59So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. 60And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,

“Our sister, may you become the mother
of thousands upon thousands.

May your offspring possess
the gates of their enemies.”

61Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

Isaac Marries Rebekah

62Now Isaac had just returned from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63Early in the evening, Isaac went out to the field to meditate, and looking up, he saw the camels approaching.

64And when Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel 65and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”

“It is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. 66Then the servant told Isaac all that he had done.

67And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.

Footnotes:

10 a That is, Mesopotamia; Aram-naharaim means Aram of the two rivers, likely the region between the Euphrates and Balih Rivers in northwestern Mesopotamia.

22 b A beka is half a shekel, or approximately 0.2 ounces or 5.7 grams.

22 c 10 shekels is approximately 4 ounces or 114 grams.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 25   ▶   ▶

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Abraham and Keturah
(1 Chronicles 1:32–33)

1Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah, 2and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

3Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites.

4The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah.

All these were descendants of Keturah.

5Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. 6But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.

The Death of Abraham

7Abraham lived a total of 175 years. 8And at a ripe old age he breathed his last and died, old and contented, and was gathered to his people.

9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite. 10This was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah.

11After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near Beer-lahai-roi.

The Descendants of Ishmael
(1 Chronicles 1:28–31)

12This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. 13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

16These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names by their villages and encampments—twelve princes of their tribes. 17Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.

18Ishmael’s descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which is near the border of Egypt as you go toward Asshur.a And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.

Jacob and Esau
(Malachi 1:1–5; Romans 9:6–29)

19This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aramb and the sister of Laban the Aramean.

21Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.

22But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD, 23and He declared to her:

“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.”c

24When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. 25The first one came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him Esau.d
26After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.e And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.

27When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home. 28Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau Sells His Birthright

29One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the field and was famished. 30He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am famished.” (That is why he was also called Edom.f)

31“First sell me your birthright,” Jacob replied.

32“Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”

33“Swear to me first,” Jacob said.

So Esau swore to Jacob and sold him the birthright. 34Then Jacob gave some bread and lentil stew to Esau, who ate and drank and then got up and went away. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Footnotes:

18 a Or Assyria

20 b That is, northwest Mesopotamia

23 c Cited in Romans 9:12

25 d Esau sounds like a Hebrew term that means hairy.

26 e Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives.

30 f Edom means red.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 26   ▶   ▶

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God’s Promise to Isaac
(Genesis 12:1–9)

1Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.

2The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Settle in the land where I tell you. 3Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. 4I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, 5because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

Isaac Deceives Abimelech

6So Isaac settled in Gerar. 7But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.”

8When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. 9Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, “So she is really your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?”

Isaac replied, “Because I thought I might die on account of her.”

10“What is this you have done to us?” asked Abimelech. “One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” 11So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever harms this man or his wife will surely be put to death.”

Isaac’s Prosperity

12Now Isaac sowed seed in the land, and that very year he reaped a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, 13and he became richer and richer, until he was exceedingly wealthy. 14He owned so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. 15So the Philistines took dirt and stopped up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham.

16Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Depart from us, for you are much too powerful for us.”

17So Isaac left that place and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 18Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. And he gave these wells the same names his father had given them.

19Then Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a well of fresh watera there. 20But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek,b because they contended with him.

21Then they dug another well and quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah.c

22He moved on from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Rehobothd and said, “At last the LORD has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”

23From there Isaac went up to Beersheba, 24and that night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.”

25So Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there. His servants also dug a well there.

Isaac’s Covenant with Abimelech

26Later, Abimelech came to Isaac from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.

27“Why have you come to me?” Isaac asked them. “You hated me and sent me away.”

28“We can plainly see that the LORD has been with you,” they replied. “We recommend that there should now be an oath between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you 29that you will not harm us, just as we have not harmed you but have done only good to you, sending you on your way in peace. And now you are blessed by the LORD.”

30So Isaac prepared a feast for them, and they ate and drank. 31And they got up early the next morning and swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace.

32On that same day, Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug. “We have found water!” they told him. 33So he called it Shibah,e and to this day the name of the city is Beersheba.f

Esau’s Wives

34When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35And they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

Footnotes:

19 a Or flowing water or living water

20 b Esek means contention.

21 c Sitnah means enmity or hostility.

22 d Rehoboth means broad places or open spaces.

33 e Shibah can mean oath or seven.

33 f Beersheba means well of seven or well of the oath.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 27   ▶   ▶

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Isaac Blesses Jacob
(Hebrews 11:20)

1When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.”

“Here I am,” Esau replied.

2“Look,” said Isaac, “I am now old, and I do not know the day of my death. 3Take your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out into the field to hunt some game for me. 4Then prepare a tasty dish that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.”

5Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac told his son Esau. So when Esau went into the field to hunt game and bring it back, 6Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Behold, I overheard your father saying to your brother Esau, 7‘Bring me some game and prepare me a tasty dish to eat, so that I may bless you in the presence of the LORD before I die.’

8Now, my son, listen to my voice and do exactly as I tell you. 9Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so that I can make them into a tasty dish for your father—the kind he loves. 10Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.”

11Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am smooth-skinned. 12What if my father touches me? Then I would be revealed to him as a deceiver, and I would bring upon myself a curse rather than a blessing.”

13His mother replied, “Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey my voice and go get them for me.”

14So Jacob went and got two goats and brought them to his mother, who made the tasty food his father loved. 15And Rebekah took the finest clothes in the house that belonged to her older son Esau, and she put them on her younger son Jacob. 16She also put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17Then she handed her son Jacob the tasty food and bread she had made.

18So Jacob went to his father and said, “My father.”

“Here I am!” he answered. “Which one are you, my son?”

19Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may bless me.”

20But Isaac asked his son, “How did you ever find it so quickly, my son?”

“Because the LORD your God brought it to me,” he replied.

21Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau, or not?”

22So Jacob came close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23Isaac did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him.

24Again he asked, “Are you really my son Esau?”

And he replied, “I am.”

25“Serve me,” said Isaac, “and let me eat some of my son’s game, so that I may bless you.”

Jacob brought it to him, and he ate; then he brought him wine, and he drank.

26Then his father Isaac said to him, “Please come near and kiss me, my son.”

27So he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said:

“Ah, the smell of my son
is like the smell of a field
that the LORD has blessed.

28May God give to you the dew of heaven
and the richness of the earth—
an abundance of grain and new wine.

29May peoples serve you
and nations bow down to you.

May you be the master of your brothers,
and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.

May those who curse you be cursed,
and those who bless you be blessed.”

Esau’s Lost Hope

30As soon as Isaac had finished blessing him and Jacob had left his father’s presence, his brother Esau returned from the hunt. 31He too made some tasty food, brought it to his father, and said to him, “My father, sit up and eat of your son’s game, so that you may bless me.”

32But his father Isaac replied, “Who are you?”

“I am Esau, your firstborn son,” he answered.

33Isaac began to tremble violently and said, “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me? Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him—and indeed, he will be blessed!”

34When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, O my father!”

35But Isaac replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”

36So Esau declared, “Is he not rightly named Jacob?a For he has cheated me twice. He took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

37But Isaac answered Esau: “Look, I have made him your master and given him all his relatives as servants; I have sustained him with grain and new wine. What is left that I can do for you, my son?”

38Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, O my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.

39His father Isaac answered him:

“Behold, your dwelling place shall be
away from the richness of the land,
away from the dew of heaven above.

40You shall live by the sword
and serve your brother.

But when you rebel,
you will tear his yoke from your neck.”

41Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

42When the words of her older son Esau were relayed to Rebekah, she sent for her younger son Jacob and told him, “Look, your brother Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you. 43So now, my son, obey my voice and flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran. 44Stay with him for a while, until your brother’s fury subsides— 45until your brother’s rage against you wanes and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

46Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of these Hittite women.b If Jacob takes a Hittite wife from among them, what good is my life?”

Footnotes:

36 a Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives.

46 b Or daughters of Heth

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◀   ◀   Genesis 28   ▶   ▶

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Jacob’s Departure

1So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded. 2“Go at once to Paddan-aram,a to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. 3May God Almightyb bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a company of peoples. 4And may He give the blessing of Abraham to you and your descendants, so that you may possess the land where you dwell as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.”

5So Isaac sent Jacob to Paddan-aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau.

Esau Marries Mahalath

6Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to take a wife there, commanding him, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman,” 7and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and gone to Paddan-aram.

8And seeing that his father Isaac disapproved of the Canaanite women, 9Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Abraham’s son Ishmael, in addition to the wives he already had.

Jacob’s Ladder

10Meanwhile Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. 11On reaching a certain place, he spent the night there because the sun had set. And taking one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.

12And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder. 13And there at the topc the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. 14Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

16When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.” 17And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!”

The Stone of Bethel

18Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it, 19and he called that place Bethel,d though previously the city had been named Luz.

20Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear, 21so that I may return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God. 22And this stone I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give You a tenth.”

Footnotes:

2 a That is, northwest Mesopotamia; also in verses 5, 6, and 7

3 b Hebrew El-Shaddai

13 c Or there beside him

19 d Bethel means house of God.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 29   ▶   ▶

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Jacob Meets Rachel

1Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. 2He looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well. 3When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

4“My brothers,” Jacob asked the shepherds, “where are you from?”

“We are from Haran,” they answered.

5“Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor?” Jacob asked.

“We know him,” they replied.

6“Is he well?” Jacob inquired.

“Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”

7“Look,” said Jacob, “it is still broad daylight; it is not yet time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”

8But they replied, “We cannot, until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”

9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, with Laban’s sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. 11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12He told Rachel that he was Rebekah’s son, a relative of her father, and she ran and told her father.

13When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

14Then Laban declared, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.”

After Jacob had stayed with him a month, 15Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”

16Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel. 17Leah had weak eyes,a but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. 18Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

19Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.” 20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.

21Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”

22So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast. 23But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. 24And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.

25When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”

26Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older. 27Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”

28And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.

30Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah

31When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben,b for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”

33Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.c

34Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.d

35And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah.e Then Leah stopped having children.

Footnotes:

17 a Or had delicate eyes

32 b Reuben means Look, a son and also sounds like the Hebrew for He has seen my misery.

33 c Simeon probably means one who hears.

34 d Levi sounds like the Hebrew for being attached to or feeling affection for.

35 e Judah sounds like the Hebrew for praise.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 30   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Dan and Naphtali

1When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.

2Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”

3Then she said, “Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Sleep with her, that she may bear children for me,a so that through her I too can build a family.”

4So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and he slept with her, 5and Bilhah conceived and bore him a son. 6Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan.b

7And Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8Then Rachel said, “In my great struggles, I have wrestled with my sister and won.” So she named him Naphtali.c

Gad and Asher

9When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. 10And Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11Then Leah said, “How fortunate!”d So she named him Gad.e

12When Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son, 13Leah said, “How happy I am! For the women call me happy.” So she named him Asher.f

14Now during the wheat harvest, Reuben went out and found some mandrakes in the field. When he brought them to his mother, Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

15But Leah replied, “Is it not enough that you have taken away my husband? Now you want to take my son’s mandrakes as well?”

“Very well,” said Rachel, “he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”

16When Jacob came in from the field that evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come with me, for I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night.

Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah

17And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore a fifth son to Jacob. 18Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my maidservant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar.g

19Again Leah conceived and bore a sixth son to Jacob. 20“God has given me a good gift,” she said. “This time my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” And she named him Zebulun.h

21After that, Leah gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.

Joseph

22Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb, 23and she conceived and gave birth to a son. “God has taken away my shame,” she said. 24She named him Joseph,i and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.”

Jacob Prospers

25Now after Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so I can return to my homeland. 26Give me my wives and children for whom I have served you, that I may go on my way. You know how hard I have worked for you.”

27But Laban replied, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” 28And he added, “Name your wages, and I will pay them.”

29Then Jacob answered, “You know how I have served you and how your livestock have thrived under my care. 30Indeed, you had very little before my arrival, but now your wealth has increased many times over. The LORD has blessed you wherever I set foot. But now, when may I also provide for my own household?”

31“What can I give you?” Laban asked.

“You do not need to give me anything,” Jacob replied. “If you do this one thing for me, I will keep on shepherding and keeping your flocks. 32Let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb, and every spotted or speckled goat. These will be my wages. 33So my honesty will testify for me when you come to check on my wages in the future. If I have any goats that are not speckled or spotted, or any lambs that are not dark-colored, they will be considered stolen.”

34“Agreed,” said Laban. “Let it be as you have said.”

35That very day Laban removed all the streaked or spotted male goats and every speckled or spotted female goat—every one that had any white on it—and every dark-colored lamb, and he placed them under the care of his sons. 36Then he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob was shepherding the rest of Laban’s flocks.

37Jacob, however, took fresh branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees, and peeled the bark, exposing the white inner wood of the branches. 38Then he set the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of the flocks coming in to drink. So when the flocks were in heat and came to drink, 39they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. 40Jacob set apart the young, but made the rest face the streaked dark-colored sheep in Laban’s flocks. Then he set his own stock apart and did not put them with Laban’s animals.

41Whenever the stronger females of the flock were in heat, Jacob would place the branches in the troughs, in full view of the animals, so that they would breed in front of the branches. 42But if the animals were weak, he did not set out the branches. So the weaker animals went to Laban and the stronger ones to Jacob.

43Thus Jacob became exceedingly prosperous. He owned large flocks, maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys.

Footnotes:

3 a Literally bear children on my knees

6 b Dan means He has judged or He has vindicated.

8 c Naphtali sounds like the Hebrew for wrestling.

11 d Alternate MT reading (see also LXX); the other alternate reads “A troop is coming!”

11 e Gad sounds like the Hebrew for good fortune, or alternately for band of raiders.

13 f Asher means happy.

18 g Issachar sounds like the Hebrew for wages or reward.

20 h Zebulun sounds like the Hebrew for honor.

24 i Joseph means may He add.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 31   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jacob Flees from Laban

1Now Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.” 2And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.

3Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

4So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were, 5and he told them, “I can see from your father’s countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God of my father has been with me. 6You know that I have served your father with all my strength. 7And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me. 8If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore speckled offspring. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore streaked offspring. 9Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.

10When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females. 11In that dream the angela of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’

And I replied, ‘Here I am.’

12‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you. 13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up and leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’ ”

14And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house? 15Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? Not only has he sold us, but he has certainly squandered what was paid for us. 16Surely all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you.”

17Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels, 18and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram,b to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.

19Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols. 20Moreover, Jacob deceivedc Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away. 21So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates,d and headed for the hill country of Gilead.

Laban Pursues Jacob

22On the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled. 23So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. 24But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

25Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well. 26Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war! 27Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps. 28But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.

29I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ 30Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”

31“I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force. 32If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.

33So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, then Leah’s tent, and then the tents of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. 34Now Rachel had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of her camel, and was sitting on them. And Laban searched everything in the tent but found nothing.

35Rachel said to her father, “Sir, do not be angry that I cannot stand up before you; for I am having my period.” So Laban searched, but could not find the household idols.

36Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me? 37You have searched all my goods! Have you found anything that belongs to you? Put it here before my brothers and yours, that they may judge between the two of us.

38I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock. 39I did not bring you anything torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for what was stolen by day or night. 40As it was, the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes.

41Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks—and you have changed my wages ten times! 42If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.”

Jacob’s Covenant with Laban

43But Laban answered Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, these sons are my sons, and these flocks are my flocks! Everything you see is mine! Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne? 44Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”

45So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar, 46and he said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and made a mound, and there by the mound they ate. 47Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.e

48Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.”

Therefore the place was called Galeed. 49It was also called Mizpah,f because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other. 50If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”

51Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is the mound, and here is the pillar I have set up between you and me. 52This mound is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this mound to harm you, and you will not go past this mound and pillar to harm me. 53May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.”

So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.

54Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. And after they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain. 55Early the next morning, Laban got up and kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then he left to return home.

Footnotes:

11 a Or Angel

18 b That is, northwest Mesopotamia

20 c Or stole the heart of; also in verses 26 and 27

21 d Hebrew the River

47 e The Aramaic Jegar-Sahadutha and the Hebrew Galeed both mean heap of witnesses.

49 f Mizpah means watchtower.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 32   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau

1Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.a

3Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4He instructed them, “You are to say to my master Esau, ‘Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now. 5I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, menservants, and maidservants. I have sent this message to inform my master, so that I may find favor in your sight.’ ”

6When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you—he and four hundred men with him.”

7In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels. 8He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one camp, then the other camp can escape.”

9Then Jacob declared, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, the LORD who told me, ‘Go back to your country and to your kindred, and I will make you prosper,’ 10I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps. 11Please deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid that he may come and attack me and the mothers and children with me. 12But You have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to count.’ ”

13Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau: 14200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 1530 milk camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys. 16He entrusted them to his servants in separate herds and told them, “Go on ahead of me, and keep some distance between the herds.”

17He instructed the one in the lead, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘To whom do you belong, where are you going, and whose animals are these before you?’ 18then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift, sent to my lord Esau. And behold, Jacob is behind us.’ ”

19He also instructed the second, the third, and all those following behind the herds: “When you meet Esau, you are to say the same thing to him. 20You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’ ” For he thought, “I will appease Esaub with the gift that is going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me.c”

21So Jacob’s gifts went on before him, while he spent the night in the camp.

Jacob Wrestles with God

22During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream, along with all his possessions.

24So Jacob was left all alone, and there a mand wrestled with him until daybreak. 25When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled. 26Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

27“What is your name?” the man asked.

“Jacob,” he replied.

28Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob,e but Israel,f because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”

29And Jacob requested, “Please tell me your name.”

But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.

30So Jacob named the place Peniel,g saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

31The sun rose above him as he passed by Penuel,h and he was limping because of his hip. 32Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon which is at the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was struck near that tendon.

Footnotes:

2 a Mahanaim means two camps.

20 b Or I will appease his face

20 c Literally perhaps he will lift up my face

24 d Or Man; here and in verses 25–28; corresponding pronouns may also be capitalized

28 e Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives.

28 f Israel means he struggles with God.

30 g Peniel means the face of God.

31 h Penuel is a variant of Peniel; see verse 30.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 33   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jacob Meets Esau

1Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. 2He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. 3But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

4Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.

5When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?”

Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.” 6Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. 7Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.

8“What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau.

“To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered.

9“I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.”

10But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably. 11Please accept my gifta that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.

12Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.”

13But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die. 14Please let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a comfortable pace for the livestock and children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

15“Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said.

But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”

16So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir, 17but Jacob went on to Succoth,b where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.

Jacob Settles in Shechem

18After Jacob had come from Paddan-aram,c he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped just outside the city. 19And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.d
20There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.e

Footnotes:

11 a Or blessing or treaty of peace

17 b Succoth means booths or shelters or tabernacles; twice in this verse.

18 c That is, northwest Mesopotamia

19 d Hebrew a hundred kesitahs; the value or weight of the kesitah is no longer known

20 e El-Elohe-Israel means God is the God of Israel or mighty is the God of Israel.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 34   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Defiling of Dinah

1Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the daughters of the land. 2When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the region, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force. 3And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly. 4So Shechem told his father Hamor, “Get me this girl as a wife.”

5Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah, but since his sons were with his livestock in the field, he remained silent about it until they returned. 6Meanwhile, Shechem’s father Hamor came to speak with Jacob. 7When Jacob’s sons heard what had happened, they returned from the field. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israela by lying with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done.

8But Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife. 9Intermarry with us; give us your daughters, and take our daughters for yourselves. 10You may settle among us, and the land will be open to you. Live here, move about freely, and acquire your own property.”

11Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Grant me this favor, and I will give you whatever you ask. 12Demand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!”

The Revenge of Dinah’s Brothers

13But because Shechem had defiled their sister Dinah, Jacob’s sons answered him and his father Hamor deceitfully. 14“We cannot do such a thing,” they said. “To give our sister to an uncircumcised man would be a disgrace to us. 15We will consent to this on one condition, that you become circumcised like us—every one of your males. 16Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We will dwell among you and become one people. 17But if you will not agree to be circumcised, then we will take our sister and go.”

18Their offer seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem. 19The young man, who was the most respected of all his father’s household, did not hesitate to fulfill this request, because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter.

20So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city and addressed the men of their city: 21“These men are at peace with us. Let them live and trade in our land; indeed, it is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters in marriage and give our daughters to them. 22But only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us and be one people: if all our men are circumcised as they are. 23Will not their livestock, their possessions, and all their animals become ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell among us.”

24All the men who went out of the city gate listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male of the city was circumcised.

25Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male. 26They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords, took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went away.

27Jacob’s other sons came upon the slaughter and looted the city, because their sister had been defiled. 28They took their flocks and herds and donkeys, and everything else in the city or in the field. 29They carried off all their possessions and women and children, and they plundered everything in their houses.

30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”

31But they replied, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?”

Footnotes:

7 a Or against Israel

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◀   ◀   Genesis 35   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jacob Returns to Bethel

1Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

2So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments. 3Then let us arise and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to God, who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.”

4So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and all their earrings, and Jacob buried them under the oaka near Shechem.

5As they set out, a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities, so that they did not pursue Jacob’s sons. 6So Jacob and everyone with him arrived in Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. 7There Jacob built an altar, and he called that place El-bethel,b because it was there that God had revealed Himself to Jacob as he fled from his brother.

8Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oakc below Bethel. So Jacob named it Allon-bachuth.d

9After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram,e God appeared to him again and blessed him. 10And God said to him, “Though your name is Jacob,f you will no longer be called Jacob. Instead, your name will be Israel.g” So God named him Israel.

11And God told him, “I am God Almighty.h Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you. 12The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”

13Then God went up from the place where He had spoken with him.

14So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with him—a stone marker—and he poured out a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil. 15Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.i

Benjamin Born, Rachel Dies

16Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult. 17During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.”

18And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni.j But his father called him Benjamin.k

19So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.

The Sons of Jacob
(1 Chronicles 2:1–2)

21Israel again set out and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of Eder. 22While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it.

Jacob had twelve sons:

23The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

24The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

25The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.

26And the sons of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah were Gad and Asher.

These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

The Death of Isaac

27Jacob returned to his father Isaac at Mamre, near Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.

28And Isaac lived 180 years. 29Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Footnotes:

4 a Or terebinth or great tree

7 b El-bethel means God of Bethel.

8 c Or great tree

8 d Allon-bacuth means oak of weeping.

9 e That is, northwest Mesopotamia; also in verse 26

10 f Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives.

10 g Israel means he struggles with God.

11 h Hebrew El-Shaddai

15 i Bethel means house of God.

18 j Ben-oni could mean son of my sorrow or son of my strength.

18 k Benjamin means son of my right hand.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 36   ▶   ▶

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The Descendants of Esau
(1 Chronicles 1:35–37)

1This is the account of Esau (that is, Edom). 2Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite, 3and Basemath daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth. 4And Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath gave birth to Reuel, 5and Oholibamah gave birth to Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

6Later, Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the people of his household, along with his livestock, all his other animals, and all the property he had acquired in Canaan, and he moved to a land far away from his brother Jacob. 7For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together; the land where they stayed could not support them because of their livestock. 8So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the area of Mount Seir.

9This is the account of Esau, the father of the Edomites, in the area of Mount Seir.

10These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel son of Esau’s wife Basemath.

11The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12Additionally, Timna, a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, gave birth to Amalek. These are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.

13These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.

14These are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah (daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon) whom she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

15These are the chiefs among the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 16Korah,a Gatam, and Amalek. They are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Adah.

17These are the sons of Esau’s son Reuel: Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the chiefs descended from Reuel in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.

18These are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah: Chiefs Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. They are the chiefs descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.

19All these are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and they were their chiefs.

The Descendants of Seir
(1 Chronicles 1:38–42)

20These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. They are the chiefs of the Horites, the descendants of Seir in the land of Edom.

22The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam.b Timna was Lotan’s sister.

23These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

24These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. (This is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness as he was pasturing the donkeys of his father Zibeon.)

25These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah daughter of Anah.

26These are the sons of Dishon:c Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.

27These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.

28These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

29These are the chiefs of the Horites: Chiefs Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. They are the chiefs of the Horites, according to their divisions in the land of Seir.

The Kings of Edom
(1 Chronicles 1:43–54)

31These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:d

32Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom; the name of his city was Dinhabah.

33When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah reigned in his place.

34When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.

35When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith.

36When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah reigned in his place.

37When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphratese reigned in his place.

38When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned in his place.

39When Baal-hanan son of Achbor died, Hadadf reigned in his place. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab.

40These are the names of Esau’s chiefs, according to their families and regions, by their names: Chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they possessed. Esau was the father of the Edomites.

Footnotes:

16 a Hebrew; SP (also in verse 11 and 1 Chronicles 1:36) does not include Korah.

22 b Hemam is a variant of Homam; see 1 Chronicles 1:39.

26 c Hebrew Dishan, a variant of Dishon

31 d Or before an Israelite king reigned over them:

37 e Hebrew the River

39 f Some MT manuscripts, SP, and Syriac (see also 1 Chronicles 1:50); other MT manuscripts Hadar

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◀   ◀   Genesis 37   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Joseph’s Dreams

1Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had resided, the land of Canaan.

2This is the account of Jacob. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flock with his brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

3Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors.a
4When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

5Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7We were binding sheaves of grain in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to mine.”

8“Do you intend to reign over us?” his brothers asked. “Will you actually rule us?” So they hated him even more because of his dream and his statements.

9Then Joseph had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

10He told his father and brothers, but his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream that you have had? Will your mother and brothers and I actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.

Joseph Sold into Egypt
(Acts 7:9–14)

12Some time later, Joseph’s brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks near Shechem. 13Israel said to him, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flocks at Shechem? Get ready; I am sending you to them.”

“I am ready,” Joseph replied.

14Then Israel told him, “Go now and see how your brothers and the flocks are faring, and bring word back to me.”

So he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. And when Joseph arrived in Shechem, 15a man found him wandering in the field and asked, “What are you looking for?”

16“I am looking for my brothers,” Joseph replied. “Can you please tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?”

17“They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph set out after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

18Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him. 19“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to one another. 20“Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!”

21When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said. 22“Do not shed his blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this so that he could rescue Joseph from their hands and return him to his father.

23So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the robe of many colors he was wearing— 24and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, with no water in it.

25And as they sat down to eat a meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh on their way down to Egypt.

26Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed. 28So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silverb to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

29When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes, 30returned to his brothers, and said, “The boy is gone! What am I going to do?”

Jacob Mourns Joseph

31Then they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a young goat, and dipped the robe in its blood. 32They sent the robe of many colors to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe or not.”

33His father recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” 34Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

36Meanwhile, the Midianitesc sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

Footnotes:

3 a Possibly a robe with long sleeves; also in verses 23 and 32

28 b 20 shekels is approximately 8 ounces or 228 grams of silver.

36 c Hebrew the Medanites

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◀   ◀   Genesis 38   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Judah and Tamar
(1 Chronicles 2:3–4)

1About that time, Judah left his brothers and settled near a man named Hirah, an Adullamite. 2There Judah saw the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua, and he took her as a wife and slept with her. 3So she conceived and gave birth to a son, and Judah named him Er. 4Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan. 5Then she gave birth to another son and named him Shelah; it was at Chezib that she gave birth to him.

6Now Judah acquired a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death. 8Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.”

9But Onan knew that the offspring would not belong to him; so whenever he would sleep with his brother’s wife, he would spill his seed on the ground so that he would not produce offspring for his brother. 10What he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, so He put Onan to death as well.

11Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.

12After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah. 13When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,” 14she removed her widow’s garments, covered her face with a veil to disguise herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that although Shelah had grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife.

15When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face. 16Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.”

“What will you give me for sleeping with you?” she inquired.

17“I will send you a young goat from my flock,” Judah answered.

But she replied, “Only if you leave me something as a pledge until you send it.”

18“What pledge should I give you?” he asked.

She answered, “Your seal and your cord, and the staff in your hand.” So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. 19Then Tamar got up and departed. And she removed her veil and put on her widow’s garments again.

20Now when Judah sent his friend Hirah the Adullamite with the young goat to collect the items he had left with the woman, he could not find her. 21He asked the men of that place, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?”

“No shrine prostitute has been here,” they answered.

22So Hirah returned to Judah and said, “I could not find her, and furthermore, the men of that place said, ‘No shrine prostitute has been here.’ ”

23“Let her keep the items,” Judah replied. “Otherwise we will become a laughingstock.a After all, I did send her this young goat, but you could not find her.”

24About three months later, Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has prostituted herself, and now she is pregnant.”

“Bring her out!” Judah replied. “Let her be burned to death!”

25As she was being brought out, Tamar sent a message to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these items belong.” And she added, “Please examine them. Whose seal and cord and staff are these?”

26Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again.

The Birth of Perez and Zerah

27When the time came for Tamar to give birth, there were twins in her womb. 28And as she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it around his wrist. “This one came out first,” she announced. 29But when he pulled his hand back and his brother came out, she said, “You have broken out first!” So he was named Perez.b
30Then his brother came out with the scarlet thread around his wrist, and he was named Zerah.c

Footnotes:

23 a Or we will become despised

29 b Perez means breaking out.

30 c Zerah can mean scarlet or brightness.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 39   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

1Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 2And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.

3When his master saw that the LORD was with him and made him prosper in all he did, 4Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant.

Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned. 5From the time that he put Joseph in charge of his household and all he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s household on account of him. The LORD’s blessing was on everything he owned, both in his house and in his field. 6So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.”

8But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care. 9No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?”

10Although Potiphar’s wife spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be near her. 11One day, however, Joseph went into the house to attend to his work, and not a single household servant was inside. 12She grabbed Joseph by his cloak and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his cloak in her hand, he escaped and ran outside.

Joseph Falsely Imprisoned

13When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14she called her household servants. “Look,” she said, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us. He came to me so he could sleep with me, but I screamed as loud as I could. 15When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

16So Potiphar’s wife kept Joseph’s cloak beside her until his master came home. 17Then she told him the same story: “The Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me, 18but when I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

19When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is what your slave did to me,” he burned with anger. 20So Joseph’s master took him and had him thrown into the prison where the king’s prisoners were confined.

While Joseph was there in the prison, 21the LORD was with him and extended kindness to him, granting him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22And the warden put all the prisoners under Joseph’s care, so that he was responsible for all that was done in the prison. 23The warden did not concern himself with anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 40   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Cupbearer and the Baker

1Some time later, the king’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he became their personal attendant.

After they had been in custody for some time, 5both of these men—the Egyptian king’s cupbearer and baker, who were being held in the prison—had a dream on the same night, and each dream had its own meaning.

6When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were distraught. 7So he asked the officials of Pharaoh who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so downcast today?”

8“We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.”

Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

9So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream: “In my dream there was a vine before me, 10and on the vine were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms opened and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into his cup, and placed the cup in his hand.”

12Joseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days. 13Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore your position. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you did when you were his cupbearer. 14But when it goes well for you, please remember me and show me kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh, that he might bring me out of this prison. 15For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing for which they should have put me in this dungeon.”

16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: There were three baskets of white bread on my head. 17In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

18Joseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days. 19Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree.a Then the birds will eat the flesh of your body.”

20On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. 21Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had described to them in his interpretation.b

23The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot all about him.

Footnotes:

19 a Or and impale you on a pole; similarly in verse 22

22 b Literally had interpreted to them

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◀   ◀   Genesis 41   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Dreams of Pharaoh

1After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile, 2when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. 3After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river. 4And the cows that were sickly and thin devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows.

Then Pharaoh woke up, 5but he fell back asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, came up on one stalk. 6After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind. 7And the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream.

8In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

9Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures. 10Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard. 11One night both the chief baker and I had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning. 12Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us individually. 13And it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams

14So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh.

15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

16“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

17Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. 19After them, seven other cows—sickly, ugly, and thin—came up. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt! 20Then the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first. 21When they had devoured them, however, no one could tell that they had done so; their appearance was as ugly as it had been before. Then I awoke.

22In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk. 23After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind. 24And the thin heads of grain swallowed the seven plump ones.

I told this dream to the magicians, but no one could explain it to me.”

25At this, Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. 26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning. 27Moreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind—they are seven years of famine.

28It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land. 31The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.

32Moreover, because the dream was given to Pharaoh in two versions, the matter has been decreed by God, and He will carry it out shortly.

33Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. 34Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvesta of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35Under the authority of Pharaoh, let them collect all the excess food from these good years, that they may come and lay up the grain to be preserved as food in the cities. 36This food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine to come upon the land of Egypt. Then the country will not perish in the famine.”

Joseph Given Charge of Egypt

37This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials. 38So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of Godb abides?”

39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

41Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.” 42Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck. 43He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, “Bow the knee!”c So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.

44And Pharaoh declared to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your permission, no one in all the land of Egypt shall lift his hand or foot.”

45Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah,d and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,e to be his wife. And Joseph took charge of all the land of Egypt.

The Seven Years of Plenty

46Now Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.

47During the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully. 48During those seven years, Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt and stored it in the cities. In every city he laid up the food from the fields around it. 49So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance, like the sand of the sea, that he stopped keeping track of it; for it was beyond measure.

50Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh,f saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.” 52And the second son he named Ephraim,g saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

The Famine Begins

53When the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. And although there was famine in every country, there was food throughout the land of Egypt. 55When extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”

56When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

Footnotes:

34 a See LXX; MT a fifth from the land

38 b Or the spirit of the gods

43 c That is, “Abrek,” probably an Egyptian word that sounds similar to the Hebrew for kneel

45 d Zaphenath-paneah probably means Revealer of Mysteries or God speaks and lives.

45 e That is, Heliopolis, as in LXX; also in verse 50

51 f Manasseh sounds like the Hebrew for making to forget.

52 g Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for making fruitful or twice fruitful.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 42   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Joseph’s Brothers Sent to Egypt

1When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”

2“Look,” he added, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”

3So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “I am afraid that harm might befall him.”

5So the sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, since the famine had also spread to the land of Canaan.

6Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. 7And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked.

“From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.”

8Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. 9Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said, “You are spies! You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”

10“Not so, my lord,” they replied. “Your servants have come to buy food. 11We are all sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”

12“No,” he told them. “You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”

13But they answered, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

14Then Joseph declared, “Just as I said, you are spies! 15And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be confined so that the truth of your words may be tested. If they are untrue, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”

17So Joseph imprisoned them for three days, 18and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live: 19If you are honest, leave one of your brothers in custody while the rest of you go and take back grain to relieve the hunger of your households. 20Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die.”

And to this they consented.

21Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”

22And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!”

23They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them. 24And he turned away from them and wept. When he turned back and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and had him bound before their eyes.

Joseph’s Brothers Return to Canaan

25Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return each man’s silvera to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This order was carried out, 26and they loaded the grain on their donkeys and departed.

27At the place where they lodged for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of the sack. 28“My silver has been returned!” he said to his brothers. “It is here in my sack.”

Their hearts sank, and trembling, they turned to one another and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”

29When they reached their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they described to him all that had happened to them: 30“The man who is lord of the land spoke harshly to us and accused us of spying on the country.

31But we told him, ‘We are honest men, not spies. 32We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan.’

33Then the man who is lord of the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest: Leave one brother with me, take food to relieve the hunger of your households, and go. 34But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’ ”

35As they began emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his bag of silver! And when they and their father saw the bags of silver, they were dismayed.

36Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is no more. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is going against me!”

37Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him.”

38But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

Footnotes:

25 a Or money; here and throughout chapters 42–44

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◀   ◀   Genesis 43   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Return to Egypt with Benjamin

1Now the famine was still severe in the land. 2So when Jacob’s sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

3But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ 4If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5But if you will not send him, we will not go; for the man told us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ ”

6“Why did you bring this trouble upon me?” Israel asked. “Why did you tell the man you had another brother?”

7They replied, “The man questioned us in detail about ourselves and our family: ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ And we answered him accordingly. How could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother here’?”

8And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children. 9I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life. 10If we had not delayed, we could have come and gone twice by now.”

11Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds. 12Take double the silver with you so that you may return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. 13Take your brother as well, and return to the man at once. 14May God Almightya grant you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother along with Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

15So the men took these gifts, along with double the amount of silver, and Benjamin as well. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

Joseph’s Hospitality to His Brothers

16When Joseph saw Benjamin with his brothers, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they shall dine with me at noon.” 17The man did as Joseph had commanded and took the brothers to Joseph’s house.

18But the brothers were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph’s house. “We have been brought here because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time,” they said. “They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”

19So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20“Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food. 21But when we came to the place we lodged for the night, we opened our sacks and, behold, each of us found his silver in the mouth of his sack! It was the full amount of our silver, and we have brought it back with us. 22We have brought additional silver with us to buy food. We do not know who put our silver in our sacks.”

23“It is fine,” said the steward. “Do not be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, gave you the treasure that was in your sacks. I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.

25Since the brothers had been told that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph’s arrival at noon. 26When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him.

27He asked if they were well, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father you told me about? Is he still alive?”

28“Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.

29When Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” Then he declared, “May God be gracious to you, my son.”

30Joseph hurried out because he was moved to tears for his brother, and he went to a private room to weep. 31Then he washed his face and came back out. Regaining his composure, he said, “Serve the meal.”

32They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians. They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews, since that was detestable to them. 33They were seated before Joseph in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest, and the men looked at one another in astonishment. 34When the portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times larger than any of the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph.

Footnotes:

14 a Hebrew El-Shaddai

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◀   ◀   Genesis 44   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Benjamin and the Silver Cup

1Then Joseph instructed his steward: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s silver in the mouth of his sack. 2Put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.”

So the steward did as Joseph had instructed.

3At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. 4They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?a
5Is this not the cupb my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’ ”

6When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them.

7“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing. 8We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found in the mouths of our sacks. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? 9If any of your servants is found to have it, he must die, and the rest will become slaves of my lord.”

10“As you say,” replied the steward. “But only the one who is found with the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you shall be free of blame.”

11So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest—and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.

14When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

15“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”

16“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”

17But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”

Judah Pleads for Benjamin

18Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself. 19My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’

20And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

21Then you told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so that I can see him for myself.’

22So we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he were to leave, his father would die.’

23But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’

24Now when we returned to your servant my father, we relayed your words to him.

25Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us some food.’

26But we answered, ‘We cannot go down there unless our younger brother goes with us. So if our younger brother is not with us, we cannot see the man.’

27And your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. 28When one of them was gone, I said: “Surely he has been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since. 29Now if you also take this one from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’

30So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy’s life, 31sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow. 32Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’

33Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers. 34For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”

Footnotes:

4 a LXX includes Why have you stolen my silver cup?

5 b Hebrew Is it not this which

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◀   ◀   Genesis 45   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Joseph Reveals His Identity

1Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!”

So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it.

3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?”

But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.

4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so.

“I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. 6For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.a
8Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph Sends for His Father

9Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. 10You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. 11And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’

12Behold! You and my brother Benjamin can see that I, Joseph, am the one speaking with you. 13Tell my father about all my splendor in Egypt and everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

14Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept as they embraced. 15Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

16When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased.

17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan. 18Then bring your father and your families and return to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat from the fat of the land.’ 19You are also directed to tell them: ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives, and bring your father and come back. 20But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

21So the sons of Israel did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22He gave new garments to each of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silverb and five sets of clothes. 23And he sent to his father the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father’s journey.

24Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way!”

The Revival of Jacob

25So the brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26“Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!”

But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them. 27However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob was revived.

28“Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”

Footnotes:

7 a Or and to keep you alive as a great band of survivors

22 b 300 shekels is approximately 7.5 pounds or 3.4 kilograms of silver.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 46   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jacob’s Journey to Egypt

1So Israel set out with all that he had, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said.

“Here I am,” replied Jacob.

3“I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will surely bring you back. And Joseph’s own hands will close your eyes.”

5Then Jacob departed from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel took their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him, along with their children and wives. 6They also took the livestock and possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt.

Those Who Went to Egypt
(Exodus 1:1–7)

7Jacob took with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.

The Children of Leah

8Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.

9The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

10The sons of Simeon: Jemuel,a Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar,b and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.

11The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

12The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.

13The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah,c Job,d and Shimron.

14The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

15These are the sons of Leah born to Jacob in Paddan-aram,e in addition to his daughter Dinah. The total number of sons and daughters was thirty-three.

The Children of Zilpah

16The sons of Gad: Ziphion,f Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi,g and Areli.

17The children of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah.

The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.

18These are the sons of Jacob born to Zilpah—whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah—sixteen in all.

The Children of Rachel

19The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

20Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.h

21The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

22These are the sons of Rachel born to Jacob—fourteen in all.

The Children of Bilhah

23The son of Dan: Hushim.

24The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

25These are the sons of Jacob born to Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel—seven in all.

26All those belonging to Jacob who came to Egypt—his direct descendants, besides the wives of Jacob’s sons—numbered sixty-six persons. 27And with the two sonsi who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob’s family who went to Egypt were seventyj in all.

Jacob Arrives in Egypt

28Now Jacob had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When Jacob’s family arrived in the land of Goshen, 29Joseph prepared his chariot and went there to meet his father Israel. Joseph presented himself to him, embraced him, and wept profusely.

30Then Israel said to Joseph, “Finally I can die, now that I have seen your face and know that you are still alive!”

31Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and inform Pharaoh: ‘My brothers and my father’s household from the land of Canaan have come to me. 32The men are shepherds; they raise livestock, and they have brought their flocks and herds and all that they own.’

33When Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34you are to say, ‘Your servants have raised livestock ever since our youth—both we and our fathers.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”

Footnotes:

10 a Jemuel is another name for Nemuel; see Numbers 26:12.

10 b Zohar is a variant of Zerah; see Numbers 26:13 and 1 Chronicles 4:24.

13 c Hebrew; SP and Syriac Puah; see 1 Chronicles 7:1.

13 d Hebrew; SP and some LXX manuscripts Jashub; see Numbers 26:24 and 1 Chronicles 7:1.

15 e That is, northwest Mesopotamia

16 f SP and LXX Zephon; see also Numbers 26:15.

16 g Arodi is a variant of Arod; see Numbers 26:17.

20 h That is, Heliopolis, as in LXX

27 i Hebrew; LXX the nine sons, probably including Joseph’s grandsons through Ephraim and Manasseh; see 1 Chronicles 7:14–29.

27 j Hebrew (see also Exodus 1:5); LXX (see also Acts 7:14) seventy-five

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◀   ◀   Genesis 47   ▶   ▶

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Jacob Settles in Goshen

1So Joseph went and told Pharaoh: “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.”

2And he chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

3“What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers.

“Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.”

4Then they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live in the land for a time, because there is no pasture for the flocks of your servants, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe. So now, please allow your servants to settle in the land of Goshen.”

5Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that your father and brothers have come to you, 6the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. They may dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know of any talented men among them, put them in charge of my own livestock.”

7Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

8“How many years have you lived?” Pharaoh asked.

9“My travelsa have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.”

10Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and departed from his presence.

11So Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12Joseph also provided his father and brothers and all his father’s household with food for their families.

The Famine Continues

13There was no food, however, in all that region, because the famine was so severe; the lands of Egypt and Canaan had been exhausted by the famine. 14Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were buying, and he brought it into Pharaoh’s palace. 15When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our funds have run out!”

16“Then bring me your livestock,” said Joseph. “Since the money is gone, I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock.” 17So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their flocks and herds, and their donkeys. Throughout that year he provided them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

18When that year was over, they came to him the second year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord that our money is gone and all our livestock belongs to you. There is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. 19Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Purchase us and our land in exchange for food. Then we, along with our land, will be slaves to Pharaoh. Give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.”

20So Joseph acquired for Pharaoh all the land in Egypt; the Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields because the famine was so severe upon them. The land became Pharaoh’s, 21and Joseph reduced the people to servitudeb from one end of Egypt to the other. 22However, he did not acquire the priests’ portion of the land, for it had been given to them by Pharaoh. They ate the rations that Pharaoh supplied; so they did not sell their land.

23Then Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have acquired you and your land for Pharaoh this day, here is seed for you to sow in the land. 24At harvest time, you are to give a fifth of it to Pharaoh, and four-fifths will be yours as seed for the field and food for yourselves and your households and children.”

25“You have saved our lives,” they said. “We have found favor in our lord’s eyes, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.” 26So Joseph established a law that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh, and it is in effect in the land of Egypt to this day. Only the priests’ land does not belong to Pharaoh.

The Israelites Prosper in Goshen

27Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number. 28And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, and the length of his life was 147 years.

29When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them.”

Joseph answered, “I will do as you have requested.”

31“Swear to me,” Jacob said.

So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.c

Footnotes:

9 a Hebrew sojourns; twice in this verse

21 b SP, LXX, Vulgate; Hebrew removed the people to the cities

31 c Hebrew; LXX Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff; see Hebrews 11:21.

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◀   ◀   Genesis 48   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

1Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed.

3Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almightya appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there He blessed me 4and told me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you; I will make you a multitude of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’

5And now your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. 6Any children born to you after them shall be yours, and they shall be called by the names of their brothers in the territory they inherit.

7Now as for me, when I was returning from Paddan,b to my sorrow Rachel died along the way in the land of Canaan, some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

8When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?”

9Joseph said to his father, “They are the sons God has given me in this place.”

So Jacob said, “Please bring them to me, that I may bless them.”

10Now Israel’s eyesight was poor because of old age; he could hardly see. Joseph brought his sons to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.

11“I never expected to see your face again,” Israel said to Joseph, “but now God has let me see your children as well.”

12Then Joseph removed his sons from his father’s knees and bowed facedown.

13And Joseph took both of them—with Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand—and brought them close to him. 14But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger; and crossing his hands, he put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn. 15Then he blessed Joseph and said:

“May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,

16the angelc who has redeemed me from all harm—
may He bless these boys.

And may they be called by my name
and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,
and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.”

17When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was displeased and took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s. 18“Not so, my father!” Joseph said. “This one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

19But his father refused. “I know, my son, I know!” he said. “He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”

20So that day Jacob blessed them and said:

“By you shall Israel pronounce this blessing:

‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’ ”

So he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

21Then Israel said to Joseph, “Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22And to you, as one who is above your brothers, I give the ridge of landd that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew El-Shaddai

7 b That is, northwest Mesopotamia

16 c Or Angel

22 d Or one portion of the land; Hebrew shekem, which sounds like the town and district called Shechem

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◀   ◀   Genesis 49   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jacob Blesses His Sons

1Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come:

2Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob;
listen to your father Israel.

3Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might,
and the beginning of my strength,
excelling in honor,
excelling in power.

4Uncontrolled as the waters,
you will no longer excel,
because you went up to your father’s bed,
onto my couch, and defiled it.

5Simeon and Levi are brothers;
their swordsa are weapons of violence.

6May I never enter their council;
may I never join their assembly.

For they kill men in their anger,
and hamstring oxen on a whim.

7Cursed be their anger, for it is strong,
and their wrath, for it is cruel!

I will disperse them in Jacob
and scatter them in Israel.

8Judah,b your brothers shall praise you.

Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies;
your father’s sons shall bow down to you.

9Judah is a young lion—
my son, you return from the prey.

Like a lion he crouches and lies down;
like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?

10The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the staff from between his feet,c
until Shilohd comes
and the allegiance of the nations is his.

11He ties his donkey to the vine,
his colt to the choicest branch.

He washes his garments in wine,
his robes in the blood of grapes.

12His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth are whiter than milk.

13Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore
and become a harbor for ships;
his border shall extend to Sidon.

14Issachar is a strong donkey,
lying down between the sheepfolds.e

15He saw that his resting place was good
and that his land was pleasant,
so he bent his shoulder to the burden
and submitted to labor as a servant.

16Dan shall provide justice for his peoplef
as one of the tribes of Israel.

17He will be a snake by the road,
a viper in the path
that bites the horse’s heels
so that its rider tumbles backward.

18I await Your salvation, O LORD.

19Gadg will be attacked by raiders,
but he will attack their heels.

20Asher’s food will be rich;
he shall provide royal delicacies.

21Naphtali is a doe set free
that bears beautiful fawns.h

22Joseph is a fruitful vine—
a fruitful vine by a spring,
whose branches scale the wall.i

23The archers attacked him with bitterness;
they aimed at him in hostility.

24Yet he steadied his bow,
and his strong arms were tempered
by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob,
in the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

25by the God of your father who helps you,
and by the Almightyj who blesses you,
with blessings of the heavens above,
with blessings of the depths below,
with blessings of the breasts and womb.

26The blessings of your father have surpassed
the blessings of the ancient mountainsk
and the bounty of the everlasting hills.

May they rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of the prince of his brothers.

27Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;
in the morning he devours the prey,
in the evening he divides the plunder.”

28These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this was what their father said to them. He blessed them, and he blessed each one with a suitable blessing.

The Death of Jacob

29Then Jacob instructed them, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite. 30The cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. This is the field Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site. 31There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried, and there I buried Leah. 32The field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the Hittites.”

33When Jacob had finished instructing his sons, he pulled his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and he was gathered to his people.

Footnotes:

5 a Or dwelling places

8 b Judah sounds like the Hebrew for praise.

10 c Or from his descendants

10 d Or until the one to whom tribute belongs

14 e Or saddlebags or hearths

16 f Or Dan shall judge his people; Dan means He has judged or He has vindicated.

19 g Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raid and also for band of raiders.

21 h Or gives beautiful words or bears fawns of the fold

22 i Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey by a spring, with his wild colts beside the wall

25 j Hebrew Shaddai

26 k Or of my ancestors

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◀   ◀   Genesis 50   ▶   ▶

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Mourning and Burial for Jacob

1Then Joseph fell upon his father’s face, wept over him, and kissed him.

2And Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him, 3taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

4When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please tell Pharaoh that 5my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.”

6Pharaoh replied, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.”

7Then Joseph went to bury his father, and all the servants of Pharaoh accompanied him—the elders of Pharaoh’s household and all the elders of the land of Egypt— 8along with all of Joseph’s household, and his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children and flocks and herds were left in Goshen.

9Chariots and horsemen alike went up with him, and it was an exceedingly large procession. 10When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, which is across the Jordan, they lamented and wailed loudly, and Joseph mourned for his father seven days.

11When the Canaanites of the land saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a solemn ceremony of mourning by the Egyptians.” Thus the place across the Jordan is called Abel-mizraim.a

12So Jacob’s sons did as he had charged them. 13They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.

14After Joseph had buried his father, he returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone with him to bury his father.

Joseph Comforts His Brothers

15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.”

16So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded, 17‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.”

When their message came to him, Joseph wept. 18His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”

19But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. 21Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.

The Death of Joseph

22Now Joseph and his father’s household remained in Egypt, and Joseph lived to the age of 110. 23He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation, and indeed the sons of Machir son of Manasseh were brought upb on Joseph’s knees.

24Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” 25And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

26So Joseph died at the age of 110. And they embalmed his body and placed it in a coffin in Egypt.

Footnotes:

11 a Abel-mizraim means mourning of the Egyptians.

23 b Or born or placed at birth

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◀   ◀   Exodus 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40)

The Israelites Multiply in Egypt
(Genesis 46:7–27)

1These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family:

2Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

3Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;

4Dan and Naphtali;

Gad and Asher.

5The descendants of Jacob numbered seventya in all, including Joseph, who was already in Egypt.

6Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

Oppression by a New King
(Acts 7:15–19)

8Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. 9“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. 10Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.b”

11So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.

13They worked the Israelites ruthlessly 14and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.

15Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16“When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”

17The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live. 18So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

19The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”

20So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous. 21And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.

22Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrewsc you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”

Footnotes:

5 a MT (see also Genesis 46:27); DSS and LXX (see also Acts 7:14) seventy-five

10 b Or and take the country

22 c SP, LXX, and Targum Yonaton; Hebrew does not include to the Hebrews.

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◀   ◀   Exodus 2   ▶   ▶

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The Birth and Adoption of Moses
(Acts 7:20–22; Hebrews 11:23)

1Now a man of the house of Levi married a daughter of Levi, 2and she conceived and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months.

3But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basketa and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4And his sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

5Soon the daughter of Pharaoh went down to bathe in the Nile, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. And when she saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maidservant to retrieve it. 6When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the little boy was crying. So she had compassion on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew children.”

7Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”

8“Go ahead,” Pharaoh’s daughter told her. And the girl went and called the boy’s mother.

9Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay your wages.” So the woman took the boy and nursed him.

10When the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Mosesb and explained, “I drew him out of the water.”

The Rejection and Flight of Moses
(Acts 7:23–29)

11One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own peoplec and observed their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12After looking this way and that and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand.

13The next day Moses went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you attacking your companion?”

14But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us?d Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?e”

Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.”

15When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down beside a well.

16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17And when some shepherds came along and drove them away, Moses rose up to help them and watered their flock.

18When the daughters returned to their father Reuel,f he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?”

19“An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they replied. “He even drew water for us and watered the flock.”

20“So where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.”

21Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. 22And she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom,g saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”

God Hears the Cry of the Israelites

23After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God.

24So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25God saw the Israelites and took notice.

Footnotes:

3 a The Hebrew can also mean ark; also in verse 5; see Genesis 6:14.

10 b Moses sounds like a Hebrew term that means to lift out.

11 c Or his brothers

14 d Cited in Acts 7:27 and Acts 7:35

14 e LXX Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday? Cited in Acts 7:28

18 f Reuel was also called Jethro; see Exodus 3:1.

22 g Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for foreigner.

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◀   ◀   Exodus 3   ▶   ▶

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Moses at the Burning Bush
(Acts 7:30–38)

1Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro,a the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb,b the mountain of God. 2There the angelc of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed. 3So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”

4When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!”

“Here I am,” he answered.

5“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”d
6Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”e

At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

7The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. 8I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

9And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.”f

11But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

12“I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”g

13Then Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?”

14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.h This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

15God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

16Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me and said: I have surely attended to you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 17And I have promised to bring you up out of your affliction in Egypt, into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’

18The elders of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’

19But I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless a mighty hand compels him.i
20So I will stretch out My hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders I will perform among them. And after that, he will release you.

21And I will grant this people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that when you leave, you will not go away empty-handed. 22Every woman shall ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.”

Footnotes:

1 a Moses’ father-in-law Jethro was also called Reuel; see Exodus 2:18.

1 b That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

2 c Or Angel

5 d Cited in Acts 7:33

6 e Cited in Matthew 22:32, Mark 12:26, Luke 20:37, and Acts 7:32

10 f Cited in Acts 7:34

12 g Cited in Acts 7:7

14 h Or I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE

19 i Literally except by a mighty hand

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◀   ◀   Exodus 4   ▶   ▶

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Moses’ Staff

1Then Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ”

2And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

3“Throw it on the ground,” said the LORD. So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake,a and he ran from it.

4“Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail,” the LORD said to Moses, who reached out his hand and caught the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5“This is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

Moses’ Hand

6Furthermore, the LORD said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak.b” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous,c white as snow.

7“Put your hand back inside your cloak,” said the LORD.

So Moses put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his skin.

8And the LORD said, “If they refuse to believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe that of the second. 9But if they do not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. Then the water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground.”

The Appointment of Aaron

10“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”

11And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”

13But Moses replied, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”

14Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well, and he is now on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will help both of you to speak, and I will teach you what to do. 16He will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman, and it will be as if you were God to him. 17But take this staff in your hand so you can perform signs with it.”

Moses Leaves for Egypt

18Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethrod and said to him, “Please let me return to my brothers in Egypt to see if they are still alive.”

“Go in peace,” Jethro replied.

19Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who sought to kill you are dead.” 20So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.

21The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will hardene his heart so that he will not let the people go.

22Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son, 23and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’ ”

24Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Mosesf and was about to kill him. 25But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet.g “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.

26So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)

The People Believe Moses and Aaron

27Meanwhile, the LORD had said to Aaron, “Go and meet Moses in the wilderness.” So he went and met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28And Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say, and all the signs He had commanded him to perform.

29Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the Israelites, 30and Aaron relayed everything the LORD had said to Moses.

And Moses performed the signs before the people, 31and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew nachash, in contrast to Aaron’s staff, which became a tannin in Exodus 7:10

6 b Hebrew into your bosom; twice in this verse and twice in verse 7

6 c The Hebrew word traditionally translated as leprous was used for various skin diseases; see Leviticus 13.

18 d Moses’ father-in-law Jethro was also called Reuel; see Exodus 2:18.

21 e Or stiffen or strengthen

24 f Hebrew him

25 g Hebrew his feet

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◀   ◀   Exodus 5   ▶   ▶

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Pharaoh’s First Refusal

1After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ”

2But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

3“The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”

4But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!” 5Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”

Bricks and Straw

6That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen: 7“You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw. 8But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ 9Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”

10So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw. 11Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’ ”

12So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”

14Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”

The Cry of the Israelites

15So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? 16No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”

17“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ 18Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”

19The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.” 20When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.

21“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”

22So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me? 23Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”

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◀   ◀   Exodus 6   ▶   ▶

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God Promises Deliverance

1But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for because of My mighty hand he will let the people go; because of My strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

2God also told Moses, “I am the LORD. 3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty,a but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them. 4I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as foreigners. 5Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant.

6Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!’ ”

9Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him.

10So the LORD said to Moses, 11“Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his land.”

12But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, then why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I am unskilled in speech?b”

13Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge concerning both the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.

Genealogies of Moses and Aaron

14These were the heads of their fathers’ houses:

The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben.

15The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar,c and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon.

16These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.

17The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans.

18The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.

19The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.

These were the clans of the Levites according to their records.

20And Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.

21The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.

22The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan,d and Sithri.

23And Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

24The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph.e These were the clans of the Korahites.

25Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas.

These were the heads of the Levite families by their clans.

26It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their divisions.” 27Moses and Aaron were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt in order to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

28Now on the day that the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt, 29He said to him, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I say to you.”

30But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew El-Shaddai

12 b Hebrew I have uncircumcised lips; also in verse 30

15 c Zohar is a variant of Zerah; see Numbers 26:13 and 1 Chronicles 4:24.

22 d Elzaphan is a variant of Elizaphan; see Numbers 3:30.

24 e Abiasaph is a variant of Ebiasaph; see 1 Chronicles 6:23 and 1 Chronicles 9:19.

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◀   ◀   Exodus 7   ▶   ▶

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God Commands Moses and Aaron

1The LORD answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2You are to speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his land.

3But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4Pharaoh will not listen to you.

Then I will lay My hand on Egypt, and by mighty acts of judgment I will bring the divisions of My people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. 5And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”

6So Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded them. 7Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Aaron’s Staff

8The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 9“When Pharaoh tells you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ you are to say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a serpent.a”

10So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent.

11But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. 12Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up the other staffs.

13Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened,b and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

The First Plague: Blood

14Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding;c he refuses to let the people go. 15Go to Pharaoh in the morning as you see him walking out to the water. Wait on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. 16Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness. But you have not listened until now. 17This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD. Behold, with the staff in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will turn to blood. 18The fish in the Nile will die, the river will stink, and the Egyptians will be unable to drink its water.’ ”

19And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers and canals and ponds and reservoirs—that they may become blood.’ There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in the vessels of wood and stone.”

20Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded; in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised the staffd and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was turned to blood. 21The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. And there was blood throughout the land of Egypt.

22But the magicians of Egypt did the same things by their magic arts. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said. 23Instead, Pharaoh turned around, went into his palace, and did not take any of this to heart. 24So all the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, because they could not drink the water from the river.

25And seven full days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.

Footnotes:

9 a Hebrew tannin; here and in verse 10, in contrast to Moses’ staff, which became a nachash in Exodus 4:3 and was noted again in Exodus 7:15

13 b Or stiffened or strengthened; also in verse 22

14 c Or heavy or stubborn

20 d Hebrew he raised the staff; see verse 19; some translators Moses raised the staff.

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◀   ◀   Exodus 8   ▶   ▶

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The Second Plague: Frogs

1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. 2But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs. 3The Nile will teem with frogs, and they will come into your palace and up to your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and your people, and into your ovens and kneading bowls. 4The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials.’ ”

5And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers and canals and ponds, and cause the frogs to come up onto the land of Egypt.’ ”

6So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.

7But the magicians did the same thing by their magic arts, and they also brought frogs up onto the land of Egypt.

8Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.”

9Moses said to Pharaoh, “You may have the honor over me. When shall I pray for you and your officials and your people that the frogs (except for those in the Nile) may be taken away from you and your houses?”

10“Tomorrow,” Pharaoh answered.

“May it be as you say,” Moses replied, “so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. 11The frogs will depart from you and your houses and your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile.”

12After Moses and Aaron had left Pharaoh, Moses cried out to the LORD for help with the frogs that He had brought against Pharaoh. 13And the LORD did as Moses requested, and the frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields died. 14They were piled into countless heaps, and there was a terrible stench in the land.

15When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, however, he hardeneda his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

The Third Plague: Gnats

16Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.’ ”

17This they did, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, gnats came upon man and beast. All the dust of the earth turned into gnats throughout the land of Egypt.

18The magicians tried to produce gnats using their magic arts, but they could not. And the gnats remained on man and beast.

19“This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened,b and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

The Fourth Plague: Flies

20Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, and when Pharaoh goes out to the water, stand before him and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. 21But if you will not let My people go, I will send swarms of fliesc upon you and your officials and your people and your houses. The houses of the Egyptians and even the ground where they stand will be full of flies.

22But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where My people live; no swarms of flies will be found there. In this way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land. 23I will make a distinctiond between My people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.’ ”

24And the LORD did so. Thick swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials. Throughout Egypt the land was ruined by swarms of flies.

25Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within this land.”

26But Moses replied, “It would not be right to do that, because the sacrifices we offer to the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. If we offer sacrifices that are detestable before the Egyptians, will they not stone us? 27We must make a three-day journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as He commands us.”

28Pharaoh answered, “I will let you go and sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.”

29“As soon as I leave you,” Moses said, “I will pray to the LORD, so that tomorrow the swarms of flies will depart from Pharaoh and his officials and his people. But Pharaoh must not act deceitfully again by refusing to let the people go and sacrifice to the LORD.”

30Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, 31and the LORD did as Moses requested. He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not one fly remained. 32But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time as well, and he would not let the people go.

Footnotes:

15 a Or made heavy; also in verse 32

19 b Or stiffened or strengthened

21 c Literally a noxious mixture; also in verses 22, 24, 29, and 31

23 d LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew I will set redemption

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◀   ◀   Exodus 9   ▶   ▶

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The Fifth Plague: Livestock

1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. 2But if you continue to restrain them and refuse to let them go, 3then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks. 4But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’ ”

5The LORD set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land.” 6And the next day the LORD did just that. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. 7Pharaoh sent officials and found that none of the livestock of the Israelites had died. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened,a and he would not let the people go.

The Sixth Plague: Boils

8Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the furnace; in the sight of Pharaoh, Moses is to toss it into the air. 9It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on man and beast throughout the land.”

10So they took soot from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on man and beast. 11The magicians could not stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and on all the Egyptians.

12But the LORD hardenedb Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said to Moses.

The Seventh Plague: Hail

13Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. 14Otherwise, I will send all My plagues against youc and your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.

15For by this time I could have stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the earth. 16But I have raised you upd for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you,e and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.f
17Still, you lord it over My people and do not allow them to go.

18Behold, at this time tomorrow I will rain down the worst hail that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded until now. 19So give orders now to shelter your livestock and everything you have in the field. Every man or beast that remains in the field and is not brought inside will die when the hail comes down upon them.’ ”

20Those among Pharaoh’s officials who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their servants and livestock to shelter, 21but those who disregarded the word of the LORD left their servants and livestock in the field.

22Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt—on man and beast and every plant of the field throughout the land of Egypt.”

23So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. 24The hail fell and the lightning continued flashing through it. The hail was so severe that nothing like it had ever been seen in all the land of Egypt from the time it became a nation.

25Throughout the land of Egypt, the hail struck down everything in the field, both man and beast; it beat down every plant of the field and stripped every tree. 26The only place where it did not hail was in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived.

27Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he said. “The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. 28Pray to the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go; you do not need to stay any longer.”

29Moses said to him, “When I have left the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. 30But as for you and your officials, I know that you still do not fear the LORD our God.”

31(Now the flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley was ripe and the flax was in bloom; 32but the wheat and spelt were not destroyed, because they are late crops.)

33Then Moses departed from Pharaoh, went out of the city, and spread out his hands to the LORD. The thunder and hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down on the land.

34When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart—he and his officials. 35So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses.

Footnotes:

7 a Or made heavy; also in verse 34

12 b Or stiffened or strengthened; also in verse 35

14 c Hebrew against your heart or against your inner man

16 d Or have spared you

16 e LXX in you

16 f Cited in Romans 9:17

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◀   ◀   Exodus 10   ▶   ▶

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The Eighth Plague: Locusts

1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardeneda his heart and the hearts of his officials, that I may perform these miraculous signs of Mine among them, 2and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how severely I dealt with the Egyptians when I performed miraculous signs among them, so that all of you may know that I am the LORD.”

3So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. 4But if you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow. 5They will cover the face of the land so that no one can see it. They will devour whatever is left after the hail and eat every tree that grows in your fields. 6They will fill your houses and the houses of all your officials and every Egyptian—something neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen since the day they came into this land.’ ”

Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh’s presence.

7Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?”

8So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship the LORD your God,” he said. “But who exactly will be going?”

9“We will go with our young and old,” Moses replied. “We will go with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.”

10Then Pharaoh told them, “May the LORD be with you if I ever let you go with your little ones. Clearly you are bent on evil. 11No, only the men may go and worship the LORD, since that is what you have been requesting.” And Moses and Aaron were driven from Pharaoh’s presence.

12Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt, so that the locusts may swarm over it and devour every plant in the land—everything that the hail has left behind.”

13So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and throughout that day and night the LORD sent an east wind across the land. By morning the east wind had brought the locusts.

14The locusts swarmed across the land and settled over the entire territory of Egypt. Never before had there been so many locusts, and never again will there be. 15They covered the face of all the land until it was black, and they consumed all the plants on the ground and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left behind. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.

16Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. 17Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me.”

18So Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the LORD. 19And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind that carried off the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea.b Not a single locust remained anywhere in Egypt.

20But the LORD hardenedc Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.

The Ninth Plague: Darkness

21Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.”

22So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days. 23No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings.

24Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD. Even your little ones may go with you; only your flocks and herds must stay behind.”

25But Moses replied, “You must also provide us with sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God. 26Even our livestock must go with us; not a hoof will be left behind, for we will need some of them to worship the LORD our God, and we will not know how we are to worship the LORD until we arrive.”

27But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was unwilling to let them go. 28“Depart from me!” Pharaoh said to Moses. “Make sure you never see my face again, for on the day you see my face, you will die.”

29“As you say,” Moses replied, “I will never see your face again.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or made heavy

19 b Or the Sea of Reeds

20 c Or stiffened or strengthened; also in verse 27

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◀   ◀   Exodus 11   ▶   ▶

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The Plague on the Firstborn Foretold

1Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt one more plague. After that, he will allow you to leave this place. And when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely. 2Now announce to the people that men and women alike should ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”

3And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.

4So Moses declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, 5and every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the servant girl behind the hand mill, as well as the firstborn of all the cattle. 6Then a great cry will go out over all the land of Egypt. Such an outcry has never been heard before and will never be heard again. 7But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’a

Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8And all these officials of yours will come and bow before me, saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that, I will depart.”

And hot with anger, Moses left Pharaoh’s presence.

9The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

10Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardenedb Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let the Israelites go out of his land.

Footnotes:

7 a Some translators close this quotation at the end of the verse.

10 b Or stiffened or strengthened

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◀   ◀   Exodus 12   ▶   ▶

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The First Passover
(Numbers 9:1–14)

1Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2“This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year.

3Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man must select a lamba for his family, one per household. 4If the household is too small for a whole lamb, they are to share with the nearest neighbor based on the number of people, and apportion the lamb accordingly.

5Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats. 6You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight.b
7They are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframesc of the houses where they eat the lambs.

8They are to eat the meat that night, roasted over the fire, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

9Do not eat any of the meat raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over the fire—its head and legs and inner parts. 10Do not leave any of it until morning; before the morning you must burn up any part that is left over.

11This is how you are to eat it: You must be fully dressed for travel,d with your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You are to eat in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover.

12On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread
(Leviticus 23:4–8; Numbers 28:16–25; Deuteronomy 16:1–8)

14And this day will be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD, as a permanent statute for the generations to come. 15For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to remove the leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.

16On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly, and another on the seventh day. You must not do any work on those days, except to prepare the meals—that is all you may do.

17So you are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread,e for on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt. You must keep this day as a permanent statute for the generations to come. 18In the first month you are to eat unleavened bread, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day. 19For seven days there must be no leaven found in your houses. If anyone eats something leavened, that person, whether a foreigner or native of the land, must be cut off from the congregation of Israel. 20You are not to eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes.”

21Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and told them, “Go at once and select for yourselves a lamb for each family, and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22Take a cluster of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin, and brush the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out the door of his house until morning.

23When the LORD passes through to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway; so He will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.

24And you are to keep this command as a permanent statute for you and your descendants. 25When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as He promised, you are to keep this service.

26When your children ask you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’ 27you are to reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He struck down the Egyptians and spared our homes.’ ”

Then the people bowed down and worshiped. 28And the Israelites went and did just what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.

The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn

29Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock.

30During the night Pharaoh got up—he and all his officials and all the Egyptians—and there was loud wailing in Egypt; for there was no house without someone dead.

The Exodus Begins

31Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. 32Take your flocks and herds as well, just as you have said, and depart! And bless me also.”

33And in order to send them out of the land quickly, the Egyptians urged the people on. “For otherwise,” they said, “we are all going to die!” 34So the people took their dough before it was leavened, carrying it on their shoulders in kneading bowls wrapped in clothing.

35Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing. 36And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.

37The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succothf with about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children. 38And a mixed multitude also went up with them, along with great droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.

39Since their dough had no leaven, the people baked what they had brought out of Egypt into unleavened loaves. For when they had been driven out of Egypt, they could not delay and had not prepared any provisions for themselves.

40Now the duration of the Israelites’ stay in Egyptg was 430 years. 41At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions went out of the land of Egypt. 42Because the LORD kept a vigil that night to bring them out of the land of Egypt, this same night is to be a vigil to the LORD, to be observed by all the Israelites for the generations to come.

Instructions for the Passover

43And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: No foreigner is to eat of it. 44But any slave who has been purchased may eat of it, after you have circumcised him. 45A temporary resident or hired hand shall not eat the Passover.

46It must be eaten inside one house. You are not to take any of the meat outside the house, and you may not break any of the bones.

47The whole congregation of Israel must celebrate it. 48If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. 49The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you.”

50Then all the Israelites did this—they did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their divisions.

Footnotes:

3 a The Hebrew word can mean lamb or kid; also in verses 4 and 5.

6 b Hebrew between the two evenings

7 c Literally on the two doorposts and on the lintel; similarly in verses 22 and 23

11 d Literally Gird up your loins

17 e That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten

37 f Succoth means booths or shelters or tabernacles.

40 g MT; SP in Canaan and Egypt; LXX in Egypt and Canaan

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◀   ◀   Exodus 13   ▶   ▶

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The Dedication of the Firstborn
(Deuteronomy 15:19–23)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Consecrate to Me every firstborn male.a The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast.”

3So Moses told the people, “Remember this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; for the LORD brought you out of it by the strength of His hand. And nothing leavened shall be eaten.

4Today, in the month of Abib,b you are leaving. 5And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites—the land He swore to your fathers that He would give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you shall keep this service in this month.

6For seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. 7Unleavened bread shall be eaten during those seven days. Nothing leavened may be found among you, nor shall leaven be found anywhere within your borders.

8And on that day you are to explain to your son, ‘This is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9It shall be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the Law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For with a mighty hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt. 10Therefore you shall keep this statute at the appointed time year after year.

11And after the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as He swore to you and your fathers, 12you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. 13You must redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. And every firstborn of your sons you must redeem.

14In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 15And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’ 16So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead, for with a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”

The Pillars of Cloud and Fire

17When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter. For God said, “If the people face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea.c And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle.d

19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear a solemn oath when he said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones with you from this place.”e

20They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night. 22Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people.

Footnotes:

2 a Cited in Luke 2:23

4 b Abib was the first month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of March and April.

18 c Or the Sea of Reeds

18 d LXX left the land of Egypt in the fifth generation

19 e Genesis 50:25

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◀   ◀   Exodus 14   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Pharaoh Pursues the Israelites

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal-zephon.

3For Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, ‘They are wandering the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.’ 4And I will hardena Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. But I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.”

So this is what the Israelites did.

5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

6So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him. 7He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them.

8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out defiantly.b
9The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon.

10As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

13But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Parting the Red Sea

15Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. 16And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen. 18The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I am honored through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

19And the angelc of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them, 20so that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night.d So all night long neither camp went near the other.

21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, 22and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

23And the Egyptians chased after them—all Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen—and followed them into the sea. 24At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion. 25He caused their chariot wheels to wobble,e so that they had difficulty driving. “Let us flee from the Israelites,” said the Egyptians, “for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!”

26Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state. As the Egyptians were retreating, the LORD swept them into the sea. 28The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had chased the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

29But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left. 30That day the LORD saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore. 31When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and in His servant Moses.

Footnotes:

4 a Or stiffen or strengthen; similarly in verses 8 and 17

8 b Or marching out boldly; literally marching out with an upraised hand

19 c Or Angel

20 d LXX and the night passed

25 e Or to swerve or to come off or to bind; see also SP, LXX, and Syriac.

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◀   ◀   Exodus 15   ▶   ▶

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The Song at the Sea
(Judges 5:1–31)

1Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD:

“I will sing to the LORD,
for He is highly exalted.

The horse and rider

He has thrown into the sea.

2The LORD is my strength and my song,
and He has become my salvation.

He is my God, and I will praise Him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

3The LORD is a warrior,
the LORD is His name.

4Pharaoh’s chariots and army

He has cast into the sea;
the finest of his officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.a

5The depths have covered them;
they sank there like a stone.

6Your right hand, O LORD,
is majestic in power;

Your right hand, O LORD,
has shattered the enemy.

7You overthrew Your adversaries
by Your great majesty.

You unleashed Your burning wrath;
it consumed them like stubble.

8At the blast of Your nostrils
the waters piled up;
like a wall the currents stood firm;
the depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

9The enemy declared,

‘I will pursue, I will overtake.

I will divide the spoils;

I will gorge myself on them.

I will draw my sword;
my hand will destroy them.’

10But You blew with Your breath,
and the sea covered them.

They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.

11Who among the gods is like You, O LORD?

Who is like You—majestic in holiness,
revered with praises,
performing wonders?

12You stretched out Your right hand,
and the earth swallowed them up.

13With loving devotionb You will lead
the people You have redeemed;
with Your strength You will guide them
to Your holy dwelling.

14The nations will hear and tremble;
anguish will grip the dwellers of Philistia.

15Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed;
trembling will seize the leaders of Moab;
those who dwell in Canaan will melt away,

16and terror and dread will fall on them.

By the power of Your arm
they will be as still as a stone
until Your people pass by, O LORD,
until the people You have bought pass by.

17You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of Your inheritance—
the place, O LORD, You have prepared for Your dwelling,
the sanctuary, O Lord, Your hands have established.

18The LORD will reign forever and ever!”

19For when Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them. But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.

20Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing. 21And Miriam sang back to them:

“Sing to the LORD,
for He is highly exalted;
the horse and rider

He has thrown into the sea.”

The Waters of Marah

22Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the Desert of Shur. For three days they walked in the desert without finding water. 23And when they came to Marah,c they could not drink the water there because it was bitter. (That is why it was named Marah.)

24So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” 25And Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log. And when he cast it into the waters, they were sweetened.

There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He tested them, 26saying, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, then I will not bring on you any of the diseases I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

27Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the waters.

Footnotes:

4 a Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 22

13 b Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

23 c Marah means bitter.

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◀   ◀   Exodus 16   ▶   ▶

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Manna and Quail from Heaven

1On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt, the whole congregation of Israel set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin,a which is between Elim and Sinai. 2And there in the desert they all grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”

4Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions. 5Then on the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

6So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7and in the morning you will see the LORD’s glory, because He has heard your grumbling against Him. For who are we that you should grumble against us?”

8And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.”

9Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole congregation of Israel, ‘Come before the LORD, for He has heard your grumbling.’ ”

10And as Aaron was speaking to the whole congregation of Israel, they looked toward the desert, and there in a cloud the glory of the LORD appeared.

11Then the LORD said to Moses, 12“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilightb you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’ ”

13That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground. 15When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.

So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. 16This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Each one is to gather as much as he needs. You may take an omerc for each person in your tent.’ ”

17So the Israelites did this. Some gathered more, and some less. 18When they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.d Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat.

19Then Moses said to them, “No one may keep any of it until morning.” 20But they did not listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it became infested with maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

21Every morning each one gathered as much as was needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.

The Sabbath Observed
(Genesis 2:1–3; Hebrews 4:1–11)

22On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much food—two omers per persone —and all the leaders of the congregation came and reported this to Moses. 23He told them, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Then set aside whatever remains and keep it until morning.’ ”

24So they set it aside until morning as Moses had commanded, and it did not smell or contain any maggots. 25“Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. Today you will not find anything in the field. 26For six days you may gather, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, it will not be there.”

27Yet on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they did not find anything. 28Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and instructions? 29Understand that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day He will give you bread for two days. On the seventh day, everyone must stay where he is; no one may leave his place.”

30So the people rested on the seventh day.

The Jar of Manna

31Now the house of Israel called the bread manna.f It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Keep an omer of manna for the generations to come, so that they may see the bread I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ ”

33So Moses told Aaron, “Take a jar and fill it with an omer of manna. Then place it before the LORD to be preserved for the generations to come.” 34And Aaron placed it in front of the Testimony,g to be preserved just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

35The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land where they could settle; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan. 36(Now an omer is a tenth of an ephah.)h

Footnotes:

1 a The geographical name Sin is related to Sinai and should not be mistaken for the English word sin.

12 b Hebrew Between the two evenings

16 c An omer is approximately 2 dry quarts or 2.2 liters; also in verses 18, 32, 33, and 36.

18 d Cited in 2 Corinthians 8:15

22 e 2 omers is approximately 4 dry quarts or 4.4 liters per person.

31 f Manna sounds like the Hebrew for What is it? (see verse 15).

34 g The Testimony refers to the stone tablets in the ark of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

36 h An ephah was a dry measure having the capacity of about 20 dry quarts or 22 liters.

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◀   ◀   Exodus 17   ▶   ▶

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Water from the Rock
(Numbers 20:1–13)

1Then the whole congregation of Israel left the Desert of Sin,a moving from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.”

“Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?”

3But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

4Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What should I do with these people? A little more and they will stone me!”

5And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.b And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.”

So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7He named the place Massahc and Meribahd because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

The Defeat of the Amalekites

8After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”

10Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed. 12When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.

13So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his army with the sword.

14Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

15And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner.e
16“Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.”

Footnotes:

1 a The geographical name Sin is related to Sinai and should not be mistaken for the English word sin.

6 b Horeb is another name for Sinai.

7 c Massah means testing.

7 d Meribah means quarreling.

15 e Hebrew YHWH Nissi

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◀   ◀   Exodus 18   ▶   ▶

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The Visit of Jethro

1Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro,a the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her, 3along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom,b for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” 4The other son was named Eliezer,c for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent. 8Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.

9And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians. 10Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”

12Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.

Jethro Advises Moses
(Deuteronomy 1:9–18)

13The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening. 14When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”

15“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied. 16“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”

17But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.

19Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him. 20Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

21Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

22Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

23If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”

24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.

27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.

Footnotes:

1 a Moses’ father-in-law Jethro was also called Reuel; see Exodus 2:18.

3 b Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for sojourner.

4 c Eliezer means God is my helper.

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◀   ◀   Exodus 19   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Israel at Mount Sinai

1In the third month, on the same day of the montha that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 2After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.

3Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to tell the house of Jacob and explain to the sons of Israel: 4‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. 6And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”

7So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. 8And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.”

So Moses brought their words back to the LORD.

9The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.”

And Moses relayed to the LORD what the people had said.

10Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes 11and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

12And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’b

Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.c”

14When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15“Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”

The LORD Visits Sinai

16On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

18Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.

20The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up, 21and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish. 22Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”

23But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’ ”

24And the LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break out against them.”

25So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew In the third month, on the same day; that is, two months after leaving Egypt; see Numbers 33:3.

13 b Cited in Hebrews 12:20

13 c Or may they go up on the mountain

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◀   ◀   Exodus 20   ▶   ▶

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The Ten Commandments
(Deuteronomy 5:6–21)

1And God spoke all these words:

2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3You shall have no other gods before Me.a

4You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6but showing loving devotion to a thousand generationsb of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

7You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.

8Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. 11For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

12Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.c

13You shall not murder.d

14You shall not commit adultery.e

15You shall not steal.f

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

17You shall not coveth your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Moses Comforts the People
(Deuteronomy 5:22–33; Hebrews 12:18–29)

18When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19“Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.”

20“Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.” 21And the people stood at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Idolatry Forbidden
(1 Corinthians 10:14–22)

22Then the LORD said to Moses, “This is what you are to tell the Israelites: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23You are not to make any gods alongside Me; you are not to make for yourselves gods of silver or gold.

24You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.

25Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it. 26And you must not go up to My altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.’

Footnotes:

3 a Or besides Me

6 b Or to thousands

12 c Cited in Matthew 15:4, Matthew 19:19, Mark 7:10, Luke 18:20, and Ephesians 6:2–3

13 d Cited in Matthew 5:21, Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9, and James 2:11

14 e Cited in Matthew 5:27, Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9, and James 2:11

15 f Cited in Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, and Romans 13:9

16 g Cited in Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, and Luke 18:20

17 h Cited in Romans 7:7 and Romans 13:9

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◀   ◀   Exodus 21   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Hebrew Servants
(Deuteronomy 15:12–18)

1“These are the ordinances that you are to set before them:

2If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything. 3If he arrived alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrived with a wife, she is to leave with him. 4If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

5But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,’ 6then his master is to bring him before the judges.a And he shall take him to the door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he shall serve his master for life.

7And if a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the menservants do. 8If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself,b he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her. 9And if he chooses her for his son, he must deal with her as with a daughter. 10If he takes another wife, he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of his first wife. 11If, however, he does not provide her with these three things, she is free to go without monetary payment.

Personal Injury Laws

12Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. 13If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

14But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.

15Whoever strikes his father or mother must surely be put to death.

16Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession.

17Anyone who cursesc his father or mother must surely be put to death.d

18If men are quarreling and one strikes the other with a stone or a fist, and he does not die but is confined to bed, 19then the one who struck him shall go unpunished, as long as the other can get up and walk around outside with his staff. Nevertheless, he must compensate the man for his lost work and see that he is completely healed.

20If a man strikes his manservant or maidservant with a rod, and the servant dies by his hand, he shall surely be punished. 21However, if the servant gets up after a day or two, the owner shall not be punished, since the servant is his property.

22If men who are fighting strike a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely,e but there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband demands and as the court allows. 23But if a serious injury results, then you must require a life for a life— 24eye for eye, tooth for tooth,f hand for hand, foot for foot, 25burn for burn, wound for wound, and stripe for stripe.

26If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye. 27And if he knocks out the tooth of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the tooth.

28If an oxg gores a man or woman to death, the ox must surely be stoned, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the ox shall not be held responsible.

29But if the ox has a habit of goring, and its owner has been warned yet does not restrain it, and it kills a man or woman, then the ox must be stoned and its owner must also be put to death. 30If payment is demanded of him instead, he may redeem his life by paying the full amount demanded of him.

31If the ox gores a son or a daughter, it shall be done to him according to the same rule.

32If the ox gores a manservant or maidservant, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silverh to the master of that servant, and the ox must be stoned.

33If a man opens or digs a pit and fails to cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he must pay its owner, and the dead animal will be his.

35If a man’s ox injures his neighbor’s ox and it dies, they must sell the live one and divide the proceeds; they also must divide the dead animal. 36But if it was known that the ox had a habit of goring, yet its owner failed to restrain it, he shall pay full compensation, ox for ox, and the dead animal will be his.

Footnotes:

6 a Or before God

8 b Or so that he does not designate her for himself

17 c Or dishonors or reviles

17 d Cited in Matthew 15:4 and Mark 7:10

22 e Or she has a miscarriage

24 f Cited in Matthew 5:38

28 g Or a bull; also in verses 29–36

32 h 30 shekels is approximately 12 ounces or 342 grams of silver.

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◀   ◀   Exodus 22   ▶   ▶

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Property Laws

1“If a man steals an oxa or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.

2If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed. 3But if it happens after sunrise, there is guilt for his bloodshed.

A thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he himself shall be sold for his theft. 4If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.

5If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and allows them to stray so that they graze in someone else’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.

6If a fire breaks out and spreads to thornbushes so that it consumes stacked or standing grain, or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make full restitution.

7If a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. 8If the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judgesb to determine whether he has taken his neighbor’s property.

9In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any lost item that someone claims, ‘This is mine,’ both parties shall bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges find guiltyc must pay back double to his neighbor.

10If a man gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to be cared for by his neighbor, but it dies or is injured or stolen while no one is watching, 11an oath before the LORD shall be made between the parties to determine whether or not the man has taken his neighbor’s property. The owner must accept the oath and require no restitution.

12But if the animal was actually stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner.

13If the animal was torn to pieces, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not make restitution for the torn carcass.

14If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is injured or dies while its owner is not present, he must make full restitution. 15If the owner was present, no restitution is required. If the animal was rented, the fee covers the loss.

Laws of Social Responsibility

16If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife. 17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin.

18You must not allow a sorceress to live.

19Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.

20If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.d

21You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

22You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. 23If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry. 24My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.

25If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.

26If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset, 27because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

28You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.e

29You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons. 30You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.

31You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.

Footnotes:

1 a Or a bull or a cow; also in verses 4, 9, and 10

8 b Or before God; also in verse 9

9 c Or whom God condemns

20 d Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

28 e LXX or speak evil about the ruler of your people; cited in Acts 23:5

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◀   ◀   Exodus 23   ▶   ▶

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Justice and Mercy

1“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.

2You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd. 3And do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.

4If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.

5If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it.

6You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits. 7Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

8Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.

9Do not oppress a foreign resident, since you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

Sabbath Laws
(Leviticus 25:1–7; Deuteronomy 15:1–6)

10For six years you are to sow your land and gather its produce, 11but in the seventh year you must let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor among your people may eat from the field and the wild animals may consume what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and olive grove.

12For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you must cease, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the son of your maidservant may be refreshed, as well as the foreign resident.

13Pay close attention to everything I have said to you. You must not invoke the names of other gods; they must not be heard on your lips.

The Three Feasts of Pilgrimage
(Leviticus 23:1–3)

14Three times a year you are to celebrate a feast to Me.

15You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Breada as I commanded you: At the appointed time in the month of Abibb you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, because that was the month you came out of Egypt. No one may appear before Me empty-handed.

16You are also to keep the Feast of Harvestc with the firstfruits of the produce from what you sow in the field.

And keep the Feast of Ingatheringd at the end of the year, when you gather your produce from the field.

17Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD.

18You must not offer the blood of My sacrifices with anything leavened, nor may the fat of My feast remain until morning.

19Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God.

You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

God’s Angel to Lead
(Deuteronomy 7:12–26)

20Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. 21Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him.

22But if you will listen carefully to his voice and do everything I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. 23For My angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I will annihilate them.

24You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces.

25So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will blesse your bread and your water. And I will take away sickness from among you. 26No woman in your land will miscarry or be barren; I will fulfill the number of your days.

27I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run. 28I will send the hornet before you to drive the Hivites and Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.

29I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you. 30Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land.

31And I will establish your borders from the Red Seaf to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates.g For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you. 32You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. 33They must not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

Footnotes:

15 a That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten; see Exodus 12:14–20.

15 b Abib was the first month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of March and April.

16 c That is, Shavuot, the late spring feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is also known as the Feast of Weeks (see Exodus 34:22) or the Feast of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1).

16 d That is, Sukkot, the autumn feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is later called the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths or Shelters).

25 e LXX and Vulgate I will bless

31 f Or the Sea of Reeds

31 g Hebrew the River

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◀   ◀   Exodus 24   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Covenant Sealed

1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance. 2Moses alone shall approach the LORD, but the others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him.”

3When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: “All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do.”

4And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD.

Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5Then he sent out some young men of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD.

6Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. 7Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”

8So Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”a

9Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. 11But God did not lay His hand on the nobles of Israel; they saw Him, and they ate and drank.

Moses on the Mountain

12Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

13So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant and went up on the mountain of God. 14And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. Aaron and Hur are here with you. Whoever has a dispute can go to them.”

15When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. 17And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites.

18Moses entered the cloud as he went up on the mountain, and he remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Footnotes:

8 a Cited in Hebrews 9:20

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◀   ◀   Exodus 25   ▶   ▶

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Offerings for the Tabernacle
(Exodus 35:4–9)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive My offering from every man whose heart compels him. 3This is the offering you are to accept from them:

gold, silver, and bronze;

4blue, purple, and scarlet yarn;
fine linen and goat hair;

5ram skins dyed red and fine leather;a
acacia wood;

6olive oil for the light;
spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

7and onyx stones and gemstones to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

8And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them. 9You must make the tabernacle and design all its furnishings according to the pattern I show you.

The Ark of the Covenant
(Exodus 37:1–5)

10And they are to construct an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.b
11Overlay it with pure gold both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it.

12Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. 13And make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, in order to carry it. 15The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed. 16And place inside the ark the Testimony,c which I will give you.

The Mercy Seat
(Exodus 37:6–9)

17And you are to construct a mercy seatd of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.e
18Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, 19one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. 20And the cherubim are to have wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

21Set the mercy seat atop the ark, and put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark.

22And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony;f I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

The Table of Showbread
(Exodus 37:10–16; Leviticus 24:5–9)

23You are also to make a table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.g
24Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. 25And make a rim around it a handbreadth wideh and put a gold molding on the rim.

26Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners at its four legs. 27The rings are to be close to the rim, to serve as holders for the poles used to carry the table. 28Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that the table may be carried with them.

29You are also to make the plates and dishes, as well as the pitchers and bowls for pouring drink offerings. Make them out of pure gold.

30And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.

The Lampstand
(Exodus 37:17–24; Numbers 8:1–4)

31Then you are to make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. It shall be made of one piece, including its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals.

32Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 33There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extend from the lampstand.

34And on the lampstand there shall be four cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals. 35For the six branches that extend from the lampstand, a bud must be under the first pair of branches, a bud under the second pair, and a bud under the third pair. 36The buds and branches are to be all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

37Make seven lamps and set them up on the lampstand so that they illuminate the area in front of it. 38The wick trimmers and their trays must be of pure gold. 39The lampstand and all these utensils shall be made from a talent of pure gold.i

40See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.j

Footnotes:

5 a Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals

10 b The ark was approximately 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high (114.3 centimeters long, 68.6 centimeters wide, and 68.6 centimeters high).

16 c The Testimony refers to the stone tablets in the ark of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments; also in verses 21 and 22.

17 d Or an atonement cover; here and throughout Exodus

17 e The mercy seat was approximately 3.75 feet long and 2.25 feet wide (114.3 centimeters long and 68.6 centimeters wide).

22 f That is, the ark of the covenant

23 g The table was approximately 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high (91.4 centimeters long, 45.7 centimeters wide, and 68.6 centimeters high).

25 h A handbreadth is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters.

39 i A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.

40 j Cited in Hebrews 8:5

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◀   ◀   Exodus 26   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Ten Curtains for the Tabernacle
(Exodus 36:8–13)

1“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them. 2Each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits widea —all curtains the same size.

3Five of the curtains are to be joined together, and the other five joined as well. 4Make loops of blue material on the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and do the same for the end curtain in the second set.

5Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the second set, so that the loops line up opposite one another. 6Make fifty gold clasps as well, and join the curtains together with the clasps, so that the tabernacle will be a unit.

The Eleven Curtains of Goat Hair
(Exodus 36:14–19)

7You are to make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven curtains in all. 8Each of the eleven curtains is to be the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.b

9Join five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another. Then fold the sixth curtain over double at the front of the tent.

10Make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and fifty loops along the edge of the corresponding curtain in the second set. 11Make fifty bronze clasps and put them through the loops to join the tent together as a unit.

12As for the overlap that remains of the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over shall hang down over the back of the tabernacle. 13And the tent curtains will be a cubitc longer on either side, and the excess will hang over the sides of the tabernacle to cover it.

14Also make a covering for the tent out of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of fine leather.d

The Frames and Bases
(Exodus 36:20–34)

15You are to construct upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. 16Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.e
17Two tenonsf must be connected to each other for each frame. Make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way.

18Construct twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle, 19with forty silver bases under the twenty frames—two bases for each frame, one under each tenon.

20For the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, make twenty frames 21and forty silver bases—two bases under each frame.

22Make six frames for the rear of the tabernacle, the west side, 23and two frames for the two back corners of the tabernacle, 24coupled together from bottom to top and fitted into a single ring. These will serve as the two corners. 25So there are to be eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.

26You are also to make five crossbars of acacia wood for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, 27five for those on the other side, and five for those on the rear side of the tabernacle, to the west.

28The central crossbar in the middle of the frames shall extend from one end to the other. 29Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold.

30So you are to set up the tabernacle according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.

The Veil
(Exodus 36:35–36)

31Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 32Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. 33And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimonyg behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.h

34Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35And place the table outside the veil on the north side of the tabernacle, and put the lampstand opposite the table, on the south side.

The Curtain for the Entrance
(Exodus 36:37–38)

36For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. 37Make five posts of acacia wood for the curtain, overlay them with gold hooks, and cast five bronze bases for them.

Footnotes:

2 a Each of the ten curtains was approximately 42 feet long and 6 feet wide (12.8 meters long and 1.8 meters wide).

8 b Each of the eleven curtains was approximately 45 feet long and 6 feet wide (13.7 meters long and 1.8 meters wide).

13 c A cubit is approximately 18 inches or 45.7 centimeters.

14 d Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals

16 e Each frame was approximately 15 feet long and 2.25 feet wide (4.6 meters long and 68.6 centimeters wide).

17 f That is, projecting pieces of wood made for insertion into another piece; similarly in verse 19.

33 g That is, the ark of the covenant; also in verse 34

33 h Or the Holy of Holies; also in verse 34

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◀   ◀   Exodus 27   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Bronze Altar
(Exodus 38:1–7)

1“You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.a
2Make a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze.

3Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots for removing ashes, its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks, and its firepans. 4Construct for it a grate of bronze mesh, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the mesh. 5Set the grate beneath the ledge of the altar, so that the mesh comes halfway up the altar.

6Additionally, make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. 7The poles are to be inserted into the rings so that the poles are on two sides of the altar when it is carried.

8Construct the altar with boards so that it is hollow. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.

The Courtyard
(Exodus 38:9–20)

9You are also to make a courtyard for the tabernacle. On the south side of the courtyard make curtains of finely spun linen, a hundred cubits longb on one side, 10with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and silver hooks and bands on the posts.

11Likewise there are to be curtains on the north side, a hundred cubits long, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 12The curtains on the west side of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide,c with ten posts and ten bases.

13The east side of the courtyard, toward the sunrise, is to be fifty cubits wide. 14Make the curtains on one side fifteen cubits long,d with three posts and three bases, 15and the curtains on the other side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases.

16The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long,e with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases.

17All the posts around the courtyard shall have silver bands, silver hooks, and bronze bases. 18The entire courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide,f with curtains of finely spun linen five cubits high,g and with bronze bases. 19All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, including all its tent pegs and the tent pegs of the courtyard, shall be made of bronze.

The Oil for the Lamps
(Leviticus 24:1–4)

20And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.

21In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony,h Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.

Footnotes:

1 a The altar was approximately 7.5 feet in length and width, and 4.5 feet high (2.3 meters in length and width, and 1.4 meters high).

9 b 100 cubits is approximately 150 feet or 45.7 meters; also in verse 11.

12 c 50 cubits is approximately 75 feet or 22.9 meters; also in verse 13.

14 d 15 cubits is approximately 22.5 feet or 6.9 meters; also in verse 15.

16 e 20 cubits is approximately 30 feet or 9.1 meters.

18 f The courtyard was approximately 150 feet long and 75 feet wide (45.7 meters long and 22.9 meters wide).

18 g 5 cubits is approximately 7.5 feet or 2.3 meters.

21 h The Testimony refers to the stone tablets in the ark of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

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◀   ◀   Exodus 28   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Garments for the Priests

1“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests. 2Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, to give him glory and splendor.

3You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest. 4These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests. 5They shall use gold, along with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

The Ephod
(Exodus 39:1–7)

6They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 7It shall have two shoulder pieces attached at two of its corners, so it can be fastened. 8And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod must be of one piece, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.

9Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: 10six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other, in the order of their birth. 11Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings. 12Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear their names on his two shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.

13Fashion gold filigree settings 14and two chains of pure gold, made of braided cord work; and attach these chains to the settings.

The Breastpiece
(Exodus 39:8–21)

15You are also to make a breastpiece of judgment with the same workmanship as the ephod. Construct it with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen. 16It must be square when folded over double, a span long and a span wide.a

17And mount on it a setting of gemstones, four rows of stones:b

In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald;

18in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

19in the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;

20and in the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.

Mount these stones in gold filigree settings. 21The twelve stones are to correspond to the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

22For the breastpiece, make braided chains like cords of pure gold. 23You are also to make two gold rings and fasten them to the two corners of the breastpiece. 24Then fasten the two gold chains to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece, 25and fasten the other ends of the two chains to the two filigree settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.

26Make two more gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece, on the inside edge next to the ephod.

27Make two additional gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near its seam just above its woven waistband. 28The rings of the breastpiece shall be tied to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece is above the waistband of the ephod and does not swing out from the ephod.

29Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he shall bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of judgment, as a continual reminder before the LORD.

30And place the Urim and Thummimc in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.

Additional Priestly Garments
(Exodus 39:22–31)

31You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, 32with an opening at its top in the center. Around the opening shall be a woven collar with an opening like that of a garment,d so that it will not tear.

33Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn all the way around the lower hem, with gold bells between them, 34alternating the gold bells and pomegranates around the lower hem of the robe.

35Aaron must wear the robe whenever he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he enters or exits the sanctuary before the LORD, so that he will not die.

36You are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal:

HOLY TO THE LORD.e

37Fasten to it a blue cord to mount it on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban. 38And it will be worn on Aaron’s forehead, so that he may bear the iniquity of the holy things that the sons of Israel consecrate with regard to all their holy gifts. It shall always be on his forehead, so that they may be acceptable before the LORD.

39You are to weave the tunic with fine linen, make the turban of fine linen, and fashion an embroidered sash. 40Make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron’s sons, to give them glory and splendor.

41After you put these garments on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint them, ordain them, and consecrate them so that they may serve Me as priests.

42Make linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh, extending from waist to thigh. 43Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants.

Footnotes:

16 a The breastpiece, when folded over, was approximately 9 inches or 22.9 centimeters in both length and width.

17 b The precise identification of some of these gemstones is uncertain.

30 c Literally Lights and Perfections

32 d The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; possibly a coat of mail.

36 e That is, the LORD

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◀   ◀   Exodus 29   ▶   ▶

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Consecration of the Priests
(Leviticus 8:1–13)

1“Now this is what you are to do to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without blemish, 2along with unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil. Make them out of fine wheat flour, 3put them in a basket, and present them in the basket, along with the bull and the two rams.

4Then present Aaron and his sons at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. 5Take the garments and clothe Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself, and the breastplate. Fasten the ephod on him with its woven waistband. 6Put the turban on his head and attach the holy diadem to the turban. 7Then take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.

8Present his sons as well and clothe them with tunics. 9Wrap the sashes around Aaron and his sons and tie headbands on them. The priesthood shall be theirs by a permanent statute. In this way you are to ordain Aaron and his sons.

The Order of the Sacrifices
(Leviticus 8:22–36)

10You are to present the bull at the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head. 11And you shall slaughter the bull before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 12Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; then pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 13Take all the fat that covers the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar. 14But burn the flesh of the bull and its hide and dung outside the camp; it is a sin offering.a

15Take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. 16You are to slaughter the ram, take its blood, and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar. 17Cut the ram into pieces, wash the entrails and legs, and place them with its head and other pieces. 18Then burn the entire ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

19Take the second ram, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head. 20Slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on the right earlobes of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Sprinkle the remaining blood on all sides of the altar. 21And take some of the blood on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments, as well as on his sons and their garments. Then he and his garments will be consecrated, as well as his sons and their garments.

22Take the fat from the ram, the fat tail, the fat covering the entrails, the lobe of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh (since this is a ram for ordination), 23along with one loaf of bread, one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer from the basket of unleavened bread that is before the LORD. 24Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering. 25Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar atop the burnt offering as a pleasing aroma before the LORD; it is an offering made by fire to the LORD.

26Take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your portion. 27Consecrate for Aaron and his sons the breast of the wave offering that is waved and the thigh of the heave offering that is lifted up from the ram of ordination. 28This will belong to Aaron and his sons as a regular portion from the Israelites, for it is the heave offering the Israelites will make to the LORD from their peace offerings.

29The holy garments that belong to Aaron will belong to his sons after him, so they can be anointed and ordained in them. 30The son who succeeds him as priest and enters the Tent of Meeting to minister in the Holy Place must wear them for seven days.

Food for the Priests

31You are to take the ram of ordination and boil its flesh in a holy place. 32At the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread that is in the basket. 33They must eat those things by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration. But no outsider may eat them, because these things are sacred. 34And if any of the meat of ordination or any bread is left until the morning, you are to burn up the remainder. It must not be eaten, because it is sacred.

35This is what you are to do for Aaron and his sons based on all that I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them. 36Sacrifice a bull as a sin offering each day for atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it. 37For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will become most holy; whatever touches the altar will be holy.

The Daily Offerings
(Numbers 28:1–8)

38This is what you are to offer regularly on the altar, each day: two lambs that are a year old. 39Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight.b
40With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour,c mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives,d and a drink offering of a quarter hin of wine. 41And offer the second lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning, as a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

42For the generations to come, this burnt offering shall be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you. 43I will also meet with the Israelites there, and that place will be consecrated by My glory. 44So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests.

God Will Dwell among the People

45Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46And they will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I might dwell among them.

I am the LORD their God.

Footnotes:

14 a Or purification offering; also in verse 36

39 b Hebrew between the two evenings; also in verse 41

40 c A tenth of an ephah is approximately 2 dry quarts or 2.2 liters (probably about 2.6 pounds or 1.2 kilograms of flour).

40 d Hebrew a quarter hin of pressed oil; that is, approximately 0.97 quarts or 0.92 liters

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◀   ◀   Exodus 30   ▶   ▶

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The Altar of Incense
(Exodus 37:25–29)

1“You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense. 2It is to be square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high.a Its horns must be of one piece. 3Overlay with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns, and make a molding of gold around it. 4And make two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it. 5Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

6Place the altar in front of the veil that is before the ark of the Testimonyb—before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony—where I will meet with you. 7And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps. 8When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight,c he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come. 9On this altar you must not offer unauthorizedd incense or a burnt offering or grain offering; nor are you to pour a drink offering on it.

10Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offeringe of atonement. The altar is most holy to the LORD.”

The Census Offering
(2 Samuel 24:1–9; 1 Chronicles 21:1–6)

11Then the LORD said to Moses, 12“When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered. 13Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel,f according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs.g This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.

14Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD. 15In making the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives, the rich shall not give more than a half shekel, nor shall the poor give less. 16Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.”

The Bronze Basin
(Exodus 38:8)

17And the LORD said to Moses, 18“You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it, 19with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet. 20Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made by fire to the LORD, they must wash with water so that they will not die. 21Thus they are to wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this shall be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”

The Anointing Oil

22Then the LORD said to Moses, 23“Take the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh,h half that amount (250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon,i 250 shekels of fragrant cane,j
24500 shekels of cassiak —all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil.l
25Prepare from these a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be a sacred anointing oil.

26Use this oil to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, 27the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense, 28the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. 29You are to consecrate them so that they will be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy. 30Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them to serve Me as priests.

31And you are to tell the Israelites, ‘This will be My sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. 32It must not be used to anoint an ordinary man, and you must not make anything like it with the same formula. It is holy, and it must be holy to you. 33Anyone who mixes perfume like it or puts it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people.’ ”

The Incense

34The LORD also said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures, 35and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. 36Grind some of it into fine powder and place it in front of the Testimonym in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. 37You are never to use this formula to make incense for yourselves; you shall regard it as holy to the LORD. 38Anyone who makes something like it to enjoy its fragrance shall be cut off from his people.”

Footnotes:

2 a The altar was approximately 1.5 feet in length and width, and 3 feet high (45.7 centimeters in length and width, and 91.4 centimeters high).

6 b That is, the ark of the covenant; also in verse 26

8 c Hebrew between the two evenings

9 d Or strange

10 e Or purification offering

13 f A half shekel is approximately 0.2 ounces or 5.7 grams; also in verse 15.

13 g 20 gerahs is equivalent to one shekel (approximately 0.4 ounces or 11.4 grams).

23 h 500 shekels is approximately 12.6 pounds or 5.7 kilograms of myrrh.

23 i 250 shekels is approximately 6.3 pounds or 2.9 kilograms of cinnamon.

23 j 250 shekels is approximately 6.3 pounds or 2.9 kilograms of cane.

24 k 500 shekels is approximately 12.6 pounds or 5.7 kilograms of cassia.

24 l A hin is approximately 0.97 gallons or 3.67 liters of olive oil.

36 m The Testimony refers to the stone tablets in the ark of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

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◀   ◀   Exodus 31   ▶   ▶

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Bezalel and Oholiab
(Exodus 35:30–35)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship, 4to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, 5to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft.

6Moreover, I have selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as his assistant.

I have also given skill to all the craftsmen, that they may fashion all that I have commanded you: 7the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimonya and the mercy seat upon it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— 8the table with its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, 9the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand— 10as well as the woven garments, both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests, 11in addition to the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them according to all that I have commanded you.”

The Sign of the Sabbath
(Numbers 15:32–36)

12And the LORD said to Moses, 13“Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 14Keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Anyone who profanes it must surely be put to death. Whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from among his people. 15For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.

16The Israelites must keep the Sabbath, celebrating it as a permanent covenant for the generations to come. 17It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ ”

Moses Receives the Tablets

18When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

Footnotes:

7 a That is, the ark of the covenant

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◀   ◀   Exodus 32   ▶   ▶

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The Golden Calf
(Deuteronomy 9:7–29; Acts 7:39–43)

1Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!”a

2So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”

3Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

5When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and proclaimed: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.”

6So the next day they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to indulge in revelry.b

7Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it. They have sacrificed to it and said, ‘These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’ ”

9The LORD also said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people. 10Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

11But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people. 13Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’ ”

14So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people.

15Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. 16The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.

17When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “The sound of war is in the camp.”

18But Moses replied:

“It is neither the cry of victory nor the cry of defeat;

I hear the sound of singing!”

19As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain. 20Then he took the calf they had made, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the powder over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it.

21“What did this people do to you,” Moses asked Aaron, “that you have led them into so great a sin?”

22“Do not be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil. 23They told me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!’

24So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, let him take it off,’ and they gave it to me. And when I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!”

25Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them run wild and become a laughingstockc to their enemies. 26So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.”

And all the Levites gathered around him.

27He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’ ”

28The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead.

29Afterward, Moses said, “Today you have been ordainedd for service to the LORD, since each man went against his son and his brother; so the LORD has bestowed a blessing on you this day.”

30The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”

31So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made gods of gold for themselves. 32Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”

33The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book. 34Now go, lead the people to the place I described. Behold, My angel shall go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin.”

35And the LORD sent a plague on the people because of what they had done with the calf that Aaron had made.

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in Acts 7:40

6 b Or to play; cited in 1 Corinthians 10:7

25 c Or and become an object of derision

29 d Or have ordained yourselves

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◀   ◀   Exodus 33   ▶   ▶

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The Command to Leave Sinai
(Deuteronomy 1:1–8)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”

4When the people heard these bad tidings, they went into mourning, and no one put on any of his jewelry. 5For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I should go with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.’ ”

6So the Israelites stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.a

The Tent of Meeting

7Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp. 8Then, whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand at the entrances to their own tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent. 9As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses. 10When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent.

11Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.

The Promise of God’s Presence

12Then Moses said to the LORD, “Look, You have been telling me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.’ 13Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.”

14And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15“If Your Presence does not go with us,” Moses replied, “do not lead us up from here. 16For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

17So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”

18Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”

19“I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”b

20But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”

21The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock, 22and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

Footnotes:

6 a That is, from Mount Sinai onward, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

19 b Cited in Romans 9:15

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◀   ◀   Exodus 34   ▶   ▶

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New Stone Tablets
(Deuteronomy 10:1–11)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the originals, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2Be ready in the morning, and come up on Mount Sinai to present yourself before Me on the mountaintop. 3No one may go up with you; in fact, no one may be seen anywhere on the mountain—not even the flocks or herds may graze in front of the mountain.”

4So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the originals. He rose early in the morning, and taking the two stone tablets in his hands, he went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him.

5And the LORD descended in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name, the LORD. 6Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out:

“The LORD, the LORD God,
is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger,
abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,

7maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations,a
forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin.

Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished;

He will visit the iniquity of the fathers
on their children and grandchildren
to the third and fourth generations.”

8Moses immediately bowed down to the ground and worshiped. 9“O Lord,” he said, “if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our iniquity and sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”

The LORD Renews the Covenant
(2 Corinthians 3:7–18)

10And the LORD said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will perform wonders that have never been done in any nation in all the world. All the people among whom you live will see the LORD’s work, for it is an awesome thing that I am doing with you.

11Observe what I command you this day. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 12Be careful not to make a treatyb with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst. 13Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles. 14For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

15Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices. 16And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same.

17You shall make no molten gods for yourselves.

18You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread.c For seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib,d you are to eat unleavened bread as I commanded you. For in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt.

19The first offspring of every womb belongs to Me, including all the firstborn males among your livestock, whether cattle or sheep. 20You must redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb; but if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one shall appear before Me empty-handed.

21Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even in the seasons of plowing and harvesting, you must rest.

22And you are to celebrate the Feast of Weekse with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingatheringf at the turn of the year. 23Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. 24For I will drive out the nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your God.

25Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to Me along with anything leavened, and do not let any of the sacrifice from the Passover Feast remain until morning.

26Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God.

You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

27The LORD also said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”

28So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.g

29And when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was unaware that his face had become radiant from speaking with the LORD. 30Aaron and all the Israelites looked at Moses, and behold, his face was radiant. And they were afraid to approach him.

31But Moses called out to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke to them. 32And after this all the Israelites came near, and Moses commanded them to do everything that the LORD had told him on Mount Sinai.

33When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. 34But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would remove the veil until he came out. And when he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35and the Israelites would see that the face of Moses was radiant. So Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.

Footnotes:

7 a Hebrew to thousands

12 b Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant.

18 c That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten; see Exodus 12:14–20.

18 d Abib was the first month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of March and April; twice in this verse.

22 e That is, Shavuot, the late spring feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is also known as the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16) or the Feast of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1).

22 f That is, Sukkot, the autumn feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is later called the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths or Shelters).

28 g Hebrew the Ten Words

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The Sabbath

1Then Moses assembled the whole congregation of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do: 2For six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on that day must be put to death. 3Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

Offerings for the Tabernacle
(Exodus 25:1–9)

4Moses also told the whole congregation of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded: 5Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring an offering to the LORD:

gold, silver, and bronze;

6blue, purple, and scarlet yarn;
fine linen and goat hair;

7ram skins dyed red and fine leather;a
acacia wood;

8olive oil for the light;
spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

9and onyx stones and gemstones to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

The Skilled Craftsmen

10Let every skilled craftsman among you come and make everything that the LORD has commanded:

11the tabernacle with its tent and covering, its clasps and frames, its crossbars, posts, and bases;

12the ark with its poles and mercy seat, and the veil to shield it;

13the table with its poles, all its utensils, and the Bread of the Presence;

14the lampstand for light with its accessories and lamps and oil for the light;

15the altar of incense with its poles;
the anointing oil and fragrant incense;
the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;

16the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its utensils;
the basin with its stand;

17the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the gate of the courtyard;

18the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, along with their ropes;

19and the woven garments for ministering in the holy place—both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”

The People Offer Gifts

20Then the whole congregation of Israel withdrew from the presence of Moses. 21And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.

22So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.

23Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or articles of fine leather, brought them. 24And all who could present an offering of silver or bronze brought it as a contribution to the LORD. Also, everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the service brought it.

25Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen. 26And all the skilled women whose hearts were stirred spun the goat hair.

27The leaders brought onyx stones and gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece, 28as well as spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

29So all the men and women of the Israelites whose hearts prompted them brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.

Bezalel and Oholiab
(Exodus 31:1–11)

30Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship, 32to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, 33to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every artistic craft.

34And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.

Footnotes:

7 a Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verse 23

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The People Bring More than Enough

1“So Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person are to carry out everything commanded by the LORD, who has given them skill and ability to know how to perform all the work of constructing the sanctuary.”

2Then Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person whom the LORD had gifted—everyone whose heart stirred him to come and do the work. 3They received from Moses all the contributions that the Israelites had brought to carry out the service of constructing the sanctuary.

Meanwhile, the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning, 4so that all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work 5and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD has commanded us to do.”

6After Moses had given an order, they sent a proclamation throughout the camp: “No man or woman should make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing more, 7since what they already had was more than enough to perform all the work.

The Ten Curtains for the Tabernacle
(Exodus 26:1–6)

8All the skilled craftsmen among the workmen made the ten curtains for the tabernacle. They were made of finely spun linen, as well as blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim skillfully worked into them. 9Each curtain was twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide;a all the curtains were the same size. 10And he joined five of the curtains together, and the other five he joined as well.

11He made loops of blue material on the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and also on the end curtain in the second set. 12He made fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the second set, so that the loops lined up opposite one another. 13He also made fifty gold clasps to join the curtains together, so that the tabernacle was a unit.

The Eleven Curtains of Goat Hair
(Exodus 26:7–14)

14He then made curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven curtains in all. 15Each of the eleven curtains was the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.b
16He joined five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another. 17He made fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and fifty loops along the edge of the corresponding curtain in the second set. 18He also made fifty bronze clasps to join the tent together as a unit.

19Additionally, he made for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of fine leather.c

The Frames and Bases
(Exodus 26:15–30)

20Next, he constructed upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. 21Each frame was ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.d
22Two tenonse were connected to each other for each frame. He made all the frames of the tabernacle in this way.

23He constructed twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle, 24with forty silver bases to put under the twenty frames—two bases for each frame, one under each tenon.

25For the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, he made twenty frames 26and forty silver bases—two bases under each frame.

27He made six frames for the rear of the tabernacle, the west side, 28and two frames for the two back corners of the tabernacle, 29coupled together from bottom to top and fitted into a single ring. He made both corners in this way. 30So there were eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.

31He also made five crossbars of acacia wood for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, 32five for those on the other side, and five for those on the rear side of the tabernacle, to the west.

33He made the central crossbar to run through the center of the frames, from one end to the other. 34And he overlaid the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. He also overlaid the crossbars with gold.

The Veil
(Exodus 26:31–35)

35Next, he made the veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.

36He also made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold, along with gold hooks; and he cast four silver bases for the posts.

The Curtain for the Entrance
(Exodus 26:36–37)

37For the entrance to the tent, he made a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, 38together with five posts and their hooks.

He overlaid the tops of the posts and their bands with gold, and their five bases were bronze.

Footnotes:

9 a Each of the ten curtains was approximately 42 feet long and 6 feet wide (12.8 meters long and 1.8 meters wide).

15 b Each of the eleven curtains was approximately 45 feet long and 6 feet wide (13.7 meters long and 1.8 meters wide).

19 c Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals

21 d Each frame was approximately 15 feet long and 2.25 feet wide (4.6 meters long and 68.6 centimeters wide).

22 e That is, projecting pieces of wood made for insertion into another piece; similarly in verse 24.

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Constructing the Ark
(Exodus 25:10–16)

1Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.a
2He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. 3And he cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. 4Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it.

The Mercy Seat
(Exodus 25:17–22)

6He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.b
7He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, 8one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. 9And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

The Table of Showbread
(Exodus 25:23–30; Leviticus 24:5–9)

10He also made the table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.c
11He overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it. 12And he made a rim around it a handbreadth wided and put a gold molding on the rim.

13He cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners at its four legs. 14The rings were placed close to the rim, to serve as holders for the poles used to carry the table. 15He made the poles of acacia wood for carrying the table and overlaid them with gold.

16He also made the utensils for the table out of pure gold: its plates and dishes, as well as its bowls and pitchers for pouring drink offerings.

The Lampstand
(Exodus 25:31–40; Numbers 8:1–4)

17Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold, all of one piece: its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals. 18Six branches extended from the sides, three on one side and three on the other. 19There were three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extended from the lampstand.

20And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals. 21A bud was under the first pair of branches that extended from the lampstand, a bud under the second pair, and a bud under the third pair. 22The buds and branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

23He also made its seven lamps, its wick trimmers, and trays of pure gold. 24He made the lampstand and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold.e

The Altar of Incense
(Exodus 30:1–10)

25He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high.f Its horns were of one piece. 26And he overlaid with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns. Then he made a molding of gold around it.

27He made two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it. 28And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

29He also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.

Footnotes:

1 a The ark was approximately 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high (114.3 centimeters long, 68.6 centimeters wide, and 68.6 centimeters high).

6 b The mercy seat was approximately 3.75 feet long and 2.25 feet wide (114.3 centimeters long and 68.6 centimeters wide).

10 c The table was approximately 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high (91.4 centimeters long, 45.7 centimeters wide, and 68.6 centimeters high).

12 d A handbreadth is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters.

24 e A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.

25 f The altar was approximately 1.5 feet in length and width, and 3 feet high (45.7 centimeters in length and width, and 91.4 centimeters high).

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The Bronze Altar
(Exodus 27:1–8)

1Bezalel constructeda the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.b
2He made a horn at each of its four corners, so that the horns and altar were of one piece, and he overlaid the altar with bronze.

3He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans. 4He made a grate of bronze mesh for the altar under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom.

5At the four corners of the bronze grate he cast four rings as holders for the poles. 6And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. 7Then he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar for carrying it. He made the altar with boards so that it was hollow.

The Bronze Basin
(Exodus 30:17–21)

8Next he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

The Courtyard
(Exodus 27:9–19)

9Then he constructed the courtyard. The south side of the courtyard was a hundred cubits longc and had curtains of finely spun linen, 10with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 11The north side was also a hundred cubits long, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver. 12The west side was fifty cubits longd and had curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver. 13And the east side, toward the sunrise, was also fifty cubits long.

14The curtains on one side of the entrance were fifteen cubits long,e with three posts and three bases. 15And the curtains on the other side were also fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases as well. 16All the curtains around the courtyard were made of finely spun linen. 17The bases for the posts were bronze, the hooks and bands were silver, and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. So all the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver.

18The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It was twenty cubits longf and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high,g
19with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks were silver, as well as the bands and the plating of their tops. 20All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the surrounding courtyard were bronze.

An Inventory of Materials
(Ezra 2:68–70; Nehemiah 7:70–73)

21This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 22Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD had commanded Moses. 23With him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.

24All the gold from the wave offering used for the work on the sanctuary totaled 29 talents and 730 shekels,h according to the sanctuary shekel.

25The silver from those numbered among the congregation totaled 100 talents and 1,775 shekels,i according to the sanctuary shekel— 26a beka per person, that is, half a shekel,j according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.

27The hundred talents of silverk were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base.

28With the 1,775 shekels of silverl he made the hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and supplied bands for them.

29The bronze from the wave offering totaled 70 talents and 2,400 shekels.m
30He used it to make the bases for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar and its bronze grating, all the utensils for the altar, 31the bases for the surrounding courtyard and its gate, and all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and its surrounding courtyard.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally He constructed

1 b The altar was approximately 7.5 feet in length and width, and 4.5 feet high (2.3 meters in length and width, and 1.4 meters high).

9 c 100 cubits is approximately 150 feet or 45.7 meters.

12 d 50 cubits is approximately 75 feet or 22.9 meters.

14 e 15 cubits is approximately 22.5 feet or 6.9 meters.

18 f 20 cubits is approximately 30 feet or 9.1 meters.

18 g 5 cubits is approximately 7.5 feet or 2.3 meters.

24 h The total weight of the gold was approximately 1.1 tons or 1 metric ton.

25 i The total weight of the silver was approximately 3.79 tons or 3.44 metric tons.

26 j A beka is half a shekel, or approximately 0.2 ounces or 5.7 grams.

27 k 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver.

28 l 1,775 shekels is approximately 44.6 pounds or 20.2 kilograms of silver.

29 m The total weight of the bronze was approximately 2.67 tons or 2.42 metric tons.

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The Ephod
(Exodus 28:6–14)

1From the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn they made specially woven garments for ministry in the sanctuary, as well as the holy garments for Aaron, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

2Bezalel madea the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 3They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut threads from them to interweave with the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen—the work of a skilled craftsman. 4They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached at two of its corners, so it could be fastened. 5And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod was of one piece with the ephod, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

6They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings, engraved like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel. 7Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

The Breastpiece
(Exodus 28:15–30)

8He made the breastpiece with the same workmanship as the ephod, with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen. 9It was square when folded over double, a span long and a span wide.b

10And they mounted on it four rows of gemstones:c

The first row had a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald;

11the second row had a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

12the third row had a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;

13and the fourth row had a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.

These stones were mounted in gold filigree settings.

14The twelve stones corresponded to the names of the sons of Israel. Each stone was engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

15For the breastpiece they made braided chains like cords of pure gold. 16They also made two gold filigree settings and two gold rings, and fastened the two rings to the two corners of the breastpiece. 17Then they fastened the two gold chains to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece, 18and they fastened the other ends of the two chains to the two filigree settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.

19They made two more gold rings and attached them to the other two corners of the breastpiece, on the inside edge next to the ephod.

20They made two additional gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near the seam just above its woven waistband. 21Then they tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece was above the waistband of the ephod and would not swing out from the ephod, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Additional Priestly Garments
(Exodus 28:31–43)

22They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, the work of a weaver, 23with an opening in the center of the robe like that of a garment,d with a collar around the opening so that it would not tear.

24They made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely spun linen on the lower hem of the robe. 25They also made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates, 26alternating the bells and pomegranates around the lower hem of the robe to be worn for ministry, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

27For Aaron and his sons they made tunics of fine linen, the work of a weaver, 28as well as the turban of fine linen, the ornate headbands and undergarments of finely spun linen, 29and the sash of finely spun linen, embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

30They also made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and they engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal:

HOLY TO THE LORD.e

31Then they fastened to it a blue cord to mount it on the turban, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Moses Approves the Work

32So all the work for the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

33Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses:

the tent with all its furnishings, its clasps, its frames, its crossbars, and its posts and bases;

34the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of fine leather,f and the veil of the covering;

35the ark of the Testimonyg with its poles and the mercy seat;

36the table with all its utensils and the Bread of the Presence;

37the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its utensils, as well as the oil for the light;

38the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent;

39the bronze altar with its bronze grating, its poles, and all its utensils;
the basin with its stand;

40the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases;
the curtain for the gate of the courtyard, its ropes and tent pegs, and all the equipment for the service of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting;

41and the woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary, both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.

42The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 43And Moses inspected all the work and saw that they had accomplished it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.

Footnotes:

2 a Literally He made

9 b The breastpiece, when folded over, was approximately 9 inches or 22.9 centimeters in both length and width.

10 c The precise identification of some of these gemstones is uncertain.

23 d The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; possibly a coat of mail.

30 e That is, the LORD

34 f Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals

35 g That is, the ark of the covenant

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Setting Up the Tabernacle
(Acts 7:44–47; Hebrews 9:1–10)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“On the first day of the first month you are to set up the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. 3Put the ark of the Testimonya in it and screen off the ark with the veil. 4Then bring in the table and set out its arrangement; bring in the lampstand as well, and set up its lamps.

5Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the Testimony, and hang the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. 6Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. 7And place the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it.

8Set up the surrounding courtyard and hang the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard.

9Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it along with all its furnishings, and it shall be holy. 10Anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it shall be most holy. 11Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them.

12Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. 13And you are to clothe Aaron with the holy garments, anoint him, and consecrate him, so that he may serve Me as a priest. 14Bring his sons forward and clothe them with tunics. 15Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may also serve Me as priests. Their anointing will qualify them for a permanent priesthood throughout their generations.”

16Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded him. 17So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year.

18When Moses set up the tabernacle, he laid its bases, positioned its frames, inserted its crossbars, and set up its posts. 19Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, just as the LORD had commanded him.

20Moses took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attaching the poles to the ark; and he set the mercy seat atop the ark. 21Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the veil for the screen, and shielded off the ark of the Testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him.

22Moses placed the table in the Tent of Meeting on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil. 23He arranged the bread on it before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.

24He also placed the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle 25and set up the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.

26Moses placed the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting, in front of the veil, 27and he burned fragrant incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded him. 28Then he put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. 29He placed the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, just as the LORD had commanded him.

30He placed the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing; 31and from it Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet. 32They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

33And Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar, and he hung the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.

The Cloud and the Glory
(Numbers 9:15–23)

34Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

36Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out through all the stages of their journey. 37If the cloud was not lifted, they would not set out until the day it was taken up. 38For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel through all their journeys.

Footnotes:

3 a That is, the ark of the covenant; also in verses 5 and 21

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27)

Laws for Burnt Offerings
(Leviticus 6:8–13)

1Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying, 2“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, you may bring as your offering an animal from the herd or the flock.

3If one’s offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD. 4He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.

5And he shall slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests are to present the blood and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 6Next, he is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.

7The sons of Aaron the priest shall put a fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8Then Aaron’s sons the priests are to arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, atop the burning wood on the altar. 9The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

10If, however, one’s offering is a burnt offering from the flock—from the sheep or goats—he is to present an unblemished male. 11He shall slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests are to sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides. 12He is to cut the animal into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and fat, atop the burning wood that is on the altar. 13The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall bring all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

14If, instead, one’s offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to present a turtledove or a young pigeon. 15Then the priest shall bring it to the altar, twist off its head, and burn it on the altar; its blood should be drained out on the side of the altar. 16And he is to remove the crop with its contentsa and throw it to the east side of the altar, in the place for ashes. 17He shall tear it open by its wings, without dividing the bird completely. And the priest is to burn it on the altar atop the burning wood. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Footnotes:

16 a Or the crop and feathers

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 2   ▶   ▶

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Laws for Grain Offerings
(Leviticus 6:14–23)

1“When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering must consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it, 2and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour and oil, together with all the frankincense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 3The remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings made by fire to the LORD.

4Now if you bring an offering of grain baked in an oven, it must consist of fine flour, either unleavened cakes mixed with oil or unleavened wafers coated with oil.

5If your offering is a grain offering prepared on a griddle,a it must be unleavened bread made of fine flour mixed with oil. 6Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.

7If your offering is a grain offering cooked in a pan,b it must consist of fine flour with oil.

8When you bring to the LORD the grain offering made in any of these ways, it is to be presented to the priest, and he shall take it to the altar. 9The priest is to remove the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 10But the remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings made by fire to the LORD.

11No grain offering that you present to the LORD may be made with leaven, for you are not to burn any leaven or honey as an offering made by fire to the LORD. 12You may bring them to the LORD as an offering of firstfruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma. 13And you shall season each of your grain offerings with salt. You must not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offering; you are to add salt to each of your offerings.

14If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer crushed heads of new grain roasted on the fire. 15And you are to put oil and frankincense on it; it is a grain offering. 16The priest shall then burn the memorial portion of the crushed grain and the oil, together with all its frankincense, as an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Footnotes:

5 a That is, a shallow pan for baking or frying

7 b That is, a deep pan or stew pan

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 3   ▶   ▶

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Laws for Peace Offerings
(Leviticus 7:11–21)

1“If one’s offering is a peace offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present it without blemish before the LORD. 2He is to lay his hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood on all sides of the altar.

3From the peace offering he is to bring an offering made by fire to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, 4both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. 5Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

6If, however, one’s peace offering to the LORD is from the flock, he must present a male or female without blemish.

7If he is presenting a lamb for his offering, he must present it before the LORD. 8He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood on all sides of the altar.

9And from the peace offering he shall bring an offering made by fire to the LORD consisting of its fat: the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, 10both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. 11Then the priest is to burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

12If one’s offering is a goat, he is to present it before the LORD. 13He must lay his hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood on all sides of the altar.

14And from his offering he shall present an offering made by fire to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, 15both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. 16Then the priest is to burn the food on the altar as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.

17This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 4   ▶   ▶

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Laws for Sin Offerings
(Leviticus 5:1–13; Leviticus 6:24–30)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Tell the Israelites to do as follows with one who sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s commandments and does what is forbidden by them:

3If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull without blemish as a sin offeringa for the sin he has committed. 4He must bring the bull to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the LORD. 5Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood and bring it into the Tent of Meeting. 6The priest is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before the LORD, in front of the veil of the sanctuary. 7The priest must then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. And he is to pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 8Then he shall remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering—the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, 9both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys— 10just as the fat is removed from the ox of the peace offering. Then the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering. 11But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, with its head and legs and its entrails and dung— 12all the rest of the bull—he must take outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place where the ashes are poured out, and there he must burn it on a wood fire on the ash heap.

13Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden, 14when they become aware of the sin they have committed, then the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the Tent of Meeting. 15The elders of the congregation are to lay their hands on the bull’s head before the LORD, and it shall be slaughtered before the LORD. 16Then the anointed priest is to bring some of the bull’s blood into the Tent of Meeting, 17and he is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the veil. 18He is also to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting, and he must pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 19And he is to remove all the fat from it and burn it on the altar. 20He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven. 21Then he is to take the bull outside the camp and burn it, just as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the assembly.

22When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the commandments of the LORD his God, he incurs guilt. 23When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring an unblemished male goat as his offering. 24He is to lay his hand on the head of the goat and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the LORD. It is a sin offering. 25Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 26He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the peace offerings; thus the priest will make atonement for that man’s sin, and he will be forgiven.

27And if one of the common people sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the LORD’s commandments, he incurs guilt. 28When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring an unblemished female goat as his offering for that sin. 29He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering. 30Then the priest is to take some of its blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 31Then he is to remove all the fat, just as it is removed from the peace offering, and the priest is to burn it on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.

32If, however, he brings a lamb as a sin offering, he must bring an unblemished female. 33And he is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it as a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. 34Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. 35And he shall remove all the fat, just as the fat of the lamb is removed from the peace offerings, and he shall burn it on the altar along with the offerings made by fire to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.

Footnotes:

3 a Or purification offering; here and throughout Leviticus

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 5   ▶   ▶

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Sins Requiring a Sin Offering
(Leviticus 4:1–35; Leviticus 6:24–30)

1“If someone sins by failing to testify when he hears a public charge about something he has witnessed, whether he has seen it or learned of it, he shall bear the iniquity.

2Or if a person touches anything unclean—whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature—even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and guilty.

3Or if he touches human uncleanness—anything by which one becomes unclean—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty.

4Or if someone swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do anything good or evil—in whatever matter a man may rashly pronounce an oath—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty in the matter.

5If someone incurs guilt in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has committed, 6and he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin he has committed: a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering. And the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin.

7If, however, he cannot afford a lamb, he may bring to the LORD as restitution for his sin two turtledoves or two young pigeons—one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. 8He is to bring them to the priest, who shall first present the one for the sin offering. He is to twist its head at the front of its neck without severing it; 9then he is to sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood is drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. 10And the priest must prepare the second bird as a burnt offering according to the ordinance. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.

11But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he may bring a tenth of an ephah of fine floura as a sin offering. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering. 12He is to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful from it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar atop the offerings made by fire to the LORD; it is a sin offering. 13In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven. The remainder will belong to the priest, like the grain offering.”

Laws for Guilt Offerings
(Leviticus 6:1–7; Leviticus 7:1–10)

14Then the LORD said to Moses, 15“If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper valueb in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel;c it is a guilt offering. 16Regarding any holy thing he has harmed, he must make restitution by adding a fifth of its value to it and giving it to the priest, who will make atonement on his behalf with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven.

17If someone sins and violates any of the LORD’s commandments even though he was unaware, he is guilty and shall bear his punishment. 18He is to bring to the priest an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock as a guilt offering. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the wrong he has committed in ignorance, and he will be forgiven. 19It is a guilt offering; he was certainly guiltyd before the LORD.”

Footnotes:

11 a A tenth of an ephah is approximately 2 dry quarts or 2.2 liters (probably about 2.6 pounds or 1.2 kilograms of flour).

15 b Or flock or its equivalence

15 c A shekel is approximately 0.4 ounces or 11.4 grams of silver.

19 d Or he has paid full compensation

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 6   ▶   ▶

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Sins Requiring a Guilt Offering
(Leviticus 5:14–19; Leviticus 7:1–10)

1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor 3or finds lost property and lies about it and swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that a man might commit— 4once he has sinned and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost property he found, 5or anything else about which he has sworn falsely.

He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value, and pay it to the owner on the day he acknowledges his guilt. 6Then he must bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock. 7In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt.”

The Burnt Offering
(Leviticus 1:1–17)

8Then the LORD said to Moses, 9“Command Aaron and his sons that this is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the hearth of the altar all night, until morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar.

10And the priest shall put on his linen robe and linen undergarments, and he shall remove from the altar the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed and place them beside it. 11Then he must take off his garments, put on other clothes, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place.

12The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. 13The fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not be extinguished.

The Grain Offering
(Leviticus 2:1–16)

14Now this is the law of the grain offering: Aaron’s sons shall present it before the LORD in front of the altar. 15The priest is to remove a handful of fine flour and olive oil, together with all the frankincense from the grain offering, and burn the memorial portion on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

16Aaron and his sons are to eat the remainder. It must be eaten without leaven in a holy place; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. 17It must not be baked with leaven; I have assigned it as their portion of My offerings made by fire. It is most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering. 18Any male among the sons of Aaron may eat it. This is a permanent portion from the offerings made by fire to the LORD for the generations to come. Anything that touches them will become holy.”

19Then the LORD said to Moses, 20“This is the offering that Aaron and his sons must present to the LORD on the day he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of fine floura as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening. 21It shall be prepared with oil on a griddle;b you are to bring it well-kneaded and present it as a grain offering brokenc in pieces, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 22The priest, who is one of Aaron’s sons and will be anointed to take his place, is to prepare it. As a permanent portion for the LORD, it must be burned completely. 23Every grain offering for a priest shall be burned completely; it is not to be eaten.”

The Sin Offering
(Leviticus 4:1–35; Leviticus 5:1–13)

24And the LORD said to Moses, 25“Tell Aaron and his sons that this is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, the sin offering shall be slaughtered before the LORD; it is most holy. 26The priest who offers it shall eat it; it must be eaten in a holy place, in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. 27Anything that touches its flesh will become holy, and if any of the blood is spattered on a garment, you must wash it in a holy place.

28The clay pot in which the sin offering is boiled must be broken; if it is boiled in a bronze pot, the pot must be scoured and rinsed with water. 29Any male among the priests may eat it; it is most holy. 30But no sin offering may be eaten if its blood has been brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place; it must be burned.

Footnotes:

20 a A tenth of an ephah is approximately 2 dry quarts or 2.2 liters (probably about 2.6 pounds or 1.2 kilograms of flour).

21 b That is, a shallow pan for baking or frying

21 c Or baked

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 7   ▶   ▶

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The Guilt Offering
(Leviticus 5:14–19; Leviticus 6:1–7)

1“Now this is the law of the guilt offering, which is most holy: 2The guilt offering must be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and the priest shall sprinkle its blood on all sides of the altar. 3And all the fat from it shall be offered: the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, 4both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which is to be removed with the kidneys. 5The priest shall burn them on the altar as an offering made by fire to the LORD; it is a guilt offering. 6Every male among the priests may eat of it. It must be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy.

7The guilt offering is like the sin offering; the same law applies to both. It belongs to the priest who makes atonement with it. 8As for the priest who presents a burnt offering for anyone, the hide of that offering belongs to him. 9Likewise, every grain offering that is baked in an oven or cooked in a pana or on a griddleb belongs to the priest who presents it, 10and every grain offering, whether dry or mixed with oil, belongs equally to all the sons of Aaron.

The Peace Offering
(Leviticus 3:1–17)

11Now this is the law of the peace offering that one may present to the LORD: 12If he offers it in thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers coated with oil, and well-kneaded cakes of fine flour mixed with oil.

13Along with his peace offering of thanksgiving he is to present an offering with cakes of leavened bread. 14From the cakes he must present one portion of each offering as a contribution to the LORD. It belongs to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offering. 15The meat of the sacrifice of his peace offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day he offers it; none of it may be left until morning.

16If, however, the sacrifice he offers is a vow or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day he presents his sacrifice, but the remainder may be eaten on the next day. 17But any meat of the sacrifice remaining until the third day must be burned up. 18If any of the meat from his peace offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted. It will not be credited to the one who presented it; it shall be an abomination, and the one who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.

19Meat that touches anything unclean must not be eaten; it is to be burned up. As for any other meat, anyone who is ceremonially clean may eat it. 20But if anyone who is unclean eats meat from the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people. 21If one touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, detestable thing, and then eats any of the meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.”

Fat and Blood Forbidden

22Then the LORD said to Moses, 23“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘You are not to eat any of the fat of an ox, a sheep, or a goat. 24The fat of an animal found dead or mauled by wild beasts may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it.

25If anyone eats the fat of an animal from which an offering made by fire may be presented to the LORD, the one who eats it must be cut off from his people. 26You must not eat the blood of any bird or animal in any of your dwellings. 27If anyone eats blood, that person must be cut off from his people.’ ”

The Priests’ Portion

28Then the LORD said to Moses, 29“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘Anyone who presents a peace offering to the LORD must bring it as his sacrifice to the LORD. 30With his own hands he is to bring the offerings made by fire to the LORD; he shall bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD.

31The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. 32And you are to give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from your peace offering. 33The son of Aaron who presents the blood and fat of the peace offering shall have the right thigh as a portion.

34I have taken from the sons of Israel the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as a permanent portion from the sons of Israel.’ ”

35This is the portion of the offerings made by fire to the LORD for Aaron and his sons since the day they were presented to serve the LORD as priests. 36On the day they were anointed, the LORD commanded that this be given them by the sons of Israel. It is a permanent portion for the generations to come.

37This is the law of the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering, and the peace offering, 38which the LORD gave Moses on Mount Sinai on the day He commanded the Israelites to present their offerings to the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai.

Footnotes:

9 a That is, a deep pan or stew pan

9 b That is, a shallow pan for baking or frying

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 8   ▶   ▶

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Moses Consecrates Aaron and His Sons
(Exodus 29:1–9)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Take Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread, 3and assemble the whole congregation at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”

4So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 5And Moses said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded to be done.”

6Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. 7He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He tied the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him. 8Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummima in the breastpiece. 9Moses also put the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the holy diadem, on the front of the turban, as the LORD had commanded him.

10Next, Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it; and so he consecrated them. 11He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them.

12He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him. 13Then Moses presented Aaron’s sons, put tunics on them, wrapped sashes around them, and tied headbands on them, just as the LORD had commanded him.

The Priests’ Sin Offering

14Moses then brought the bull near for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 15Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.

16Moses also took all the fat that was on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys and their fat, and burned it all on the altar. 17But the bull with its hide, flesh, and dung he burned outside the camp, as the LORD had commanded him.

The Priests’ Burnt Offering

18Then Moses presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 19Moses slaughtered the ram and sprinkled the blood on all sides of the altar. 20He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head, the pieces, and the fat. 21He washed the entrails and legs with water and burned the entire ram on the altar as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

The Ram of Ordination
(Exodus 29:10–30)

22After that, Moses presented the other ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 23Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 24Moses also presented Aaron’s sons and put some of the blood on their right earlobes, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then he sprinkled the blood on all sides of the altar.

25And Moses took the fat—the fat tail, all the fat that was on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with their fat—as well as the right thigh. 26And from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the LORD, he took one cake of unleavened bread, one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer, and he placed them on the fat portions and on the right thigh. 27He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and waved them before the LORD as a wave offering.

28Then Moses took these from their hands and burned them on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD. 29He also took the breast—Moses’ portion of the ram of ordination—and waved it before the LORD as a wave offering, as the LORD had commanded him.

30Next, Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, as well as Aaron’s sons and their garments.

31And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “Boil the meat at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket of ordination offerings, as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons are to eat it.’ 32Then you must burn up the remainder of the meat and bread.

33You must not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are complete; for it will take seven days to ordain you. 34What has been done today has been commanded by the LORD in order to make atonement on your behalf. 35You must remain at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days and keep the LORD’s charge so that you will not die, for this is what I have been commanded.”

36So Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD had commanded through Moses.

Footnotes:

8 a Literally Lights and Perfections

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 9   ▶   ▶

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Aaron’s First Offerings

1On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. 2He said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and present them before the LORD. 3Then speak to the Israelites and say, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without blemish—for a burnt offering, 4an oxa and a ram for a peace offering to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with oil. For today the LORD will appear to you.’ ”

5So they took what Moses had commanded to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and the whole congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. 6And Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.”

7Then Moses said to Aaron, “Approach the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering to make atonement for yourself and for the people. And sacrifice the people’s offering to make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.”

8So Aaron approached the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself. 9The sons of Aaron brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and applied it to the horns of the altar. And he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 10On the altar he burned the fat, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver from the sin offering, as the LORD had commanded Moses. 11But he burned up the flesh and the hide outside the camp.

12Then Aaron slaughtered the burnt offering. His sons brought him the blood, and he sprinkled it on all sides of the altar. 13They brought him the burnt offering piece by piece, including the head, and he burned them on the altar. 14He washed the entrails and the legs and burned them atop the burnt offering on the altar.

15Aaron then presented the people’s offering. He took the male goat for the people’s sin offering, slaughtered it, and offered it for sin like the first one.

16He presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the ordinance.

17Next he presented the grain offering, took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar in addition to the morning’s burnt offering.

18Then he slaughtered the ox and the ram as the people’s peace offering. His sons brought him the blood, and he sprinkled it on all sides of the altar.

19They also brought the fat portions from the ox and the ram—the fat tail, the fat covering the entrails, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver— 20and placed these on the breasts. Aaron burned the fat portions on the altar, 21but he waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses had commanded.

22Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having made the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering, he stepped down.

23Moses and Aaron then entered the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. 24Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Footnotes:

4 a Or a bull or a cow; also in verses 18 and 19

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 10   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Sin of Nadab and Abihu
(Numbers 3:1–4)

1Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorizeda fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. 2So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.

3Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said:

‘To those who come near Me

I will show My holiness,
and in the sight of all the people

I will reveal My glory.’ ”

But Aaron remained silent.

4Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan,b sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry the bodies of your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” 5So they came forward and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses had directed.

6Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become disheveledc and do not tear your garments, or else you will die, and the LORD will be angry with the whole congregation. But your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may mourn on account of the fire that the LORD has ignited. 7You shall not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, or you will die, for the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.”

So they did as Moses instructed.

Restrictions for Priests

8Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come. 10You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean, 11so that you may teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses.”

12And Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that remains from the offerings made by fire to the LORD and eat it without leaven beside the altar, because it is most holy. 13You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your share and your sons’ share of the offerings made by fire to the LORD; for this is what I have been commanded.

14And you and your sons and daughters may eat the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution in a ceremonially clean place, because these portions have been assigned to you and your children from the peace offerings of the sons of Israel. 15They are to bring the thigh of the contribution and the breast of the wave offering, together with the fat portions of the offerings made by fire, to wave as a wave offering before the LORD. It will belong permanently to you and your children, as the LORD has commanded.”

16Later, Moses searched carefully for the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it had been burned up. He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked, 17“Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the holy place? For it is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the congregation by making atonement for them before the LORD. 18Since its blood was not brought inside the holy place, you should have eaten it in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.”

19But Aaron replied to Moses, “Behold, this very day they presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD. Since these things have happened to me, if I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been acceptable in the sight of the LORD?”

20And when Moses heard this explanation, he was satisfied.

Footnotes:

1 a Or strange

4 b Elzaphan is a variant of Elizaphan; see Numbers 3:30.

6 c Or Do not uncover your heads

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 11   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Clean and Unclean Animals
(Deuteronomy 14:1–21; Acts 10:9–16)

1The LORD spoke again to Moses and Aaron, telling them, 2“Say to the Israelites, ‘Of all the beasts of the earth, these ones you may eat: 3You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.

4But of those that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof, you are not to eat the following:a

The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.

5The rock badger,b though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.

6The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.

7And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.

8You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

9Of all the creatures that live in the water, whether in the seas or in the streams, you may eat anything with fins and scales.

10But the following among all the teeming life and creatures in the water are detestable to you: everything in the seas or streams that does not have fins and scales. 11They shall be an abomination to you; you must not eat their meat, and you must detest their carcasses. 12Everything in the water that does not have fins and scales shall be detestable to you.

13Additionally, you are to detest the following birds, and they must not be eaten because they are detestable:

the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,

14the kite, any kind of falcon,

15any kind of raven,

16the ostrich,c the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,

17the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,

18the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,

19the stork, any kind of heron,
the hoopoe, and the bat.

20All flying insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you. 21However, you may eat the following kinds of flying insects that walk on all fours: those having jointed legs above their feet for hopping on the ground. 22Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper. 23All other flying insects that have four legs are detestable to you.

24These creatures will make you unclean. Whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening, 25and whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening.

26Every animal with hooves not completely dividedd or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you. Whoever touches any of them will be unclean.

27All the four-footed animals that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening, 28and anyone who picks up a carcass must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening. They are unclean for you.

29The following creatures that move along the ground are unclean for you: the mole, the mouse, any kind of great lizard, 30the gecko, the monitor lizard, the common lizard, the skink, and the chameleon.

31These animals are unclean for you among all the crawling creatures. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening. 32When one of them dies and falls on something, that article becomes unclean; any article of wood, clothing, leather, sackcloth, or any implement used for work must be rinsed with water and will remain unclean until evening; then it will be clean. 33If any of them falls into a clay pot, everything in it will be unclean; you must break the pot. 34Any food coming into contact with water from that pot will be unclean, and any drink in such a container will be unclean.

35Anything upon which one of their carcasses falls will be unclean. If it is an oven or cooking pot, it must be smashed; it is unclean and will remain unclean for you. 36Nevertheless, a spring or cistern containing water will remain clean, but one who touches a carcass in it will be unclean. 37If a carcass falls on any seed for sowing, the seed is clean; 38but if water has been put on the seed and a carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you.

39If an animal that you may eat dies, anyone who touches the carcass will be unclean until evening. 40Whoever eats from the carcass must wash his clothes and will be unclean until evening, and anyone who picks up the carcass must wash his clothes and will be unclean until evening.

41Every creature that moves along the ground is detestable; it must not be eaten. 42Do not eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it crawls on its belly or walks on four or more feet; for such creatures are detestable.

43Do not defile yourselves by any crawling creature; do not become unclean or defiled by them. 44For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy.e You must not defile yourselves by any creature that crawls along the ground. 45For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

46This is the law regarding animals, birds, all living creatures that move in the water, and all creatures that crawl along the ground. 47You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between animals that may be eaten and those that may not.’ ”

Footnotes:

4 a The precise identification of some of the birds and animals in this chapter is uncertain.

5 b Or The coney or The hyrax

16 c Literally the daughter of the ostrich or the daughter of the owl

26 d Literally a split hoof not completely divided

44 e Here and in verse 45; cited in 1 Peter 1:16

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 12   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Purification after Childbirth

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Say to the Israelites, ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be unclean for seven days, as she is during the days of her menstruation. 3And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

4The woman shall continue in purification from her bleeding for thirty-three days. She must not touch anything sacred or go into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are complete.

5If, however, she gives birth to a daughter, the woman will be unclean for two weeks as she is during her menstruation. Then she must continue in purification from her bleeding for sixty-six days.

6When the days of her purification are complete, whether for a son or for a daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. 7And the priest will present them before the LORD and make atonement for her; and she shall be ceremonially cleansed from her flow of blood. This is the law for a woman giving birth, whether to a male or to a female.

8But if she cannot afford a lamb, she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons,a one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’ ”

Footnotes:

8 a Cited in Luke 2:24

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Laws about Skin Diseases
(Numbers 5:1–4)

1Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2“When someone has a swelling or rash or bright spot on his skin that could become an infectious skin disease,a he must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest.

3The priest is to examine the infection on his skin, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin, it is a skin disease. After the priest examines him, he must pronounce him unclean.

4If, however, the spot on his skin is white and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven days. 5On the seventh day the priest is to reexamine him, and if he sees that the infection is unchanged and has not spread on the skin, the priest must isolate him for another seven days. 6The priest will examine him again on the seventh day, and if the sore has faded and has not spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is a rash. The person must wash his clothes and be clean.

7But if the rash spreads further on his skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he must present himself again to the priest. 8The priest will reexamine him, and if the rash has spread on the skin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; he has a skin disease.

9When anyone develops a skin disease, he must be brought to the priest. 10The priest will examine him, and if there is a white swelling on the skin that has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling, 11it is a chronic skin disease and the priest must pronounce him unclean. He need not isolate him, for he is unclean.

12But if the skin disease breaks out all over his skin so that it covers all the skin of the infected person from head to foot, as far as the priest can see, 13the priest shall examine him, and if the disease has covered his entire body, he is to pronounce the infected person clean. Since it has all turned white, he is clean.

14But whenever raw flesh appears on someone, he will be unclean. 15When the priest sees the raw flesh, he must pronounce him unclean. The raw flesh is unclean; it is a skin disease. 16But if the raw flesh changes and turns white, he must go to the priest. 17The priest will reexamine him, and if the infection has turned white, the priest is to pronounce the infected person clean; then he is clean.

18When a boil appears on someone’s skin and it heals, 19and a white swelling or a reddish-white spot develops where the boil was, he must present himself to the priest. 20The priest shall examine it, and if it appears to be beneath the skin and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a diseased infection that has broken out in the boil.

21But when the priest examines it, if there is no white hair in it, and it is not beneath the skin and has faded, the priest shall isolate him for seven days. 22If it spreads any further on the skin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is an infection. 23But if the spot remains unchanged and does not spread, it is only the scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

24When there is a burn on someone’s skin and the raw area of the burn becomes reddish-white or white, 25the priest must examine it. If the hair in the spot has turned white and the spot appears to be deeper than the skin, it is a disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest must pronounce him unclean; it is a diseased infection.

26But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot, and it is not beneath the skin but has faded, the priest shall isolate him for seven days. 27On the seventh day the priest is to reexamine him, and if it has spread further on the skin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is a diseased infection. 28But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread on the skin but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest is to pronounce him clean; for it is only the scar from the burn.

29If a man or woman has an infection on the head or chin, 30the priest shall examine the infection, and if it appears to be deeper than the skin and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is a scaly outbreak, an infectious disease of the head or chin.

31But if the priest examines the scaly infection and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven days. 32On the seventh day the priest is to reexamine the infection, and if the scaly outbreak has not spread and there is no yellow hair in it, and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, 33then the person must shave himself except for the scaly area. Then the priest shall isolate him for another seven days. 34On the seventh day the priest shall examine the scaly outbreak, and if it has not spread on the skin and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, the priest is to pronounce him clean. He must wash his clothes, and he will be clean.

35If, however, the scaly outbreak spreads further on the skin after his cleansing, 36the priest is to examine him, and if the scaly outbreak has spread on the skin, the priest need not look for yellow hair; the person is unclean.

37If, however, in his sight the scaly outbreak is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, then it has healed. He is clean, and the priest is to pronounce him clean.

38When a man or a woman has white spots on the skin, 39the priest shall examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; the person is clean.

40Now if a man loses his hair and is bald, he is still clean. 41Or if his hairline recedes and he is bald on his forehead, he is still clean. 42But if there is a reddish-white sore on the bald head or forehead, it is an infectious disease breaking out on it. 43The priest is to examine him, and if the swelling of the infection on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white like a skin disease, 44the man is diseased; he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean because of the infection on his head.

45A diseased person must wear torn clothes and let his hair hang loose,b and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ 46As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.

Laws about Mildew

47If any fabric is contaminated with mildewc—any wool or linen garment, 48any weave or knit of linen or wool, or any article of leather— 49and if the mark in the fabric, leather, weave, knit, or leather article is green or red, then it is contaminated with mildew and must be shown to the priest. 50And the priest is to examine the mildew and isolate the contaminated fabric for seven days.

51On the seventh day the priest shall reexamine it, and if the mildew has spread in the fabric, weave, knit, or leather, then regardless of how it is used, it is a harmful mildew; the article is unclean. 52He is to burn the fabric, weave, or knit, whether the contaminated item is wool or linen or leather. Since the mildew is harmful, the article must be burned up.

53But when the priest reexamines it, if the mildew has not spread in the fabric, weave, knit, or leather article, 54the priest is to order the contaminated article to be washed and isolated for another seven days. 55After it has been washed, the priest is to reexamine it, and if the mildewed article has not changed in appearance, it is unclean. Even though the mildew has not spread, you must burn it, whether the rot is on the front or back.

56If the priest examines it and the mildew has faded after it has been washed, he must cut the contaminated section out of the fabric, leather, weave, or knit. 57But if it reappears in the fabric, weave, or knit, or on any leather article, it is spreading. You must burn the contaminated article.

58If the mildew disappears from the fabric, weave, or knit, or any leather article after washing, then it is to be washed again, and it will be clean.

59This is the law concerning a mildew contamination in wool or linen fabric, weave, or knit, or any leather article, for pronouncing it clean or unclean.”

Footnotes:

2 a Forms of the Hebrew tzaraath, traditionally translated as leprosy, were used for various skin diseases; here and throughout verses 3–46.

45 b Or uncover his head

47 c Forms of the Hebrew tzaraath, traditionally translated as leprosy regarding skin diseases, are translated as mildew regarding blemishes on garments, utensils, or buildings; here and throughout the remainder of this chapter.

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 14   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Cleansing from Skin Diseases
(Matthew 8:1–4; Mark 1:40–45; Luke 5:12–16)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“This is the law for the one afflicted with a skin diseasea on the day of his cleansing, when he is brought to the priest. 3The priest is to go outside the camp to examine him, and if the skin disease of the afflicted person has healed, 4the priest shall order that two live clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed.

5Then the priest shall command that one of the birds be slaughtered over fresh waterb in a clay pot. 6And he is to take the live bird together with the cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop, and dip them into the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the fresh water. 7Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the skin disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and release the live bird into the open field.

8The one being cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe with water; then he will be ceremonially clean. Afterward, he may enter the camp, but he must remain outside his tent for seven days. 9On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair—his head, his beard, his eyebrows, and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean.

10On the eighth day he is to bring two unblemished male lambs, an unblemished ewe lamb a year old, a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flourc mixed with olive oil, and one log of olive oil.d
11The priest who performs the cleansing shall present the one to be cleansed, together with these offerings, before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

12Then the priest is to take one of the male lambs and present it as a guilt offering, along with the log of olive oil; and he must wave them as a wave offering before the LORD. 13Then he is to slaughter the lamb in the sanctuary area where the sin offering and burnt offering are slaughtered. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy.

14The priest is to take some of the blood from the guilt offering and put it on the right earlobe of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 15Then the priest shall take some of the log of olive oil, pour it into his left palm, 16dip his right forefinger into the oil in his left palm, and sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD. 17And the priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the right earlobe of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering.

18The rest of the oil in his palm, the priest is to put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the LORD. 19Then the priest is to sacrifice the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from his uncleanness. After that, the priest shall slaughter the burnt offering 20and offer it on the altar, with the grain offering, to make atonement for him, and he will be clean.

21If, however, the person is poor and cannot afford these offerings, he is to take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for him, along with a tenth of an ephah of fine floure mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of olive oil, 22and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, whichever he can afford, one to be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.

23On the eighth day he is to bring them for his cleansing to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. 24The priest shall take the lamb for the guilt offering, along with the log of olive oil, and wave them as a wave offering before the LORD.

25And after he slaughters the lamb for the guilt offering, the priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the right earlobe of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 26Then the priest is to pour some of the oil into his left palm 27and sprinkle with his right forefinger some of the oil in his left palm seven times before the LORD. 28The priest shall also put some of the oil in his palm on the right earlobe of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot—on the same places as the blood of the guilt offering.

29The rest of the oil in his palm, the priest is to put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the LORD. 30Then he must sacrifice the turtledoves or young pigeons, whichever he can afford, 31one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering,f together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the LORD for the one to be cleansed.

32This is the law for someone who has a skin disease and cannot afford the cost of his cleansing.”

Signs of Home Contamination

33Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 34“When you enter the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as your possession, and I put a contamination of mildewg into a house in that land, 35the owner of the house shall come and tell the priest, ‘Something like mildew has appeared in my house.’

36The priest must order that the house be cleared before he enters it to examine the mildew, so that nothing in the house will become unclean. After this, the priest shall go in to inspect the house.

37He is to examine the house, and if the mildew on the walls consists of green or red depressions that appear to be beneath the surface of the wall, 38the priest shall go outside the doorway of the house and close it up for seven days.

39On the seventh day the priest is to return and inspect the house. If the mildew has spread on the walls, 40he must order that the contaminated stones be pulled out and thrown into an unclean place outside the city. 41And he shall have the inside of the house scraped completely and the plaster that is scraped off dumped into an unclean place outside the city.

42So different stones must be obtained to replace the contaminated ones, as well as additional mortar to replaster the house.

43If the mildew reappears in the house after the stones have been torn out and the house has been scraped and replastered, 44the priest must come and inspect it.

If the mildew has spread in the house, it is a destructive mildew; the house is unclean. 45It must be torn down with its stones, its timbers, and all its plaster, and taken outside the city to an unclean place. 46Anyone who enters the house during any of the days that it is closed up will be unclean until evening. 47And anyone who sleeps in the house or eats in it must wash his clothes.

Cleansing a Home

48If, however, the priest comes and inspects it, and the mildew has not spread after the house has been replastered, he shall pronounce the house clean, because the mildew is gone.

49He is to take two birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop to purify the house; 50and he shall slaughter one of the birds over fresh water in a clay pot.

51Then he shall take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet yarn, and the live bird, dip them in the blood of the slaughtered bird and the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52And he shall cleanse the house with the bird’s blood, the fresh water, the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop, and the scarlet yarn.

53Finally, he is to release the live bird into the open fields outside the city. In this way he will make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.

54This is the law for any infectious skin disease, for a scaly outbreak, 55for mildew in clothing or in a house, 56and for a swelling, rash, or spot, 57to determine when something is clean or unclean. This is the law regarding skin diseases and mildew.h”

Footnotes:

2 a Forms of the Hebrew tzaraath, traditionally translated as leprosy, were used for various skin diseases; also in verses 3, 7, 32, 54, and 57.

5 b Or flowing water or living water; here and in verses 6, 50, 51, and 52

10 c Three-tenths of an ephah is approximately 6 dry quarts or 6.6 liters (probably about 7.6 pounds or 3.5 kilograms of flour).

10 d Or one log of oil; that is, approximately 0.33 quarts or 0.31 liters; also in verses 12, 15, 21, and 24

21 e A tenth of an ephah is approximately 2 dry quarts or 2.2 liters (probably about 2.6 pounds or 1.2 kilograms of flour).

31 f LXX and Syriac; Hebrew includes as he is able to afford,

34 g Forms of the Hebrew tzaraath, traditionally translated as leprosy regarding skin diseases, are translated as mildew regarding blemishes on garments, utensils, or buildings; here and throughout the remainder of this chapter.

57 h The Hebrew translated here as skin diseases and mildew is one singular term; see the footnotes for verses 2 and 34.

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 15   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Uncleanness of Men
(Deuteronomy 23:9–14)

1And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2“Say to the Israelites, ‘When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean. 3This uncleanness is from his discharge, whether his body allows the discharge to flow or blocks it. So his discharge will bring about uncleanness.

4Any bed on which the man with the discharge lies will be unclean, and any furniture on which he sits will be unclean. 5Anyone who touches his bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening. 6Whoever sits on furniture on which the man with the discharge was sitting must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

7Whoever touches the body of the man with a discharge must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening. 8If the man with the discharge spits on one who is clean, that person must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

9Any saddle on which the man with the discharge rides will be unclean. 10Whoever touches anything that was under him will be unclean until evening, and whoever carries such things must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

11If the man with the discharge touches anyone without first rinsing his hands with water, the one who was touched must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening. 12Any clay pot that the man with the discharge touches must be broken, and any wooden utensil must be rinsed with water.

The Cleansing of Men

13When the man has been cleansed from his discharge, he must count off seven days for his cleansing, wash his clothes, and bathe himself in fresh water,a and he shall be clean. 14On the eighth day he is to take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, come before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the priest. 15The priest is to sacrifice them, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the man before the LORD because of his discharge.

16When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean until evening. 17Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen must be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening. 18If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both must bathe with water, and they will remain unclean until evening.

The Uncleanness of Women

19When a woman has a discharge consisting of blood from her body, she will be unclean due to her menstruation for seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean until evening. 20Anything on which she lies or sits during her menstruation will be unclean, 21and anyone who touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

22Whoever touches any furniture on which she was sitting must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening. 23And whether it is a bed or furniture on which she was sitting, whoever touches it will be unclean until evening.

24If a man lies with her and her menstrual flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days, and any bed on which he lies will become unclean.

25When a woman has a discharge of her blood for many days at a time other than her menstrual period, or if it continues beyond her period, she will be unclean all the days of her unclean discharge, just as she is during the days of her menstruation. 26Any bed on which she lies or any furniture on which she sits during the days of her discharge will be unclean, like her bed during her menstrual period. 27Anyone who touches these things will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

The Cleansing of Women

28When a woman is cleansed of her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean. 29On the eighth day she is to take two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 30The priest is to sacrifice one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her before the LORD for her unclean discharge.

31You must keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die by defiling My tabernacle, which is among them.

32This is the law of him who has a discharge, of the man who has an emission of semen whereby he is unclean, 33of a woman in her menstrual period, of any male or female who has a discharge, and of a man who lies with an unclean woman.’ ”

Footnotes:

13 a Or flowing water or living water

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 16   ▶   ▶

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The Day of Atonement
(Leviticus 23:26–32; Numbers 29:7–11)

1Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of the LORD. 2And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Placea behind the veil in front of the mercy seatb on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

3This is how Aaron is to enter the Holy Place: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself with water before he wears them. 5And he shall take from the congregation of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.

6Aaron is to present the bull for his sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household. 7Then he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

8After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat,c
9he shall present the goat chosen by lot for the LORD and sacrifice it as a sin offering. 10But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement by sending it into the wilderness as the scapegoat.

11When Aaron presents the bull for his sin offering and makes atonement for himself and his household, he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. 12Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take them inside the veil. 13He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony,d so that he will not die. 14And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat.

15Aaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it.

16So he shall make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the impurities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting which abides among them, because it is surrounded by their impurities. 17No one may be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he leaves, after he has made atonement for himself, his household, and the whole assembly of Israel.

18Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. 19He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

20When Aaron has finished purifying the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he is to bring forward the live goat. 21Then he is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task. 22The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary place, and the man will release it into the wilderness.

23Then Aaron is to enter the Tent of Meeting, take off the linen garments he put on before entering the Most Holy Place, and leave them there. 24He is to bathe himself with water in a holy place and put on his own clothes. Then he must go out and sacrifice his burnt offering and the people’s burnt offering to make atonement for himself and for the people. 25He is also to burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar.

26The man who released the goat as the scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may reenter the camp.

27The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp; and their hides, flesh, and dung must be burned up. 28The one who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and afterward he may reenter the camp.

29This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you shall humble yourselvese and not do any work—whether the native or the foreigner who resides among you— 30because on this day atonement will be made for you to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. 31It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, that you may humble yourselves; it is a permanent statute.

32The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest shall make atonement. He will put on the sacred linen garments 33and make atonement for the Most Holy Place,f the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, and for the priests and all the people of the assembly. 34This is to be a permanent statute for you, to make atonement once a year for the Israelites because of all their sins.”

And all this was done as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Footnotes:

2 a Or the Holy Place; also in verses 16, 17, 20, 23, and 27

2 b Or atonement cover; here and throughout this chapter

8 c Literally the other to Azazel; similarly twice in verse 10 and once in verse 26

13 d The Testimony refers to the stone tablets in the ark of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

29 e Or afflict your souls or deny yourselves; also in verse 31

33 f Or the Holy Sanctuary

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 17   ▶   ▶

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The Place of Sacrifice

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites and tell them this is what the LORD has commanded: 3‘Anyone from the house of Israel who slaughters an ox,a a lamb, or a goat in the camp or outside of it 4instead of bringing it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to present it as an offering to the LORD before His tabernacle—that man shall incur bloodguilt. He has shed blood and must be cut off from among his people.

5For this reason the Israelites will bring to the LORD the sacrifices they have been offering in the open fields. They are to bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and offer them as sacrifices of peace to the LORD. 6The priest will then sprinkle the blood on the altar of the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and burn the fat as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

7They must no longer offer their sacrifices to the goat demonsb to which they have prostituted themselves. This will be a permanent statute for them for the generations to come.’

8Tell them that if anyone from the house of Israel or any foreigner living among them offers a burnt offering or a sacrifice 9but does not bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to the LORD, that man must be cut off from his people.

Laws against Eating Blood

10If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people. 11For the lifec of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. 12Therefore I say to the Israelites, ‘None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner living among you eat blood.’

13And if any Israelite or foreigner living among them hunts down a wild animal or bird that may be eaten, he must drain its blood and cover it with dirt. 14For the life of all flesh is its blood. Therefore I have told the Israelites, ‘You must not eat the blood of any living thing, because the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it must be cut off.’

15And any person, whether native or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening; then he will be clean. 16But if he does not wash his clothes and bathe himself, then he shall bear his iniquity.”

Footnotes:

3 a Or a bull or a cow

7 b Or goat idols

11 c Literally the soul; also in verse 14

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 18   ▶   ▶

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Unlawful Sexual Relations
(Matthew 5:27–30)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God. 3You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs.

4You are to practice My judgments and keep My statutes by walking in them. I am the LORD your God. 5Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them.a I am the LORD.

6None of you are to approach any close relative to have sexual relations.b I am the LORD.

7You must not expose the nakedness of your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.

8You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father.

9You must not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.

10You must not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, for that would shame your family.

11You must not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.

12You must not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative.

13You must not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s close relative.

14You must not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations with her; she is your aunt.

15You must not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; you are not to have sexual relations with her.

16You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.

17You must not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. You are not to marry her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter and have sexual relations with her. They are close relatives; it is depraved.

18You must not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is still alive.

19You must not approach a woman to have sexual relations with her during her menstrual period.

20You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.

21You must not give any of your children to be sacrificedc to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

22You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination.

23You must not lie carnally with any animal, thus defiling yourself with it; a woman must not stand before an animal to mate with it; that is a perversion.

24Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves. 25Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants.

26But you are to keep My statutes and ordinances, and you must not commit any of these abominations—neither your native-born nor the foreigner who lives among you. 27For the men who were in the land before you committed all these abominations, and the land has become defiled. 28So if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it spewed out the nations before you.

29Therefore anyone who commits any of these abominations must be cut off from among his people. 30You must keep My charge not to practice any of the abominable customs that were practiced before you, so that you do not defile yourselves by them. I am the LORD your God.”

Footnotes:

5 a Cited in Romans 10:5 and Galatians 3:12; see also Ezekiel 20:11, 13, and 21.

6 b Literally to uncover (their) nakedness; here and throughout this chapter

21 c Hebrew to make them pass through (the fire)

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 19   ▶   ▶

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Commandments for Holiness

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.a

3Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must keep My Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.

4Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God.

5When you sacrifice a peace offering to the LORD, you shall offer it for your acceptance. 6It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it, or on the next day; but what remains on the third day must be burned up. 7If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is tainted and will not be accepted. 8Whoever eats it will bear his iniquity, for he has profaned what is holy to the LORD. That person must be cut off from his people.

Love Your Neighbor
(Romans 13:8–10)

9When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.

11You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another.

12You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

13You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him.

You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand.

14You must not curse the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD.

15You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.

16You must not go about spreading slander among your people.

You must not endanger the lifeb of your neighbor. I am the LORD.

17You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him. 18Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.c I am the LORD.

Keep My Statutes

19You are to keep My statutes. You shall not crossbreed two different kinds of livestock; you shall not sow your fields with two kinds of seed; and you shall not wear clothing made of two kinds of material.

20If a man lies carnally with a slave girl promised to another man but who has not been redeemed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. But they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed. 21The man, however, must bring a ram to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting as his guilt offering to the LORD. 22The priest shall make atonement on his behalf before the LORD with the ram of the guilt offering for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven the sin he has committed.

23When you enter the land and plant any kind of tree for food, you shall regard the fruit as forbidden.d For three years it will be forbidden to you and must not be eaten. 24In the fourth year all its fruit must be consecrated as a praise offering to the LORD. 25But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit; thus your harvest will be increased. I am the LORD your God.

26You must not eat anything with blood still in it.

You must not practice divination or sorcery.

27You must not cut off the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

28You must not make any cuts in your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

29You must not defile your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity.

30You must keep My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD.

31You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

32You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.

33When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. 34You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

35You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. 36You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah,e and an honest hin.f I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

37You must keep all My statutes and all My ordinances and follow them. I am the LORD.”

Footnotes:

2 a Cited in 1 Peter 1:16

16 b Literally blood

18 c Cited in Matthew 5:43, Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14, and James 2:8

23 d Hebrew as uncircumcised; twice in this verse

36 e An ephah is a dry measure of approximately 20 dry quarts or 22 liters.

36 f A hin is a liquid measure of approximately 0.97 gallons or 3.67 liters.

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 20   ▶   ▶

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Punishments for Disobedience
(Leviticus 26:14–39; Deuteronomy 28:15–68)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Tell the Israelites, ‘Any Israelite or foreigner living in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the land are to stone him. 3And I will set My face against that man and cut him off from his people, because by giving his offspring to Molech, he has defiled My sanctuary and profaned My holy name.

4And if the people of the land ever hide their eyes and fail to put to death the man who gives one of his children to Molech, 5then I will set My face against that man and his family and cut off from among their people both him and all who follow him in prostituting themselves with Molech.

6Whoever turns to mediums or spiritists to prostitute himself with them, I will also set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.

7Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. 8And you shall keep My statutes and practice them. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

9If anyone cursesa his father or mother, he must be put to death.b He has cursed his father or mother; his blood shall be upon him.

Punishments for Sexual Immorality
(Proverbs 5:1–23; 1 Corinthians 5:1–8)

10If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death.

11If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

12If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both must surely be put to death. They have acted perversely; their blood is upon them.

13If a man lies with a man as with a woman, they have both committed an abomination. They must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

14If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is depraved. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that there will be no depravity among you.

15If a man lies carnally with an animal, he must be put to death. And you are also to kill the animal.

16If a woman approaches any animal to mate with it, you must kill both the woman and the animal. They must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

17If a man marries his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother, and they have sexual relations,c it is a disgrace. They must be cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister; he shall bear his iniquity.

18If a man lies with a menstruating woman and has sexual relations with her,d he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has uncovered the source of her blood. Both of them must be cut off from among their people.

19You must not have sexual relations with the sister of your mother or your father, for it is exposing one’s own kin; both shall bear their iniquity.

20If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered the nakedness of his uncle. They will bear their sin; they shall die childless.

21If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.

Distinguish between Clean and Unclean

22You are therefore to keep all My statutes and ordinances, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out. 23You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.

24But I have told you that you will inherit their land, since I will give it to you as an inheritance—a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the peoples.

25You are therefore to distinguish between clean and unclean animals and birds. Do not become contaminated by any animal or bird, or by anything that crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you. 26You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.

27A man or a woman who is a medium or spiritist must surely be put to death. They shall be stoned; their blood is upon them.’ ”

Footnotes:

9 a Or dishonors or reviles; similarly again in this verse

9 b Cited in Matthew 15:4 and Mark 7:10

17 c Literally and he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness

18 d Literally uncovers her nakedness; similarly in verse 19

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 21   ▶   ▶

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Holiness Required of Priests

1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them that a priest is not to defile himself for a dead person among his people, 2except for his immediate family—his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother, 3or his unmarried sister who is near to him, since she has no husband. 4He is not to defile himself for those related to him by marriage, and so profane himself.

5Priests must not make bald spots on their heads, shave off the edges of their beards, or make cuts in their bodies. 6They must be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. Because they present to the LORD the offerings made by fire, the food of their God, they must be holy.

7A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. 8You are to regard him as holy, since he presents the food of your God. He shall be holy to you, because I the LORD am holy—I who set you apart. 9If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by prostituting herself, she profanes her father; she must be burned in the fire.

10The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loosea or tear his garments. 11He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother. 12He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD.

13The woman he marries must be a virgin. 14He is not to marry a widow, a divorced woman, or one defiled by prostitution. He is to marry a virgin from his own people, 15so that he does not defile his offspring among his people, for I am the LORD who sanctifies him.”

Restrictions against Those with Blemishes

16Then the LORD said to Moses, 17“Say to Aaron, ‘For the generations to come, none of your descendants who has a physical defect may approach to offer the food of his God.

18No man who has any defect may approach—no man who is blind, lame, disfigured, or deformed; 19no man who has a broken foot or hand, 20or who is a hunchback or dwarf, or who has an eye defect, a festering rash, scabs, or a crushed testicle.

21No descendant of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall approach to present the offerings made by fire to the LORD. Since he has a defect, he is not to come near to offer the food of his God. 22He may eat the most holy food of his God as well as the holy food, 23but because he has a defect, he must not go near the veil or approach the altar, so as not to desecrate My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’ ”

24Moses told this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.

Footnotes:

10 a Or must not uncover his head

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 22   ▶   ▶

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Restrictions against the Unclean

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings that the Israelites have consecrated to Me, so that they do not profane My holy name. I am the LORD.

3Tell them that for the generations to come, if any of their descendants in a state of uncleanness approaches the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the LORD, that person must be cut off from My presence. I am the LORD.

4If a descendant of Aaron has a skin diseasea or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen, 5or whoever touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be— 6the man who touches any of these will remain unclean until evening. He must not eat from the sacred offerings unless he has bathed himself with water.

7When the sun has set, he will become clean, and then he may eat from the sacred offerings, for they are his food. 8He must not eat anything found dead or torn by wild animals, which would make him unclean. I am the LORD. 9The priests must keep My charge, lest they bear the guilt and die because they profane it. I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

10No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offering, nor may the guest of a priest or his hired hand eat it. 11But if a priest buys a slave with his own money, or if a slave is born in his household, that slave may eat his food.

12If the priest’s daughter is married to a man other than a priest, she is not to eat of the sacred contributions. 13But if a priest’s daughter with no children becomes widowed or divorced and returns to her father’s house, she may share her father’s food as in her youth. But no outsider may share it.

14If anyone eats a sacred offering in error, he must add a fifth to its value and give the sacred offering to the priest. 15The priests must not profane the sacred offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD 16by allowing the people to eat the sacred offerings and thus to bear the punishment for guilt. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.”

Worthy Offerings

17Then the LORD said to Moses, 18“Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the Israelites and tell them, ‘Any man of the house of Israel or any foreign resident who presents a gift for a burnt offering to the LORD, whether to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, 19must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf. 20You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf.

21When a man presents a peace offering to the LORD from the herd or flock to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without blemish or defect to be acceptable. 22You are not to present to the LORD any animal that is blind, injured, or maimed, or anything with a running sore, a festering rash, or a scab; you must not put any of these on the altar as an offering made by fire to the LORD.

23You may present as a freewill offering an oxb or sheep that has a deformed or stunted limb, but it is not acceptable in fulfillment of a vow. 24You are not to present to the LORD an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn, or cut; you are not to sacrifice them in your land. 25Neither you nor a foreigner shall present food to your God from any such animal. They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and flawed.’ ”

26Then the LORD said to Moses, 27“When an ox,c a sheep, or a goat is born, it must remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as an offering made by fire to the LORD. 28But you must not slaughter an oxd or a sheep on the same day as its young.

29When you sacrifice a thank offering to the LORD, offer it so that it may be acceptable on your behalf. 30It must be eaten that same day. Do not leave any of it until morning. I am the LORD.

31You are to keep My commandments and practice them. I am the LORD. 32You must not profane My holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy among the Israelites. I am the LORD who sanctifies you, 33who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD.”

Footnotes:

4 a Forms of the Hebrew tzaraath, traditionally translated as leprosy, were used for various skin diseases; see Leviticus 13.

23 b Or a bull or a cow

27 c Or a calf

28 d Or a cow

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 23   ▶   ▶

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Feasts and Sabbaths
(Exodus 23:14–19)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘These are My appointed feasts, the feasts of the LORD that you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.

3For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a day of sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.

Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
(Exodus 12:14–28; Numbers 28:16–25; Deuteronomy 16:1–8)

4These are the LORD’s appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times. 5The Passover to the LORD begins at twilight on the fourteentha day of the first month. 6On the fifteenth day of the same month begins the Feast of Unleavened Breadb to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any regular work. 8For seven days you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the seventh day there shall be a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work.’ ”

The Feast of Firstfruits

9And the LORD said to Moses, 10“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘When you enter the land that I am giving you and you reap its harvest, you are to bring to the priest a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest. 11And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD so that it may be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.

12On the day you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a year-old lamb without blemish as a burnt offering to the LORD, 13along with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flourc mixed with oil—an offering made by fire to the LORD, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter hin of wine.d

14You must not eat any bread or roasted or new grain until the very day you have brought this offering to your God. This is to be a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live.

The Feast of Weeks
(Acts 2:1–13)

15From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you are to count off seven full weeks. 16You shall count off fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD.

17Bring two loaves of bread from your dwellings as a wave offering, each made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with leaven, as the firstfruits to the LORD.

18Along with the bread you are to present seven unblemished male lambs a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the LORD, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings—an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

19You shall also prepare one male goat as a sin offering and two male lambs a year old as a peace offering. 20The priest is to wave the lambs as a wave offering before the LORD, together with the bread of the firstfruits. The bread and the two lambs shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.

21On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This is to be a permanent statute wherever you live for the generations to come.

22When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap all the way to the edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the foreign resident. I am the LORD your God.’ ”

The Feast of Trumpets
(Numbers 29:1–6)

23The LORD also said to Moses, 24“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts.e
25You must not do any regular work, but you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD.’ ”

The Day of Atonement
(Leviticus 16:1–34; Numbers 29:7–11)

26Again the LORD said to Moses, 27“The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. You shall hold a sacred assembly and humble yourselves,f and present an offering made by fire to the LORD.

28On this day you are not to do any work, for it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God. 29If anyone does not humble himself on this day, he must be cut off from his people. 30I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on this day.

31You are not to do any work at all. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live. 32It will be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall humble yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to keep your Sabbath.”

The Feast of Tabernacles
(Nehemiah 8:13–18; Zechariah 14:16–21)

33And the LORD said to Moses, 34“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Feast of Tabernaclesg to the LORD begins, and it continues for seven days. 35On the first day there shall be a sacred assembly. You must not do any regular work. 36For seven days you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you must not do any regular work.

37These are the LORD’s appointed feasts, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for presenting offerings by fire to the LORD—burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its designated day. 38These offerings are in addition to the offerings for the LORD’s Sabbaths, and in addition to your gifts, to all your vow offerings, and to all the freewill offerings you give to the LORD.

39On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the produce of the land, you are to celebrate a feast to the LORD for seven days. There shall be complete rest on the first day and also on the eighth day.

40On the first day you are to gather the fruit of majestic trees, the branches of palm trees, and the boughs of leafy trees and of willowsh of the brook. And you are to rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41You are to celebrate this as a feast to the LORD for seven days each year. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come; you are to celebrate it in the seventh month.

42You are to dwell in boothsi for seven days. All the native-born of Israel must dwell in booths, 43so that your descendants may know that I made the Israelites dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ ”

44So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed feasts of the LORD.

Footnotes:

5 a Hebrew begins between the two evenings of the fourteenth

6 b That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten; see Exodus 12:14–20.

13 c Two-tenths of an ephah is approximately 4 dry quarts or 4.4 liters (probably about 5.1 pounds or 2.3 kilograms of flour); also in verse 17.

13 d A quarter hin is approximately 0.97 quarts or 0.92 liters of wine.

24 e Or a sacred assembly, a memorial of shouting

27 f Or afflict your souls or deny yourselves; also in verse 32

34 g That is, Sukkot, the autumn feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; also translated as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Shelters and originally called the Feast of Ingathering (see Exodus 23:16 and Exodus 34:22).

40 h Or poplars

42 i Or tabernacles or shelters; twice in this verse, and also in verse 43; see the footnote for verse 34.

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 24   ▶   ▶

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The Oil for the Lamps
(Exodus 27:20–21)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.

3Outside the veil of the Testimonya in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps continually before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the generations to come. 4He shall tend the lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the LORD continually.

The Showbread
(Exodus 25:23–30; Exodus 37:10–16)

5You are also to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf,b
6and set them in two rows—six per row—on the table of pure gold before the LORD. 7And you are to place pure frankincense near each row, so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

8Every Sabbath day the bread is to be set out before the LORD on behalf of the Israelites as a permanent covenant. 9It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in a holy place; for it is to him a most holy part of the offerings made by fire to the LORD—his portion forever.”

Punishment for Blasphemy

10Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. 11The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse. So they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)

12They placed him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them.

13Then the LORD said to Moses, 14“Take the blasphemerc outside the camp, and have all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then have the whole assembly stone him.

15And you are to tell the Israelites, ‘If anyone curses his God, he shall bear the consequences of his sin. 16Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death; the whole assembly must surely stone him, whether he is a foreign resident or native; if he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.

An Eye for an Eye
(Matthew 5:38–48)

17And if a man takes the life of anyone else, he must surely be put to death. 18Whoever kills an animal must make restitution—life for life. 19If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: 20fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.d Just as he injured the other person, the same must be inflicted on him.

21Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death. 22You are to have the same standard of law for the foreign resident and the native; for I am the LORD your God.’ ”

23Then Moses spoke to the Israelites, and they took the blasphemer outside the camp and stoned him. So the Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Footnotes:

3 a The Testimony refers to the stone tablets in the ark of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

5 b Two-tenths of an ephah is approximately 4 dry quarts or 4.4 liters (probably about 5.1 pounds or 2.3 kilograms of flour).

14 c Literally the one who cursed

20 d Cited in Matthew 5:38

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 25   ▶   ▶

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The Seventh Year
(Exodus 23:10–13; Deuteronomy 15:1–6)

1Then the LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai, 2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land itself must observe a Sabbath to the LORD.

3For six years you may sow your field and prune your vineyard and gather its crops. 4But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land—a Sabbath to the LORD.

You are not to sow your field or prune your vineyard. 5You are not to reap the aftergrowth of your harvest or gather the grapes of your untended vines. The land must have a year of complete rest. 6Whatever the land yields during the Sabbath year shall be food for you—for yourself, your manservant and maidservant, the hired hand or foreigner who stays with you, 7and for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. All its growth may serve as food.

The Year of Jubilee

8And you shall count off seven Sabbaths of years—seven times seven years—so that the seven Sabbaths of years amount to forty-nine years. 9Then you are to sound the horn far and wide on the tenth day of the seventh month, the Day of Atonement. You shall sound it throughout your land.

10So you are to consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be your Jubilee, when each of you is to return to his property and to his clan.

11The fiftieth year will be a Jubilee for you; you are not to sow the land or reap its aftergrowth or harvest the untended vines. 12For it is a Jubilee; it shall be holy to you. You may eat only the crops taken directly from the field.

Return of Property

13In this Year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his own property.

14If you make a sale to your neighbor or a purchase from him, you must not take advantage of each other. 15You are to buy from your neighbor according to the number of years since the last Jubilee; he is to sell to you according to the number of harvest years remaining. 16You shall increase the price in proportion to a greater number of years, or decrease it in proportion to a lesser number of years; for he is selling you a given number of harvests.

17Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God; for I am the LORD your God.

The Blessing of Obedience
(Deuteronomy 28:1–14)

18You are to keep My statutes and carefully observe My judgments, so that you may dwell securely in the land. 19Then the land will yield its fruit, so that you can eat your fill and dwell in safety in the land.

20Now you may wonder, ‘What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not sow or gather our produce?’ 21But I will send My blessing upon you in the sixth year, so that the land will yield a crop sufficient for three years. 22While you are sowing in the eighth year, you will be eating from the previous harvest, until the ninth year’s harvest comes in.

The Law of Redemption

23The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine, and you are but foreigners and residents with Me. 24Thus for every piece of property you possess, you must provide for the redemption of the land.

25If your brother becomes impoverished and sells some of his property, his nearest of kin may come and redeem what his brother has sold. 26Or if a man has no one to redeem it for him, but he prospers and acquires enough to redeem his land, 27he shall calculate the years since its sale, repay the balance to the man to whom he sold it, and return to his property. 28But if he cannot obtain enough to repay him, what he sold will remain in possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. In the Jubilee, however, it is to be released, so that he may return to his property.

29If a man sells a house in a walled city, he retains his right of redemption until a full year after its sale; during that year it may be redeemed. 30If it is not redeemed by the end of a full year, then the house in the walled city is permanently transferred to its buyer and his descendants. It is not to be released in the Jubilee. 31But houses in villages with no walls around them are to be considered as open fields. They may be redeemed, and they shall be released in the Jubilee.

32As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the cities they possess. 33So whatever belongs to the Levites may be redeemed—a house sold in a city they possess—and must be released in the Jubilee, because the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the Israelites. 34But the open pastureland around their cities may not be sold, for this is their permanent possession.

Redemption of the Poor

35Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you. 36Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you. 37You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit. 38I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.

Redemption of Bondmen

39If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor. 40Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers.

42Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves. 43You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God.

44Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them. 45You may also purchase them from the foreigners residing among you or their clans living among you who are born in your land. These may become your property. 46You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But as for your brothers, the Israelites, no man may rule harshly over his brother.

Redemption of Servants

47If a foreigner residing among you prospers, but your countryman dwelling near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan, 48he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his brothers may redeem him: 49either his uncle or cousin or any close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he prospers, he may redeem himself.

50He and his purchaser will then count the time from the year he sold himself up to the Year of Jubilee. The price of his sale will be determined by the number of years, based on the daily wages of a hired hand. 51If many years remain, he must pay for his redemption in proportion to his purchase price. 52If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, he is to calculate and pay his redemption according to his remaining years. 53He shall be treated like a man hired from year to year, but a foreign owner must not rule over him harshly in your sight.

54Even if he is not redeemed in any of these ways, he and his children shall be released in the Year of Jubilee. 55For the Israelites are My servants. They are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 26   ▶   ▶

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Additional Blessings of Obedience

1“You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God.

2You must keep My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD.

3If you follow My statutes and carefully keep My commandments, 4I will give you rains in their season, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will bear their fruit. 5Your threshing will continue until the grape harvest, and the grape harvest will continue until sowing time; you will have your fill of food to eat and will dwell securely in your land.

6And I will give peace to the land, and you will lie down with nothing to fear. I will rid the land of dangerous animals, and no sword will pass through your land. 7You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. 8Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.

9I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will establish My covenant with you. 10You will still be eating the old supply of grain when you need to clear it out to make room for the new.

11And I will make My dwelling placea among you, and My soul will not despiseb you. 12I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.c
13I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians. I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk in uprightness.

Punishments for Disobedience
(Leviticus 20:1–9; Deuteronomy 28:15–68)

14If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments, 15and if you reject My statutes, despise My ordinances, and neglect to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, 16then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you.

18And if after all this you will not obey Me, I will proceed to punish you sevenfold for your sins. 19I will break down your stubborn pride and make your sky like iron and your land like bronze, 20and your strength will be spent in vain. For your land will not yield its produce, and the trees of the land will not bear their fruit.

21If you walk in hostility toward Me and refuse to obey Me, I will multiply your plagues seven times, according to your sins. 22I will send wild animals against you to rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and reduce your numbers, until your roads lie desolate.

23And if in spite of these things you do not accept My discipline, but continue to walk in hostility toward Me, 24then I will act with hostility toward you, and I will strike you sevenfold for your sins. 25And I will bring a sword against you to execute the vengeance of the covenant. Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be delivered into the hand of the enemy. 26When I cut off your supplyd of bread, ten women will bake your bread in a single oven and dole out your bread by weight, so that you will eat but not be satisfied.

27But if in spite of all this you do not obey Me, but continue to walk in hostility toward Me, 28then I will walk in fury against you, and I, even I, will punish you sevenfold for your sins. 29You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters. 30I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and heap your lifeless bodies on the lifeless remains of your idols; and My soul will despise you.

31I will reduce your cities to rubble and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will refuse to smell the pleasing aroma of your sacrifices. 32And I will lay waste the land, so that your enemies who dwell in it will be appalled. 33But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.

34Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths all the days it lies desolate, while you are in the land of your enemies. At that time the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. 35As long as it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not receive during the Sabbaths when you lived in it.

36As for those of you who survive, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. And they will flee as one flees the sword, and fall when no one pursues them. 37They will stumble over one another as before the sword, though no one is behind them. So you will not be able to stand against your enemies.

38You will perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies will consume you. 39Those of you who survive in the lands of your enemies will waste away in their iniquity and will decay in the sins of their fathers.

God Remembers Those Who Repent

40But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me— 41and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity, 42then I will remember My covenant with Jacob and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

43For the land will be abandoned by them, and it will enjoy its Sabbaths by lying desolate without them. And they will pay the penalty for their iniquity, because they rejected My ordinances and abhorred My statutes.

44Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject or despise them so as to destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. 45But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their fathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the LORD.”

46These are the statutes, ordinances, and laws that the LORD established between Himself and the Israelites through Moses on Mount Sinai.

Footnotes:

11 a Or My tabernacle

11 b Or reject; also in verse 30

12 c Cited in 2 Corinthians 6:16

26 d Hebrew staff

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◀   ◀   Leviticus 27   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Rules about Valuations

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When someone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the value of persons, 3if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver,a according to the sanctuary shekel.b
4Or if it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels.c
5And if the person is from five to twenty years of age, then your valuation for the male shall be twenty shekels,d and for the female ten shekels.e

6Now if the person is from one month to five years of age, then your valuation for the male shall be five shekels of silver,f and for the female three shekels of silver.g
7And if the person is sixty years of age or older, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekelsh for the male and ten shekels for the female. 8But if the one making the vow is too poor to pay the valuation, he is to present the personi before the priest, who shall set the value according to what the one making the vow can afford.

9If he vows an animal that may be brought as an offering to the LORD, any such animal given to the LORD shall be holy. 10He must not replace it or exchange it, either good for bad or bad for good. But if he does substitute one animal for another, both that animal and its substitute will be holy.

11But if the vow involves any of the unclean animals that may not be brought as an offering to the LORD, the animal must be presented before the priest. 12The priest shall set its value, whether high or low; as the priest values it, the price will be set. 13If, however, the owner decides to redeem the animal, he must add a fifth to its value.

14Now if a man consecrates his house as holy to the LORD, then the priest shall value it either as good or bad. The price will stand just as the priest values it. 15But if he who consecrated his house redeems it, he must add a fifth to the assessed value, and it will belong to him.

16If a man consecrates to the LORD a parcel of his land, then your valuation shall be proportional to the seed required for it—fifty shekels of silver for every homer of barley seed.j
17If he consecrates his field during the Year of Jubilee, the price will stand according to your valuation.

18But if he consecrates his field after the Jubilee, the priest is to calculate the price in proportion to the years left until the next Year of Jubilee, so that your valuation will be reduced. 19And if the one who consecrated the field decides to redeem it, he must add a fifth to the assessed value, and it shall belong to him.

20If, however, he does not redeem the field, or if he has sold it to another man, it may no longer be redeemed. 21When the field is released in the Jubilee, it will become holy, like a field devoted to the LORD; it becomes the property of the priests.

22Now if a man consecrates to the LORD a field he has purchased, which is not a part of his own property, 23then the priest shall calculate for him the value up to the Year of Jubilee, and the man shall pay the assessed value on that day as a sacred offering to the LORD. 24In the Year of Jubilee the field shall return to the one from whom it was bought—the original owner of the land. 25Every valuation will be according to the sanctuary shekel, twenty gerahs to the shekel.k

26But no one may consecrate a firstborn of the livestock, because a firstborn belongs to the LORD. Whether it is an ox or a sheep, it is the LORD’s. 27But if it is among the unclean animals, then he may redeem it according to your valuation and add a fifth of its value. If it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your valuation.

28Nothing that a man sets apartl to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD.

29No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death.

Instruction on Tithes
(Deuteronomy 14:22–29; Deuteronomy 26:1–15; Nehemiah 13:10–14)

30Thus any tithe from the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. 31If a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he must add a fifth to its value.

32Every tenth animal from the herd or flock that passes under the shepherd’s rod will be holy to the LORD. 33He must not inspect whether it is good or bad, and he shall not make any substitution. But if he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute shall become holy; they cannot be redeemed.’ ”

34These are the commandments that the LORD gave to Moses for the Israelites on Mount Sinai.

Footnotes:

3 a 50 shekels is approximately 1.26 pounds or 569.8 grams of silver; also in verse 16.

3 b A shekel weighed approximately 0.4 ounces or 11.4 grams; also in verse 25.

4 c 30 shekels is approximately 12 ounces or 342 grams of silver.

5 d 20 shekels is approximately 8 ounces or 228 grams of silver.

5 e 10 shekels is approximately 4 ounces or 114 grams of silver; also in verse 7.

6 f 5 shekels is approximately 2 ounces or 57 grams of silver.

6 g 3 shekels is approximately 1.2 ounces or 34.2 grams of silver.

7 h 15 shekels is approximately 6 ounces or 171 grams of silver.

8 i Or present himself

16 j A homer is a dry measure of approximately 6.24 bushels or 220 liters (probably about 291 pounds or 132 kilograms of barley seed).

25 k 20 gerahs is equivalent to one shekel (approximately 0.4 ounces or 11.4 grams).

28 l Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD; similarly in verse 29.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36)

The First Census of Israel
(Numbers 26:1–4)

1On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said: 2“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.

3You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army. 4And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you.

The Leaders of the Tribes

5These are the names of the men who are to assist you:

From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;

6from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

7from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;

8from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;

9from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;

10from the sons of Joseph:

from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud,
and from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;

11from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;

12from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

13from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran;

14from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;

15and from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”

16These men were appointed from the congregation; they were the leaders of the tribes of their fathers, the heads of the clans of Israel.

The Number of Every Tribe

17So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name, 18and on the first day of the second month they assembled the whole congregation and recorded their ancestry by clans and families, counting one by one the names of those twenty years of age or older, 19just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

So Moses numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai:

20From the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 21those registered to the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.

22From the sons of Simeon, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 23those registered to the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300.

24From the sons of Gad, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 25those registered to the tribe of Gad numbered 45,650.

26From the sons of Judah, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 27those registered to the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600.

28From the sons of Issachar, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 29those registered to the tribe of Issachar numbered 54,400.

30From the sons of Zebulun, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 31those registered to the tribe of Zebulun numbered 57,400.

32From the sons of Joseph:

From the sons of Ephraim, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 33those registered to the tribe of Ephraim numbered 40,500.

34And from the sons of Manasseh, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 35those registered to the tribe of Manasseh numbered 32,200.

36From the sons of Benjamin, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 37those registered to the tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400.

38From the sons of Dan, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 39those registered to the tribe of Dan numbered 62,700.

40From the sons of Asher, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 41those registered to the tribe of Asher numbered 41,500.

42From the sons of Naphtali, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 43those registered to the tribe of Naphtali numbered 53,400.

44These were the men numbered by Moses and Aaron, with the assistance of the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. 45So all the Israelites twenty years of age or older who could serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families. 46And all those counted totaled 603,550.

The Exemption of the Levites

47The Levites, however, were not numbered along with them by the tribe of their fathers. 48For the LORD had said to Moses: 49“Do not number the tribe of Levi in the census with the other Israelites. 50Instead, you are to appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, all its furnishings, and everything in it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its articles, care for it, and camp around it.

51Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to be pitched, the Levites are to set it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death.

52The Israelites are to camp by their divisions, each man in his own camp and under his own standard. 53But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

54Thus the Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

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The Order of the Camps

1Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 2“The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it, each man under his standard, with the banners of his family.

3On the east side, toward the sunrise, the divisions of Judah are to camp under their standard:

The leader of the descendants of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab, 4and his division numbers 74,600.

5The tribe of Issachar will camp next to it. The leader of the Issacharites is Nethanel son of Zuar, 6and his division numbers 54,400.

7Next will be the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the Zebulunites is Eliab son of Helon, 8and his division numbers 57,400.

9The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Judah is 186,400; they shall set out first.

10On the south side, the divisions of Reuben are to camp under their standard:

The leader of the Reubenites is Elizur son of Shedeur, 11and his division numbers 46,500.

12The tribe of Simeon will camp next to it. The leader of the Simeonites is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, 13and his division numbers 59,300.

14Next will be the tribe of Gad. The leader of the Gadites is Eliasaph son of Deuel,a
15and his division numbers 45,650.

16The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Reuben is 151,450; they shall set out second.

17In the middle of the camps, the Tent of Meeting is to travel with the camp of the Levites. They are to set out in the order they encamped, each in his own place under his standard.

18On the west side, the divisions of Ephraim are to camp under their standard:

The leader of the Ephraimites is Elishama son of Ammihud, 19and his division numbers 40,500.

20The tribe of Manasseh will be next to it. The leader of the Manassites is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, 21and his division numbers 32,200.

22Next will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of the Benjamites is Abidan son of Gideoni, 23and his division numbers 35,400.

24The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Ephraim is 108,100; they shall set out third.

25On the north side, the divisions of Dan are to camp under their standard:

The leader of the Danites is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, 26and his division numbers 62,700.

27The tribe of Asher will camp next to it. The leader of the Asherites is Pagiel son of Ocran, 28and his division numbers 41,500.

29Next will be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the Naphtalites is Ahira son of Enan, 30and his division numbers 53,400.

31The total number of men in the camp of Dan is 157,600; they shall set out last, under their standards.”

32These are the Israelites, numbered according to their families. The total of those counted in the camps, by their divisions, was 603,550. 33But the Levites were not counted among the other Israelites, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

34So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; they camped under their standards in this way and set out in the same way, each man with his clan and his family.

Footnotes:

14 a Many MT manuscripts, SP, and Vulgate (see also Numbers 1:14); most MT manuscripts Reuel

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The Sons of Aaron
(Leviticus 10:1–7)

1This is the account of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

2These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, then Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3These were Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.

4Nadab and Abihu, however, died in the presence of the LORD when they offered unauthorizeda fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai. And since they had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

The Duties of the Levites

5Then the LORD said to Moses, 6“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. 7They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, attending to the service of the tabernacle. 8They shall take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and fulfill obligations for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

9Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been given exclusively to himb from among the Israelites. 10So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”

11Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12“Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me, 13for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They are Mine; I am the LORD.”

The Numbering of the Levites

14Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15“Number the Levites by their families and clans. You are to count every male a month old or more.”

16So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he had been commanded.

17These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18These were the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. 19The sons of Kohath by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families.

The Gershonites
(Numbers 4:21–28; 1 Chronicles 23:7–11)

21From Gershon came the Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan; these were the Gershonite clans. 22The number of all the males a month old or more was 7,500.

23The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle, 24and the leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.

25The duties of the Gershonites at the Tent of Meeting were the tabernacle and tent, its covering, the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, 26the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, and the cords—all the service for these items.

The Kohathites
(Numbers 4:1–20; 1 Chronicles 23:12–20)

27From Kohath came the clans of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these were the clans of the Kohathites. 28The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600.c They were responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

29The clans of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle, 30and the leader of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphand son of Uzziel.

31Their duties were the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used with them, and the curtain—all the service for these items.

32The chief of the leaders of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest; he oversaw those responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

The Merarites
(Numbers 4:29–33; 1 Chronicles 23:21–23)

33From Merari came the clans of the Mahlites and Mushites; these were the Merarite clans. 34The number of all the males a month old or more was 6,200.

35The leader of the families of the Merarites was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

36The duties assigned to the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—all the service for these items, 37as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.

Moses and Aaron

38Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.

39The total number of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted by their clans at the LORD’s command, including all the males a month old or more, was 22,000.

The Redemption of the Firstborn

40Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names. 41You are to take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.”

42So Moses numbered all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD had commanded him. 43The total number of the firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273.

44Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites belong to Me; I am the LORD. 46To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites, 47you are to collect five shekelse for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs.f
48Give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the excess among the Israelites.”

49So Moses collected the redemption money from those in excess of the number redeemed by the Levites. 50He collected the money from the firstborn of the Israelites: 1,365 shekels,g according to the sanctuary shekel. 51And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons in obedience to the word of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.

Footnotes:

4 a Or strange

9 b Most MT manuscripts; some MT manuscripts, SP, and LXX (see also Numbers 8:16) to Me

28 c Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts 8,300; see the total in verse 39.

30 d Elizaphan is a variant of Elzaphan; see Exodus 6:22 and Leviticus 10:4.

47 e 5 shekels is approximately 2 ounces or 57 grams.

47 f 20 gerahs is equivalent to one shekel (approximately 0.4 ounces or 11.4 grams).

50 g 1,365 shekels is approximately 34.3 pounds or 15.6 kilograms.

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The Duties of the Kohathites
(Numbers 3:27–32; 1 Chronicles 23:12–20)

1Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2“Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families, 3men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

4This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things. 5Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimonya with it. 6They are to place over this a covering of fine leather,b spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.

7Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it. 8And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles.

9They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it. 10Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame.

11Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles. 12They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame.

13Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, 14and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.

15When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.

16Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”

17Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 18“Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites. 19In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. 20But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The Duties of the Gershonites
(Numbers 3:21–26; 1 Chronicles 23:7–11)

21And the LORD said to Moses, 22“Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans, 23from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

24This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport: 25They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with the covering of fine leather over it, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, 26the curtains of the courtyard, and the curtains for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. The Gershonites will do all that needs to be done with these items.

27All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry. 28This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

The Duties of the Merarites
(Numbers 3:33–37; 1 Chronicles 23:21–23)

29As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families, 30from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work of the Tent of Meeting.

31This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases, 32and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry.

33This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

34So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the Kohathites by their clans and families, 35everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 36And those numbered by their clans totaled 2,750. 37These were counted from the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron numbered them according to the command of the LORD through Moses.

38Then the Gershonites were numbered by their clans and families, 39everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 40And those numbered by their clans and families totaled 2,630. 41These were counted from the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the LORD’s command.

42And the Merarites were numbered by their clans and families, 43everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 44The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200. 45These were counted from the Merarite clans, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the LORD’s command through Moses.

46So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered by their clans and families all the Levites 47from thirty to fifty years old who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting. 48And the number of men was 8,580. 49At the LORD’s command they were numbered through Moses and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Footnotes:

5 a That is, the ark of the covenant

6 b Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verses 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 25; see Exodus 25:5.

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Cleansing the Camps
(Leviticus 13:1–46)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone with a skin disease,a anyone who has a bodily discharge, and anyone who is defiled by a dead body. 3You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.”

4So the Israelites did this, sending such people outside the camp. They did just as the LORD had instructed Moses.

Restitution for Trespasses
(Luke 19:1–10)

5And the LORD said to Moses, 6“Tell the Israelites that when a man or woman acts unfaithfully against the LORD by committing any sin against another, that person is guilty 7and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution, add a fifth to its value, and give all this to the one he has wronged.

8But if the man has no relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest along with the ram of atonement, by which the atonement is made for him.

9Every sacred contribution the Israelites bring to the priest shall belong to him. 10Each man’s sacred gifts are his own, but whatever he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.”

The Adultery Test

11Then the LORD said to Moses, 12“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if any man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him 13by sleeping with another man, and it is concealed from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she was not caught in the act), 14and if a feeling of jealousy comes over her husband and he suspects his wife who has defiled herself—or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him and he suspects her even though she has not defiled herself— 15then he is to bring his wife to the priest.

He must also bring for her an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour.b He is not to pour oil over it or put frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, an offering of memorial as a reminder of iniquity.

16The priest is to bring the wife forward and have her stand before the LORD. 17Then he is to take some holy water in a clay jar and put some of the dust from the tabernacle floor into the water.

18After the priest has the woman stand before the LORD, he is to let down her hair and place in her hands the grain offering of memorial, which is the grain offering for jealousy. The priest is to hold the bitter water that brings a curse. 19And he is to put the woman under oath and say to her, ‘If no other man has slept with you and you have not gone astray and become defiled while under your husband’s authority, may you be immune to this bitter water that brings a curse. 20But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority and have defiled yourself and lain carnally with a man other than your husband’— 21and the priest shall have the woman swear under the oath of the curse—‘then may the LORD make you an attested curse among your people by making your thigh shrivel and your belly swell. 22May this water that brings a curse enter your stomach and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to shrivel.’

Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen, Amen.’

23And the priest shall write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. 24He is to have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her and cause her bitter suffering. 25The priest shall take from her hand the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the LORD, and bring it to the altar. 26Then the priest is to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar; after that he is to have the woman drink the water.

27When he has made her drink the water, if she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then the water that brings a curse will enter her and cause bitter suffering; her belly will swell, her thigh will shrivel, and she will become accursed among her people. 28But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will be unaffected and able to conceive children.

29This is the law of jealousy when a wife goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority, 30or when a feeling of jealousy comes over a husband and he suspects his wife. He is to have the woman stand before the LORD, and the priest is to apply to her this entire law. 31The husband will be free from guilt, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.”

Footnotes:

2 a Forms of the Hebrew tzaraath, traditionally translated as leprosy, were used for various skin diseases; see Leviticus 13.

15 b A tenth of an ephah is approximately 2 dry quarts or 2.2 liters (probably about 3.5 pounds or 1.6 kilograms of barley flour).

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The Nazirite Vow
(Judges 13:1–25)

1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite,a to separate himself to the LORD, 3he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins. 4All the days of his separation, he is not to eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

5For the entire period of his vow of separation, no razor shall pass over his head. He must be holy until the time of his separation to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of his head grow long.

6Throughout the days of his separation to the LORD, he must not go near a dead body. 7Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he is not to defile himself, because the crown of consecration to his God is upon his head. 8Throughout the time of his separation, he is holy to the LORD.

9If someone suddenly dies in his presence and defiles his consecrated head of hair, he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing—the seventh day. 10On the eighth day he must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 11And the priest is to offer one as a sin offeringb and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for him, because he has sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. On that day he must consecrate his head again. 12He must rededicate his time of separation to the LORD and bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. But the preceding days shall not be counted, because his separation was defiled.

13Now this is the law of the Nazirite when his time of separation is complete: He must be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, 14and he is to present an offering to the LORD of an unblemished year-old male lamb as a burnt offering, an unblemished year-old female lamb as a sin offering, and an unblemished ram as a peace offering— 15together with their grain offerings and drink offerings—and a basket of unleavened cakes made from fine flour mixed with oil and unleavened wafers coated with oil.

16The priest is to present all these before the LORD and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. 17He shall also offer the ram as a peace offering to the LORD, along with the basket of unleavened bread. And the priest is to offer the accompanying grain offering and drink offering.

18Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite is to shave his consecrated head, take the hair, and put it on the fire under the peace offering. 19And the priest is to take the boiled shoulder from the ram, one unleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and put them into the hands of the Nazirite who has just shaved the hair of his consecration. 20The priest shall then wave them as a wave offering before the LORD. This is a holy portion for the priest, in addition to the breast of the wave offering and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

21This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD for his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford; he must fulfill whatever vow he makes, according to the law of his separation.”

Aaron’s Blessing

22Then the LORD said to Moses, 23“Tell Aaron and his sons: This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

24‘May the LORD bless you
and keep you;

25may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you
and be gracious to you;

26may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you
and give you peace.’

27So they shall put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Footnotes:

2 a Nazirite means one separated or one consecrated.

11 b Or purification offering; here and throughout Numbers

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Offerings of Dedication

1On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, along with the altar and all its utensils. 2And the leaders of Israel, the heads of their families, presented an offering. These men were the tribal leaders who had supervised the registration. 3They brought as their offering before the LORD six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two leaders—and presented them before the tabernacle.

4And the LORD said to Moses, 5“Accept these gifts from them, that they may be used in the work of the Tent of Meeting. And give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.”

6So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7He gave the Gershonites two carts and four oxen, as their service required, 8and he gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen, as their service required, all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 9But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since they were to carry on their shoulders the holy objects for which they were responsible.

10When the altar was anointed, the leaders approached with their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar. 11And the LORD said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to present his offering for the dedication of the altar.”

12On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab from the tribe of Judah drew near with his offering. 13His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels,a and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels,b both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 14one gold dish weighing ten shekels,c filled with incense; 15one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 16one male goat for a sin offering; 17and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

18On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, drew near. 19The offering he presented was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 20one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 21one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 22one male goat for a sin offering; 23and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

24On the third day Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the Zebulunites, drew near. 25His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 26one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 27one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 28one male goat for a sin offering; 29and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

30On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the Reubenites, drew near. 31His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 32one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 33one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 34one male goat for a sin offering; 35and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

36On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the Simeonites, drew near. 37His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 38one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 39one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 40one male goat for a sin offering; 41and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

42On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the Gadites, drew near. 43His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 44one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 45one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 46one male goat for a sin offering; 47and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

48On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the Ephraimites, drew near. 49His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 50one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 51one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 52one male goat for a sin offering; 53and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

54On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the Manassites, drew near. 55His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 56one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 57one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 58one male goat for a sin offering; 59and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

60On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the Benjamites, drew near. 61His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 62one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 63one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 64one male goat for a sin offering; 65and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

66On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the Danites, drew near. 67His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 68one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 69one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 70one male goat for a sin offering; 71and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

72On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, the leader of the Asherites, drew near. 73His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 74one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 75one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 76one male goat for a sin offering; 77and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran.

78On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the Naphtalites, drew near. 79His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 80one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 81one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 82one male goat for a sin offering; 83and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

84So these were the offerings from the leaders of Israel for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold dishes.

85Each silver platter weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each silver bowl seventy shekels. The total weight of the silver articles was two thousand four hundred shekels,d according to the sanctuary shekel.

86The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. The total weight of the gold dishes was a hundred and twenty shekels.e

87All the livestock for the burnt offering totaled twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male lambs a year old—together with their grain offerings—and twelve male goats for the sin offering.

88All the livestock sacrificed for the peace offering totaled twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

89When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the mercy seatf on the ark of the Testimony.g Thus the LORD spoke to him.

Footnotes:

13 a 130 shekels is approximately 3.3 pounds or 1.48 kilograms; here and throughout this chapter.

13 b 70 shekels is approximately 1.76 pounds or 797.8 grams; here and throughout this chapter.

14 c 10 shekels is approximately 4 ounces or 114 grams; here and throughout this chapter.

85 d 2,400 shekels is approximately 60.3 pounds or 27.4 kilograms.

86 e 120 shekels is approximately 3 pounds or 1.4 kilograms.

89 f Or atonement cover

89 g That is, the ark of the covenant

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◀   ◀   Numbers 8   ▶   ▶

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The Lampstand
(Exodus 25:31–40; Exodus 37:17–24)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to Aaron and tell him: ‘When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.’ ”

3And Aaron did so; he set up the lamps facing toward the front of the lampstand, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

4This is how the lampstand was constructed: it was made of hammered gold from its base to its blossoms, fashioned according to the pattern the LORD had shown Moses.

Cleansing the Levites

5Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6“Take the Levites from among the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean. 7This is what you must do to cleanse them: Sprinkle them with the water of purification. Have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.

8Then have them take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering. 9Bring the Levites before the Tent of Meeting and assemble the whole congregation of Israel. 10You are to present the Levites before the LORD and have the Israelites lay their hands upon them. 11Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the sons of Israel, so that they may perform the service of the LORD. 12And the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and offer to the LORD one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, to make atonement for the Levites.

13You are to have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons and then present them before the LORD as a wave offering. 14In this way you shall separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites, and the Levites will belong to Me. 15After you have cleansed them and presented them as a wave offering, they may come to serve at the Tent of Meeting.

16For the Levites have been wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. I have taken them for Myself in place of all who come first from the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel. 17For every firstborn male in Israel is Mine, both man and beast. I set them apart for Myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. 18But I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel. 19And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites, to perform the service for the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting and to make atonement on their behalf, so that no plague will come against the Israelites when they approach the sanctuary.”

20So Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel did with the Levites everything that the LORD had commanded Moses they should do. 21The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes, and Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the LORD. Aaron also made atonement for them to cleanse them. 22After that, the Levites came to perform their service at the Tent of Meeting in the presence of Aaron and his sons. Thus they did with the Levites just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Retirement for Levites

23And the LORD said to Moses, 24“This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years of age or older shall enter to perform the service in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 25But at the age of fifty, they must retire from performing the work and no longer serve.

26After that, they may assist their brothers in fulfilling their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves are not to do the work. This is how you are to assign responsibilities to the Levites.”

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◀   ◀   Numbers 9   ▶   ▶

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The Second Passover
(Exodus 12:1–13)

1In the first month of the second year after Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai: 2“The Israelites are to observe the Passover at its appointed time. 3You are to observe it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteentha day of this month, in accordance with its statutes and ordinances.”

4So Moses told the Israelites to observe the Passover, 5and they did so in the Wilderness of Sinai, at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

6But there were some men who were unclean due to a dead body, so they could not observe the Passover on that day. And they came before Moses and Aaron that same day 7and said to Moses, “We are unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?”

8“Wait here until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you,” Moses replied.

9Then the LORD said to Moses, 10“Tell the Israelites: ‘When any one of you or your descendants is unclean because of a dead body, or is away on a journey, he may still observe the Passover to the LORD. 11Such people are to observe it at twilight on the fourteenth day of the second month. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs; 12they may not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. They must observe the Passover according to all its statutes.

13But if a man who is ceremonially clean and is not on a journey still fails to observe the Passover, he must be cut off from his people, because he did not present the LORD’s offering at its appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.

14If a foreigner dwelling among you wants to observe the Passover to the LORD, he is to do so according to the Passover statute and its ordinances. You are to apply the same statute to both the foreigner and the native of the land.’ ”

The Cloud above the Tabernacle
(Exodus 40:34–38)

15On the day that the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it and appeared like fire above the tabernacle from evening until morning. 16It remained that way continually; the cloud would cover the tabernacle by day,b and at night it would appear like fire. 17Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites would set out, and wherever the cloud settled, there the Israelites would camp. 18At the LORD’s command the Israelites set out, and at the LORD’s command they camped. As long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle, they remained encamped.

19Even when the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for many days, the Israelites kept the LORD’s charge and did not set out. 20Sometimes the cloud remained over the tabernacle for only a few days, and they would camp at the LORD’s command and set out at the LORD’s command. 21Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they would set out. Whether it was by day or by night, when the cloud was taken up, they would set out.

22Whether the cloud lingered for two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle; but when it was lifted, they would set out. 23They camped at the LORD’s command, and they set out at the LORD’s command; they carried out the LORD’s charge according to His command through Moses.

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew between the two evenings of the fourteenth; also in verses 5 and 11

16 b LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew does not include by day

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◀   ◀   Numbers 10   ▶   ▶

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The Two Silver Trumpets

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Make two trumpets of hammered silver to be used for calling the congregation and for having the camps set out. 3When both are sounded, the whole congregation is to assemble before you at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 4But if only one is sounded, then the leaders, the heads of the clans of Israel, are to gather before you.

5When you sound short blasts, the camps that lie on the east side are to set out. 6When you sound the short blasts a second time, the camps that lie on the south side are to set out. The blasts are to signal them to set out. 7To convene the assembly, you are to sound long blasts, not short ones. 8The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. This shall be a permanent statute for you and the generations to come.

9When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who attacks you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God and saved from your enemies. 10And on your joyous occasions, your appointed feasts, and the beginning of each month, you are to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to serve as a reminder for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”

From Sinai to Paran

11On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony, 12and the Israelites set out from the Wilderness of Sinai, traveling from place to place until the cloud settled in the Wilderness of Paran. 13They set out this first time according to the LORD’s command through Moses.

14First, the divisions of the camp of Judah set out under their standard, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command. 15Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar, 16and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun. 17Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting it.

18Then the divisions of the camp of Reuben set out under their standard, with Elizur son of Shedeur in command. 19Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon, 20and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad. 21Then the Kohathites set out, transporting the holy objects; the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival.

22Next, the divisions of the camp of Ephraim set out under their standard, with Elishama son of Ammihud in command. 23Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh, 24and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.

25Finally, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard, serving as the rear guard for all units, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai in command. 26Pagiel son of Ocran was over the division of the tribe of Asher, 27and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali.

28This was the order of march for the Israelite divisions as they set out.

29Then Moses said to Hobab, the son of Moses’ father-in-law Reuela the Midianite, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said: ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.”

30“I will not go,” Hobab replied. “Instead, I am going back to my own land and my own people.”

31“Please do not leave us,” Moses said, “since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can serve as our eyes. 32If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the LORD gives us.”

33So they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them. 34And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

35Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say,

“Rise up, O LORD!

May Your enemies be scattered;
may those who hate You flee before You.”

36And when it came to rest, he would say:

“Return, O LORD,
to the countless thousands of Israel.”

Footnotes:

29 a Reuel was also called Jethro; see Exodus 3:1.

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◀   ◀   Numbers 11   ▶   ▶

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The Complaints of the People

1Soon the people began to complain about their hardship in the hearing of the LORD, and when He heard them, His anger was kindled, and fire from the LORD blazed among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp. 2And the people cried out to Moses, and he prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down. 3So that place was called Taberah,a because the fire of the LORD had burned among them.

4Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat? 5We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. 6But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!”

7Now the manna resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of gum resin. 8The people walked around and gathered it, ground it on a handmill or crushed it in a mortar, then boiled it in a cooking pot or shaped it into cakes. It tasted like pastry baked with fine oil. 9When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it.

The Complaint of Moses

10Then Moses heard the people of family after family weeping at the entrances to their tents, and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly, and Moses was also displeased.

11So Moses asked the LORD, “Why have You brought this trouble on Your servant? Why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid upon me the burden of all these people? 12Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth, so that You should tell me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries an infant,’ to the land that You swore to give their fathers?

13Where can I get meat for all these people? For they keep crying out to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’

14I cannot carry all these people by myself; it is too burdensome for me. 15If this is how You are going to treat me, please kill me right now—if I have found favor in Your eyes—and let me not see my own wretchedness.”

Seventy Elders Anointed

16Then the LORD said to Moses, “Bring Me seventy of the elders of Israel known to you as leaders and officers of the people. Bring them to the Tent of Meeting and have them stand there with you.

17And I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put that Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.

18And say to the people: Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you will eat meat, because you have cried out in the hearing of the LORD, saying: ‘Who will feed us meat? For we were better off in Egypt!’ Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat. 19You will eat it not for one or two days, nor for five or ten or twenty days, 20but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and makes you nauseous—because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have cried out before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’ ”

21But Moses replied, “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ 22If all our flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?”

23The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not My word will come to pass.”

24So Moses went out and relayed to the people the words of the LORD, and he gathered seventy of the elders of the people and had them stand around the tent. 25Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed that Spirit on the seventy elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but they never did so again.

26Two men, however, had remained in the camp—one named Eldad and the other Medad—and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those listed, but they had not gone out to the tent, and they prophesied in the camp. 27A young man ran and reported to Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

28Joshua son of Nun, the attendant to Moses since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”

29But Moses replied, “Are you jealous on my account? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would place His Spirit on them!”

30Then Moses returned to the camp, along with the elders of Israel.

The Quail and the Plague

31Now a wind sent by the LORD came up, drove in quail from the sea, and brought them near the camp, about two cubits above the surface of the ground,b for a day’s journey in every direction around the camp. 32All that day and night, and all the next day, the people stayed up gathering the quail. No one gathered less than ten homers,c and they spread them out all around the camp.

33But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and the LORD struck them with a severe plague. 34So they called that place Kibroth-hattaavah,d because there they buried the people who had craved other food.

35From Kibroth-hattaavah the people moved on to Hazeroth, where they remained for some time.

Footnotes:

3 a Taberah means burning.

31 b Or up to two cubits deep; that is, approximately 3 feet or 91.4 centimeters

32 c 10 homers is approximately 62.4 bushels or 2,200 liters.

34 d Kibroth-hattaavah means graves of craving.

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◀   ◀   Numbers 12   ▶   ▶

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The Complaint of Miriam and Aaron

1Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had taken a Cushite wife. 2“Does the LORD speak only through Moses?” they said. “Does He not also speak through us?” And the LORD heard this.

3Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.

4And suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “You three, come out to the Tent of Meeting.” So the three went out, 5and the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the Tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them had stepped forward, 6He said, “Hear now My words:

If there is a prophet among you,

I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision;

I will speak to him in a dream.

7But this is not so with My servant Moses;
he is faithful in all My house.a

8I speak with him face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the LORD.

Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?” 9So the anger of the LORD burned against them, and He departed.

10As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous,b white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous, 11and said to Moses, “My lord, please do not hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed. 12Please do not let her be like a stillborn infant whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.”

13So Moses cried out to the LORD, “O God, please heal her!”

14But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”

15So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until she was brought in again. 16After that, the people set out from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran.

Footnotes:

7 a Cited in Hebrews 3:5

10 b The Hebrew word traditionally translated as leprous was used for various skin diseases; see Leviticus 13.

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◀   ◀   Numbers 13   ▶   ▶

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The Spies Explore Canaan
(Deuteronomy 1:19–25)

1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“Send out for yourself men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each of their fathers’ tribes send one man who is a leader among them.”

3So at the consenta of the LORD, Moses sent them out from the Wilderness of Paran. All the men were leaders of the Israelites, 4and these were their names:

From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur;

5from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;

6from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;

7from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;

8from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;

9from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;

10from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;

11from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi;

12from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;

13from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;

14from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;

15and from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Machi.

16These were the names of the men Moses sent to spy out the land; and Moses gave to Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.

17When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he told them, “Go up through the Negev and into the hill country. 18See what the land is like and whether its people are strong or weak, few or many. 19Is the land where they live good or bad? Are the cities where they dwell open camps or fortifications? 20Is the soil fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous, and bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

21So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath. 22They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.

23When they came to the Valley of Eshcol,b they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which they carried on a pole between two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs. 24Because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut there, that place was called the Valley of Eshcol.

The Reports of the Spies

25After forty days the men returned from spying out the land, 26and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.

27And they gave this account to Moses: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit! 28Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak there. 29The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”

30Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!”

31But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!”

32So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land that they had spied out: “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature. 33We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”

Footnotes:

3 a Literally according to the mouth

23 b Eshcol means cluster; also in verse 24.

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◀   ◀   Numbers 14   ▶   ▶

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Israel’s Rebellion
(Deuteronomy 1:26–33)

1Then the whole congregation lifted up their voices and cried out, and that night the people wept. 2All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

4So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”

5Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel.

6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7and said to the whole congregation of Israel, “The land we passed through and explored is an exceedingly good land. 8If the LORD delights in us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and He will give it to us. 9Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they will be like bread for us. Their protection has been removed, and the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!”

10But the whole congregation threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb.

Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting. 11And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them? 12I will strike them with a plague and destroy them—and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are.”

Moses Intercedes for Israel

13But Moses said to the LORD, “The Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought this people from among them. 14And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have already heard that You, O LORD, are in the midst of this people, that You, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that Your cloud stands over them, and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

15If You kill this people as one man, the nations who have heard of Your fame will say, 16‘Because the LORD was unable to bring this people into the land He swore to give them, He has slaughtered them in the wilderness.’

17So now I pray, may the power of my Lord be magnified, just as You have declared: 18‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion,a forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’

19Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people, in keeping with the greatness of Your loving devotion, just as You have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.”

God’s Forgiveness and Judgment
(Deuteronomy 1:34–40)

20“I have pardoned them as you requested,” the LORD replied. 21“Yet as surely as I live and as surely as the whole earth is filled with the glory of the LORD, 22not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness—yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times— 23not one will ever see the land that I swore to give their fathers. None of those who have treated Me with contempt will see it.

24But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.

25Now since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.b”

26Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 27“How long will this wicked congregation grumble against Me? I have heard the complaints that the Israelites are making against Me. 28So tell them: As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you exactly as I heard you say. 29Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me.

30Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31But I will bring your children, whom you said would become plunder, into the land you have rejected—and they will enjoy it. 32As for you, however, your bodies will fall in this wilderness.

33Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. 34In keeping with the forty days you spied out the land, you shall bear your guilt forty years—a year for each day—and you will experience My alienation.

35I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this entire wicked congregation, which has conspired against Me. They will meet their end in the wilderness, and there they will die.”

The Plague on the Ten Spies

36So the men Moses had sent to spy out the land, who had returned and made the whole congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report about the land— 37those men who had brought out the bad report about the land—were struck down by a plague before the LORD. 38Of those men who had gone to spy out the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive.

39And when Moses relayed these words to all the Israelites, the people mourned bitterly.

The Defeat at Hormah
(Deuteronomy 1:41–46)

40Early the next morning they got up and went up toward the ridge of the hill country. “We have indeed sinned,” they said, “but we will go to the place the LORD has promised.”

41But Moses said, “Why are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD? This will not succeed! 42Do not go up, lest you be struck down by your enemies, because the LORD is not among you. 43For there the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from the LORD, He will not be with you.”

44But they dared to go up to the ridge of the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the covenant of the LORD moved from the camp. 45Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them all the way to Hormah.

Footnotes:

18 a Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

25 b Or the Sea of Reeds

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◀   ◀   Numbers 15   ▶   ▶

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Laws about Offerings

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: After you enter the land that I am giving you as a home 3and you present an offering made by fire to the LORD from the herd or flock to produce a pleasing aroma to the LORD—either a burnt offering or a sacrifice, for a special vow or freewill offering or appointed feast— 4then the one presenting his offering to the LORD shall also present a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine floura mixed with a quarter hin of olive oil.b
5With the burnt offering or sacrifice of each lamb, you are to prepare a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering.

6With a ram you are to prepare a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephahc of fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of olive oil,d
7and a third of a hin of wine as a drink offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

8When you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice to fulfill a vow or as a peace offering to the LORD, 9present with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine floure mixed with half a hin of olive oil.f
10Also present half a hin of wine as a drink offering. It is an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 11This is to be done for each bull, ram, lamb, or goat. 12This is how you must prepare each one, no matter how many.

13Everyone who is native-born shall prepare these things in this way when he presents an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 14And for the generations to come, if a foreigner residing with you or someone else among you wants to prepare an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the LORD, he is to do exactly as you do. 15The assembly is to have the same statute both for you and for the foreign resident; it is a permanent statute for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD. 16The same law and the same ordinance will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing with you.”

17Then the LORD said to Moses, 18“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you enter the land to which I am bringing you 19and you eat the food of the land, you shall lift up an offering to the LORD. 20From the first of your dough, you are to lift up a cake as a contribution; offer it just like an offering from the threshing floor. 21Throughout your generations, you are to give the LORD an offering from the first of your dough.

Offerings for Unintentional Sins

22Now if you stray unintentionally and do not obey all these commandments that the LORD has spoken to Moses— 23all that the LORD has commanded you through Moses from the day the LORD gave them and continuing through the generations to come— 24and if it was done unintentionally without the knowledge of the congregation, then the whole congregation is to prepare one young bull as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD, with its grain offering and drink offering according to the regulation, and one male goat as a sin offering.

25The priest is to make atonement for the whole congregation of Israel, so that they may be forgiven; for the sin was unintentional and they have brought to the LORD an offering made by fire and a sin offering, presented before the LORD for their unintentional sin. 26Then the whole congregation of Israel and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, since it happened to all the people unintentionally.

27Also, if one person sins unintentionally, he is to present a year-old female goat as a sin offering. 28And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven. 29You shall have the same law for the one who acts in error, whether he is a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.

30But the person who sins defiantly, whether a native or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That person shall be cut off from among his people. 31He shall certainly be cut off, because he has despised the word of the LORD and broken His commandment; his guilt remains on him.”

A Sabbath-Breaker Stoned
(Exodus 31:12–17)

32While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33Those who found the man gathering wood brought him to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation, 34and because it had not been declared what should be done to him, they placed him in custody.

35And the LORD said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death. The whole congregation is to stone him outside the camp.”

36So the whole congregation took the man outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

The Law of Tassels

37Later, the LORD said to Moses, 38“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come they are to make for themselves tassels for the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. 39These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the commandments of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by following your own heart and your own eyes.

40Then you will remember and obey all My commandments, and you will be holy to your God. 41I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.”

Footnotes:

4 a A tenth of an ephah is approximately 2 dry quarts or 2.2 liters (probably about 2.6 pounds or 1.2 kilograms of flour).

4 b Or a quarter hin of oil; that is, approximately 0.97 quarts or 0.92 liters; similarly in verse 5

6 c Two-tenths of an ephah is approximately 4 dry quarts or 4.4 liters (probably about 5.1 pounds or 2.3 kilograms of flour).

6 d Or a third of a hin of oil; that is, approximately 1.3 quarts or 1.2 liters; similarly in verse 7

9 e Three-tenths of an ephah is approximately 6 dry quarts or 6.6 liters (probably about 7.6 pounds or 3.5 kilograms of flour).

9 f Or half a hin of oil; that is, approximately 1.9 quarts or 1.8 liters; similarly in verse 10

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◀   ◀   Numbers 16   ▶   ▶

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Korah’s Rebellion

1Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted 2a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 men of Israel renowned as leaders of the congregation and representatives in the assembly. 3They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves!a For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

4When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. 5Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Himb and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one He chooses, He will bring near to Himself. 6You, Korah, and all your followers are to do as follows: Take censers, 7and tomorrow you are to place fire and incense in them in the presence of the LORD. Then the man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. It is you sons of Levi who have taken too much upon yourselves!”

8Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you sons of Levi! 9Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to Himself to perform the work at the LORD’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them? 10He has brought you near, you and all your fellow Levites, but you are seeking the priesthood as well. 11Therefore, it is you and all your followers who have conspired against the LORD! As for Aaron, who is he that you should grumble against him?”

12Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come! 13Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us? 14Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!”

15Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not regard their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them or mistreated a single one of them.”

16And Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the LORD tomorrow—you and they and Aaron. 17Each man is to take his censer, place incense in it, and present it before the LORD—250 censers. You and Aaron are to present your censers as well.”

18So each man took his censer, put fire and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 19When Korah had gathered his whole assembly against them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole congregation.

20And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 21“Separate yourselves from this congregation so that I may consume them in an instant.”

22But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the whole congregation?”

Moses Separates the People

23Then the LORD said to Moses, 24“Tell the congregation to move away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”

25So Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26And he warned the congregation, “Move away now from the tents of these wicked men. Do not touch anything that belongs to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.”

27So they moved away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Meanwhile, Dathan and Abiram had come out and stood at the entrances to their tents with their wives and children and infants.

The Earth Swallows Korah

28Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things, for it was not my own doing: 29If these men die a natural death, or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. 30But if the LORD brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.”

31As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open, 32and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions. 33They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.

34At their cries, all the people of Israel who were around them fled, saying, “The earth may swallow us too!” 35And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

The Censers Reserved for Holy Use

36Then the LORD said to Moses, 37“Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to remove the censers from the flames and to scatter the coals far away, because the censers are holy. 38As for the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar, for these were presented before the LORD, and so have become holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.”

39So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, 40just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.

Murmuring and Plague
(1 Corinthians 10:1–13)

41The next day the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the LORD’s people!” 42But when the congregation gathered against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the Tent of Meeting, and suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared.

43Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the Tent of Meeting, 44and the LORD said to Moses, 45“Get away from this congregation so that I may consume them in an instant.” And Moses and Aaron fell facedown.

46Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.”

47So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered and ran into the midst of the assembly. And seeing that the plague had begun among the people, he offered the incense and made atonement for the people. 48He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was halted. 49But those who died from the plague numbered 14,700, in addition to those who had died on account of Korah.

50Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, since the plague had been halted.

Footnotes:

3 a Figuratively You have gone too far or You have appropriated too much authority to yourselves; similarly in verse 7

5 b LXX God has visited and knows those who are His; cited in 2 Timothy 2:19

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◀   ◀   Numbers 17   ▶   ▶

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Aaron’s Staff Buds

1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff, 3and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe. 4Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony,a where I meet with you. 5The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”

6So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff—one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them. 7Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.

8The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds. 9Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff.

10The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.” 11So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.

12Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost! 13Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”

Footnotes:

4 a The Testimony refers to the stone tablets in the ark of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments; also in verse 10.

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◀   ◀   Numbers 18   ▶   ▶

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Duties of Priests and Levites

1So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary. And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood. 2But bring with you also your brothers from the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and assist you and your sons before the Tent of the Testimony. 3And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die. 4They are to join you and attend to the duties of the Tent of Meeting, doing all the work at the Tent; but no outsider may come near you.

5And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again. 6Behold, I Myself have selected your fellow Levites from the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD to perform the service for the Tent of Meeting. 7But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”

Offerings for Priests and Levites

8Then the LORD said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute. 9A portion of the most holy offerings reserved from the fire will be yours. From all the offerings they render to Me as most holy offerings, whether grain offerings or sin offerings or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons. 10You are to eat it as a most holy offering,a and every male may eat it. You shall regard it as holy.

11And this is yours as well: the offering of their gifts, along with all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I have given this to you and your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. Every ceremonially clean person in your household may eat it. 12I give you all the freshest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain that the Israelites give to the LORD as their firstfruits. 13The firstfruits of everything in their land that they bring to the LORD will belong to you. Every ceremonially clean person in your household may eat them.

14Every devoted thing in Israel belongs to you. 15The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast, that is offered to the LORD belongs to you. But you must surely redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals. 16You are to pay the redemption price for a month-old male according to your valuation: five shekels of silver,b according to the sanctuary shekel, which is twenty gerahs.c

17But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. You are to sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 18And their meat belongs to you, just as the breast and right thigh of the wave offering belong to you.

19All the holy offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and to your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. It is a permanent covenant of saltd before the LORD for you and your offspring.”

20Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.

21Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting. 22No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die.

23The Levites are to perform the work of the Tent of Meeting, and they must bear their iniquity. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come. The Levites will not receive an inheritance among the Israelites. 24For I have given to the Levites as their inheritance the tithe that the Israelites present to the LORD as a contribution. That is why I told them that they would not receive an inheritance among the Israelites.”

25And the LORD instructed Moses, 26“Speak to the Levites and tell them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that I have given you as your inheritance, you must present part of it as an offering to the LORD—a tithe of the tithe. 27Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. 28So you are to present an offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites, and from these you are to give the LORD’s offering to Aaron the priest. 29You must present the offering due the LORD from all the best of every gift, the holiest part of it.’

30Therefore say to the Levites, ‘When you have presented the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the produce of the threshing floor or winepress. 31And you and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere; it is the compensation for your work at the Tent of Meeting. 32Once you have presented the best part of it, you will not incur guilt because of it. But you must not defile the sacred offerings of the Israelites, or else you will die.’ ”

Footnotes:

10 a Or You are to eat it in a most holy place

16 b 5 shekels is approximately 2 ounces or 57 grams of silver.

16 c 20 gerahs is equivalent to one shekel (approximately 0.4 ounces or 11.4 grams).

19 d That is, a perpetual covenant

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◀   ◀   Numbers 19   ▶   ▶

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The Red Heifer

1Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2“This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Instruct the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red heifer that has no defect and has never been placed under a yoke. 3Give it to Eleazar the priest, and he will have it brought outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.

4Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting. 5Then the heifer must be burned in his sight. Its hide, its flesh, and its blood are to be burned, along with its dung. 6The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.

7Then the priest must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; after that he may enter the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean until evening. 8The one who burned the heifer must also wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he too will be ceremonially unclean until evening.

9Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to gather up the ashes of the heifer and store them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They must be kept by the congregation of Israel for preparing the water of purification; this is for purification from sin. 10The man who has gathered up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he will be ceremonially unclean until evening. This is a permanent statute for the Israelites and for the foreigner residing among them.

Purification of the Unclean

11Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days. 12He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. 13Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.

14This is the law when a person dies in a tent: Everyone who enters the tent and everyone already in the tent will be unclean for seven days, 15and any open container without a lid fastened on it is unclean.

16Anyone in the open field who touches someone who has been killed by the sword or has died of natural causes, or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

17For the purification of the unclean person, take some of the ashes of the burnt sin offering, put them in a jar, and pour fresh watera over them. 18Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent, all the furnishings, and the people who were there. He is also to sprinkle the one who touched a bone, a grave, or a person who has died or been slain.

19The man who is ceremonially clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day. After he purifies the unclean person on the seventh day, the one being cleansed must wash his clothes and bathe in water, and that evening he will be clean. 20But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

21This is a permanent statute for the people: The one who sprinkles the water of purification must wash his clothes, and whoever touches the water of purification will be unclean until evening. 22Anything the unclean person touches will become unclean, and anyone who touches it will be unclean until evening.”

Footnotes:

17 a Or flowing water or living water

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◀   ◀   Numbers 20   ▶   ▶

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Water from the Rock
(Exodus 17:1–7)

1In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.

2Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron. 3The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! 4Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? 5Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—and there is no water to drink!”

6Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. 7And the LORD said to Moses, 8“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”

9So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded. 10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.

12But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

13These were the waters of Meribah,a where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.

Edom Refuses Passage

14From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us, 15how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, 16and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt.

Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17Please let us pass through your land. We will not cut through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

18But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”

19“We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.”

20But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand. 21So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.

The Death of Aaron

22After they had set out from Kadesh, the whole congregation of Israel came to Mount Hor. 23And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 24“Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. 25Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor. 26Remove Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.”

27So Moses did as the LORD had commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation. 28After Moses had removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.

Footnotes:

13 a Meribah means quarreling; also in verse 24; see Exodus 17:7.

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◀   ◀   Numbers 21   ▶   ▶

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The Defeat of Arad

1When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked Israel and captured some prisoners. 2So Israel made a vow to the LORD: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction.a”

3And the LORD heard Israel’s plea and delivered up the Canaanites. Israel devoted them and their cities to destruction; so they named the place Hormah.b

The Bronze Serpent

4Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,c in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey 5and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”

6So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died.

7Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people.

8Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” 9So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.

The Journey to Moab

10Then the Israelites set out and camped at Oboth. 11They journeyed from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim in the wilderness opposite Moab to the east. 12From there they set out and camped in the Valley of Zered. 13From there they moved on and camped on the other side of the Arnon, in the wilderness that extends into the Amorite territory.

Now the Arnon is the border between the Moabites and the Amorites. 14Therefore it is stated in the Book of the Wars of the LORD:

“Waheb in Suphah
and the wadis of the Arnon,

15even the slopes of the wadis
that extend to the site of Ar
and lie along the border of Moab.”

16From there they went on to Beer,d the well where the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people so that I may give them water.” 17Then Israel sang this song:

“Spring up, O well,
all of you sing to it!

18The princes dug the well;
the nobles of the people hollowed it out
with their scepters
and with their staffs.”

From the wilderness the Israelites went on to Mattanah, 19and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland.e

The Defeat of Sihon
(Deuteronomy 2:24–37)

21Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22“Let us pass through your land. We will not cut through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”

23But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz,f he fought against Israel. 24And Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok—but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified.g

25Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its villages. 26Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land as far as the Arnon. 27That is why the poets say:

“Come to Heshbon, let it be rebuilt;
let the city of Sihon be restored.

28For a fire went out from Heshbon,
a blaze from the city of Sihon.

It consumed Ar of Moab,
the rulers of Arnon’s heights.

29Woe to you, O Moab!

You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh!

He gave up his sons as refugees,
and his daughters into captivity
to Sihon king of the Amorites.

30But we have overthrown them;

Heshbon is destroyed as far as Dibon.

We demolished them as far as Nophah,
which reaches to Medeba.h”

The Defeat of Og
(Deuteronomy 3:1–11)

31So Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32After Moses had sent spies to Jazer, Israel captured its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.

33Then they turned and went up the road to Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army came out to meet them in battle at Edrei.

34But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.”

35So they struck down Og, along with his sons and his whole army, until no remnant was left. And they took possession of his land.

Footnotes:

2 a Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in verse 3.

3 b Hormah means destruction.

4 c Or the Sea of Reeds

16 d Beer means well.

20 e Or Jeshimon

23 f Jahaz is a variant of Jahzah; see 1 Chronicles 6:78.

24 g Or because the territory was rugged; literally because it was strong

30 h Or We demolished them until fire spread to Medeba

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◀   ◀   Numbers 22   ▶   ▶

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Balak Summons Balaam

1Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.

2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites. 4So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.”

Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time, 5he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphratesa in the land of his people.

“Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”

7The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.

8“Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

9Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”

10And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’ ”

12But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

13So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

14And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

15Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers. 16They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’ ”

18But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. 19So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”

20That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” 21So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey

22Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angelb of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.

24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side. 25And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again.

26And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left. 27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.

28Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”

29Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”

30But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?”

“No,” he replied.

31Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.

32The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perversec before me. 33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”

34“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”

35But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to richly reward you?”

38“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”

39So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.

41The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.

Footnotes:

5 a Hebrew the River

22 b Or Angel; here through the rest of chapter 22; corresponding pronouns may also be capitalized.

32 c Or reckless or contrary

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◀   ◀   Numbers 23   ▶   ▶

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Balaam’s First Oracle

1Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”

2So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

3“Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.”

So Balaam went off to a barren height, 4and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”

5Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”

6So he returned to Balak, who was standing there beside his burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab.

7And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Balak brought me from Aram,
the king of Moab from the mountains of the east.

‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me;
come and denounce Israel!’

8How can I curse what God has not cursed?

How can I denounce what the LORD has not denounced?

9For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs,
and I watch them from the hills.

Behold, a people dwelling apart,
not reckoning themselves among the nations.

10Who can count the dust of Jacob
or number even a fourth of Israel?

Let me die the death of the righteous;
let my end be like theirs!”

11Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!”

12But Balaam replied, “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?”

Balaam’s Second Oracle

13Then Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place where you can see them. You will only see the outskirts of their camp—not all of them. And from there, curse them for me.”

14So Balak took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, where he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

15Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet the LORD over there.”

16And the LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.”

17So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with the princes of Moab.

“What did the LORD say?” Balak asked.

18Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Arise, O Balak, and listen;
give ear to me, O son of Zippor.

19God is not a man, that He should lie,
or a son of man, that He should change His mind.

Does He speak and not act?

Does He promise and not fulfill?

20I have indeed received a command to bless;

He has blessed, and I cannot change it.

21He considers no disaster for Jacob;

He sees no trouble for Israel.

The LORD their God is with them,
and the shout of the King is among them.

22God brought them out of Egypt
with strength like a wild ox.

23For there is no spell against Jacob
and no divination against Israel.

It will now be said of Jacob and Israel,

‘What great things God has done!’

24Behold, the people rise like a lioness;
they rouse themselves like a lion,
not resting until they devour their prey
and drink the blood of the slain.”

25Now Balak said to Balaam, “Then neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”

26But Balaam replied, “Did I not tell you that whatever the LORD says, I must do?”

27“Please come,” said Balak, “I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you curse them for me from there.”

28And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland.a

29Then Balaam said, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”

30So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Footnotes:

28 a Or Jeshimon

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◀   ◀   Numbers 24   ▶   ▶

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Balaam’s Third Oracle

1And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness. 2When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him, 3and he lifted up an oracle, saying:

“This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,a
who bows down with eyes wide open:

5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your dwellings, O Israel!

6They spread out like palm groves,b
like gardens beside a stream,
like aloes the LORD has planted,
like cedars beside the waters.

7Water will flow from his buckets,
and his seed will have abundant water.

His king will be greater than Agag,
and his kingdom will be exalted.

8God brought him out of Egypt
with strength like a wild ox,
to devour hostile nations and crush their bones,
to pierce them with arrows.

9He crouches, he lies down like a lion;
like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?

Blessed are those who bless you
and cursed are those who curse you.”

Balak Dismisses Balaam

10Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times. 11Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”

12Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me 13that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says. 14Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

15Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying,

“This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

16the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
who has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who bows down with eyes wide open:

17I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near.

A star will come forth from Jacob,
and a scepter will arise from Israel.

He will crush the skullsc of Moab
and strike down all the sons of Sheth.

18Edom will become a possession,
as will Seir, his enemy;
but Israel will perform with valor.

19A ruler will come from Jacob
and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Balaam’s Final Three Oracles

20Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Amalek was first among the nations,
but his end is destruction.”

21Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Your dwelling place is secure,
and your nest is set in a cliff.

22Yet Kain will be destroyed
when Asshurd takes you captive.”

23Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Ah, who can live
unless God has ordained it?

24Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus;e
they will subdue Asshur and Eber,
but they too will perish forever.”

25Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.

Footnotes:

4 a Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16

6 b Or like valleys

17 c SP foreheads; Hebrew corners (of the head); LXX princes

22 d Or Assyria; also in verse 24

24 e Hebrew Kittim

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◀   ◀   Numbers 25   ▶   ▶

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Moab Seduces Israel
(1 Corinthians 10:1–13)

1While Israel was staying in Shittim,a the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab, 2who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods. 3So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them.

4Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that His fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”

5So Moses told the judges of Israel, “Each of you must kill all of his men who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.”

The Zeal of Phinehas

6Just then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and the whole congregation of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 7On seeing this, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand, 8followed the Israelite into his tent, and drove the spear through both of them—through the Israelite and on through the belly of the woman.

So the plague against the Israelites was halted, 9but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.

10Then the LORD said to Moses, 11“Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites; for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal. 12Declare, therefore, that I am granting him My covenant of peace. 13It will be a covenant of permanent priesthood for him and his descendants, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”

14The name of the Israelite who was slain with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family. 15And the name of the slain Midianite woman was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.

16And the LORD said to Moses, 17“Attack the Midianites and strike them dead. 18For they assailed you deceitfully when they seduced you in the matter of Peor and their sister Cozbi, the daughter of the Midianite leader, the woman who was killed on the day the plague came because of Peor.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or Acacia Grove

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◀   ◀   Numbers 26   ▶   ▶

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The Second Census of Israel
(Numbers 1:1–4)

1After the plague had ended, the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, 2“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”

3So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued the instruction, 4“Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older,a as the LORD has commanded Moses.”

And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:

The Tribe of Reuben

5Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben:

The Hanochite clan from Hanoch,
the Palluite clan from Pallu,

6the Hezronite clan from Hezron,
and the Carmite clan from Carmi.

7These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730.

8Now the son of Pallu was Eliab, 9and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram.

It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who fought against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the LORD. 10And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire consumed 250 men. They serve as a warning sign. 11However, the line of Korah did not die out.

The Tribe of Simeon

12These were the descendants of Simeon by their clans:

The Nemuelite clan from Nemuel,b
the Jaminite clan from Jamin,
the Jachinite clan from Jachin,

13the Zerahite clan from Zerah,c
and the Shaulite clan from Shaul.

14These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.

The Tribe of Gad

15These were the descendants of Gad by their clans:

The Zephonite clan from Zephon,
the Haggite clan from Haggi,
the Shunite clan from Shuni,

16the Oznite clan from Ozni,
the Erite clan from Eri,

17the Arodite clan from Arod,d
and the Arelite clan from Areli.

18These were the clans of Gad, and their registration numbered 40,500.

The Tribe of Judah

19The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan. 20These were the descendants of Judah by their clans:

The Shelanite clan from Shelah,
the Perezite clan from Perez,
and the Zerahite clan from Zerah.

21And these were the descendants of Perez:

the Hezronite clan from Hezron
and the Hamulite clan from Hamul.

22These were the clans of Judah, and their registration numbered 76,500.

The Tribe of Issachar

23These were the descendants of Issachar by their clans:

The Tolaite clan from Tola,
the Punite clan from Puvah,e

24the Jashubite clan from Jashub,f
and the Shimronite clan from Shimron.

25These were the clans of Issachar, and their registration numbered 64,300.

The Tribe of Zebulun

26These were the descendants of Zebulun by their clans:

The Seredite clan from Sered,
the Elonite clan from Elon,
and the Jahleelite clan from Jahleel.

27These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered 60,500.

The Tribe of Manasseh

28The descendants of Joseph included the clans of Manasseh and Ephraim.

29These were the descendants of Manasseh:

The Machirite clan from Machir, the father of Gilead,
and the Gileadite clan from Gilead.

30These were the descendants of Gilead:

the Iezerite clan from Iezer,g
the Helekite clan from Helek,

31the Asrielite clan from Asriel,
the Shechemite clan from Shechem,

32the Shemidaite clan from Shemida,
and the Hepherite clan from Hepher.

33Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

34These were the clans of Manasseh, and their registration numbered 52,700.

The Tribe of Ephraim

35These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans:

The Shuthelahite clan from Shuthelah,
the Becherite clan from Becher,
and the Tahanite clan from Tahan.

36And the descendants of Shuthelah were the Eranite clan from Eran.

37These were the clans of Ephraim, and their registration numbered 32,500.

These clans were the descendants of Joseph.

The Tribe of Benjamin

38These were the descendants of Benjamin by their clans:

The Belaite clan from Bela,
the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel,
the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram,

39the Shuphamite clan from Shupham,h
and the Huphamite clan from Hupham.

40And the descendants of Bela from Ard and Naaman were the Ardite clan from Ardi and the Naamite clan from Naaman.

41These were the clans of Benjamin, and their registration numbered 45,600.

The Tribe of Dan

42These were the descendants of Dan by their clans:

The Shuhamite clan from Shuham.

These were the clans of Dan. 43All of them were Shuhamite clans, and their registration numbered 64,400.

The Tribe of Asher

44These were the descendants of Asher by their clans:

The Imnite clan from Imnah,
the Ishvite clan from Ishvi,
and the Beriite clan from Beriah.

45And these were the descendants of Beriah:

the Heberite clan from Heber
and the Malchielite clan from Malchiel.

46And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serah.

47These were the clans of Asher, and their registration numbered 53,400.

The Tribe of Naphtali

48These were the descendants of Naphtali by their clans:

The Jahzeelite clan from Jahzeel,
the Gunite clan from Guni,

49the Jezerite clan from Jezer,
and the Shillemite clan from Shillem.

50These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400.

51These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.

Inheritance by Lot

52Then the LORD said to Moses, 53“The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names. 54Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each tribe is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered.

55Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers. 56Each inheritance is to be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.”

The Levites Numbered

57Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans:

The Gershonite clan from Gershon,
the Kohathite clan from Kohath,
and the Merarite clan from Merari.

58These were the families of the Levites:

The Libnite clan,
the Hebronite clan,
the Mahlite clan,
the Mushite clan,
and the Korahite clan.

Now Kohath was the father of Amram, 59and Amram’s wife was named Jochebed. She was also a daughter of Levi, born to Levi in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. 60Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar were born to Aaron, 61but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorizedj fire before the LORD.

62The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.

Only Caleb and Joshua Remain

63These were the ones numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.

64Among all these, however, there was not one who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai. 65For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Footnotes:

4 a Take a census of the men is implied but not included in the Hebrew; see verse 2.

12 b Nemuel is another name for Jemuel; see Genesis 46:10.

13 c Zerah is a variant of Zohar; see Genesis 46:10 and Exodus 6:15.

17 d SP and Syriac Arodi; see Genesis 46:16.

23 e SP, LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac the Puite clan from Puah; see 1 Chronicles 7:1.

24 f Jashub is a variant of Job; see Genesis 46:13.

30 g Iezer is a variant of Abiezer; see Joshua 17:2.

39 h A few MT manuscripts, SP, Vulgate, and Syriac (see also LXX); most MT manuscripts Shephupham

40 i SP and Vulgate (see also LXX); MT does not include from Ard.

61 j Or strange

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◀   ◀   Numbers 27   ▶   ▶

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The Daughters of Zelophehad
(Numbers 36:1–13)

1Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached 2the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole congregation, and said, 3“Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons. 4Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no sons? Give us property among our father’s brothers.”

5So Moses brought their case before the LORD, 6and the LORD answered him, 7“The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. You certainly must give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers, and transfer their father’s inheritance to them.

8Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter. 9If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. 10If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11And if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the next of kin from his clan, that he may take possession of it. This is to be a statutory ordinance for the Israelites, as the LORD has commanded Moses.’ ”

Moses Requests a Successor
(Deuteronomy 3:23–29)

12Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim rangea and see the land that I have given the Israelites. 13After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was; 14for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribahb in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.

15So Moses appealed to the LORD, 16“May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation 17who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

Joshua to Succeed Moses
(Deuteronomy 31:1–8)

18And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. 19Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight. 20Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him. 21He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim.c At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”

22Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. He took Joshua, had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, 23and laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD had instructed through Moses.

Footnotes:

12 a LXX Go up Mount Nebo beyond the Jordan

14 b Meribah means quarreling; see Exodus 17:7.

21 c Literally the Lights

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◀   ◀   Numbers 28   ▶   ▶

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The Daily Offerings
(Exodus 29:38–44)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Command the Israelites and say to them: See that you present to Me at its appointed time the food for My offerings by fire, as a pleasing aroma to Me.

3And tell them that this is the offering made by fire you are to present to the LORD as a regular burnt offering each day: two unblemished year-old male lambs. 4Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight,a
5along with a tenth of an ephah of fine flourb as a grain offering, mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives.c

6This is a regular burnt offering established at Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD. 7The drink offering accompanying each lamb shall be a quarter hin. Pour out the offering of fermented drink to the LORD in the sanctuary area. 8And offer the second lamb at twilight, with the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning. It is an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

The Sabbath Offerings

9On the Sabbath day, present two unblemished year-old male lambs, accompanied by a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flourd mixed with oil, as well as a drink offering.

10This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

The Monthly Offerings

11At the beginning of every month, you are to present to the LORD a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 12along with three-tenths of an ephah of fine floure mixed with oil as a grain offering with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with the ram, 13and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with each lamb. This is a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

14Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of winef with each bull, a third of a hing with the ram, and a quarter hin with each lamb. This is the monthly burnt offering to be made at each new moon throughout the year.

15In addition to the regular burnt offering with its drink offering, one male goat is to be presented to the LORD as a sin offering.

Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
(Exodus 12:14–28; Leviticus 23:4–8; Deuteronomy 16:1–8)

16The fourteenth day of the first month is the LORD’s Passover. 17On the fifteenth day of this month, there shall be a feast; for seven days unleavened bread is to be eaten.

18On the first day there is to be a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work. 19Present to the LORD an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished. 20The grain offering shall consist of fine flour mixed with oil; offer three-tenths of an ephah with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram, 21and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven lambs. 22Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you.

23You are to present these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering. 24Offer the same food each day for seven days as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It is to be offered with its drink offering and the regular burnt offering.

25On the seventh day you shall hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work.

The Feast of Weeks
(Deuteronomy 16:9–12)

26On the day of firstfruits, when you present an offering of new grain to the LORD during the Feast of Weeks,h you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work.

27Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old as a pleasing aroma to the LORD, 28together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephah with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram, 29and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven lambs.

30Include one male goat to make atonement for you. 31Offer them with their drink offerings in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering. The animals must be unblemished.

Footnotes:

4 a Hebrew between the two evenings; also in verse 8

5 b A tenth of an ephah is approximately 2 dry quarts or 2.2 liters (probably about 2.6 pounds or 1.2 kilograms of flour); also in verses 13, 21, and 29.

5 c Or a quarter hin of pure olive oil; Hebrew a quarter hin of pressed oil; that is, approximately 0.97 quarts or 0.92 liters; similarly in verses 7 and 14

9 d Two-tenths of an ephah is approximately 4 dry quarts or 4.4 liters (probably about 5.1 pounds or 2.3 kilograms of flour); also in verses 12, 20, and 28.

12 e Three-tenths of an ephah is approximately 6 dry quarts or 6.6 liters (probably about 7.6 pounds or 3.5 kilograms of flour); also in verses 20 and 28.

14 f Half a hin is approximately 1.9 quarts or 1.8 liters of wine.

14 g A third of a hin is approximately 1.3 quarts or 1.2 liters of wine.

26 h That is, Shavuot, the late spring feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is also known as the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16) or the Feast of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1).

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◀   ◀   Numbers 29   ▶   ▶

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The Feast of Trumpets
(Leviticus 23:23–25)

1“On the first day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This will be a day for you to sound the trumpets.

2As a pleasing aroma to the LORD, you are to present a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 3together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephaha with the bull, two-tenths of an ephahb with the ram, 4and a tenth of an ephahc with each of the seven male lambs.

5Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. 6These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their prescribed grain offerings and drink offerings. They are a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

The Day of Atonement
(Leviticus 16:1–34; Leviticus 23:26–32)

7On the tenth day of this seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you shall humble yourselves;d you must not do any work.

8Present as a pleasing aroma to the LORD a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 9together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephah with the bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram, 10and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven lambs.

11Include one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering of atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offerings.

The Feast of Tabernacles
(Deuteronomy 16:13–17)

12On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work, and you shall observe a feast to the LORD for seven days.

13As a pleasing aroma to the LORD, you are to present an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 14along with the grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil with each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths of an ephah with each of the two rams, 15and a tenth of an ephah with each of the fourteen lambs. 16Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

17On the second day you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 18along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 19Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

20On the third day you are to present eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 21along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 22Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

23On the fourth day you are to present ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 24along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 25Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

26On the fifth day you are to present nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 27along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 28Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

29On the sixth day you are to present eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 30along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 31Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

32On the seventh day you are to present seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 33along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 34Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

35On the eighth day you are to hold a solemn assembly; you must not do any regular work. 36As a pleasing aroma to the LORD, you are to present an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 37along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 38Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

39You are to present these offerings to the LORD at your appointed times, in addition to your vow and freewill offerings, whether burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, or peace offerings.”

40So Moses spoke all this to the Israelites just as the LORD had commanded him.

Footnotes:

3 a Three-tenths of an ephah is approximately 6 dry quarts or 6.6 liters (probably about 7.6 pounds or 3.5 kilograms of flour); also in verses 9 and 14.

3 b Two-tenths of an ephah is approximately 4 dry quarts or 4.4 liters (probably about 5.1 pounds or 2.3 kilograms of flour); also in verses 9 and 14.

4 c A tenth of an ephah is approximately 2 dry quarts or 2.2 liters (probably about 2.6 pounds or 1.2 kilograms of flour); also in verses 10 and 15.

7 d Or afflict your souls or deny yourselves

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◀   ◀   Numbers 30   ▶   ▶

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Laws about Vows
(Matthew 5:33–37)

1Then Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded: 2If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.a

3And if a woman in her father’s house during her youth makes a vow to the LORD or obligates herself by a pledge, 4and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all the vows or pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand. 5But if her father prohibits her on the day he hears about it, then none of the vows or pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand. The LORD will absolve her because her father has prohibited her.

6If a woman marries while under a vow or rash promise by which she has bound herself, 7and her husband hears of it but says nothing to her on that day, then the vows or pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand. 8But if her husband prohibits her when he hears of it, he nullifies the vow that binds her or the rash promise she has made, and the LORD will absolve her.

9Every vow a widow or divorced woman pledges to fulfill is binding on her.

10If a woman in her husband’s house has made a vow or put herself under an obligation with an oath, 11and her husband hears of it but says nothing to her and does not prohibit her, then all the vows or pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand. 12But if her husband nullifies them on the day he hears of them, then nothing that came from her lips, whether her vows or pledges, shall stand. Her husband has nullified them, and the LORD will absolve her.

13Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow or any sworn pledge to deny herself.b
14But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he confirms all the vows and pledges that bind her. He has confirmed them, because he said nothing to her on the day he heard about them. 15But if he nullifies them after he hears of them, then he will bear her iniquity.”

16These are the statutes that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the relationship between a man and his wife, and between a father and a young daughter still in his home.

Footnotes:

2 a Cited in Matthew 5:33

13 b Or to fast

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◀   ◀   Numbers 31   ▶   ▶

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Vengeance on Midian

1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”

3So Moses told the people, “Arm some of your men for war, that they may go against the Midianites and execute the LORD’s vengeance on them. 4Send into battle a thousand men from each tribe of Israel.”

5So a thousand men were recruited from each tribe of Israel—twelve thousand armed for war. 6And Moses sent the thousand from each tribe into battle, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who took with him the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.

7Then they waged war against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male. 8Among the slain were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.

9The Israelites captured the Midianite women and their children, and they plundered all their herds, flocks, and goods. 10Then they burned all the cities where the Midianites had lived, as well as all their encampments, 11and carried away all the plunder and spoils, both people and animals.

12They brought the captives, spoils, and plunder to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of Israel at the camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho. 13And Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation went to meet them outside the camp.

14But Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who were returning from the battle. 15“Have you spared all the women?” he asked them. 16“Look, these women caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to turn unfaithfully against the LORD at Peor, so that the plague struck the congregation of the LORD. 17So now, kill all the boys, as well as every woman who has had relations with a man, 18but spare for yourselves every girl who has never had relations with a man.

19All of you who have killed a person or touched the dead are to remain outside the camp for seven days. On the third day and the seventh day you are to purify both yourselves and your captives. 20And purify every garment and leather good, everything made of goat’s hair, and every article of wood.”

21Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded Moses: 22Only the gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead— 23everything that can withstand the fire—must be put through the fire, and it will be clean. But it must still be purified with the water of purification. And everything that cannot withstand the fire must pass through the water. 24On the seventh day you are to wash your clothes, and you will be clean. After that you may enter the camp.”

Division of the Spoils

25The LORD said to Moses, 26“You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the congregation are to take a count of what was captured, both of man and beast. 27Then divide the captives between the troops who went out to battle and the rest of the congregation.

28Set aside a tribute for the LORD from what belongs to the soldiers who went into battle: one out of every five hundred, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, or sheep. 29Take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest as an offering to the LORD.

30From the Israelites’ half, take one out of every fifty, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep, or other animals, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.”

31So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD had commanded Moses, 32and this plunder remained from the spoils the soldiers had taken:

675,000 sheep,

3372,000 cattle,

3461,000 donkeys,

35and 32,000 women who had not slept with a man.

36This was the half portion for those who had gone to war:

337,500 sheep, 37including a tribute to the LORD of 675,

3836,000 cattle, including a tribute to the LORD of 72,

3930,500 donkeys, including a tribute to the LORD of 61,

40and 16,000 people, including a tribute to the LORD of 32.

41Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as an offering for the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

42From the Israelites’ half, which Moses had set apart from the men who had gone to war, 43this half belonged to the congregation:

337,500 sheep,

4436,000 cattle,

4530,500 donkeys,

46and 16,000 people.

47From the Israelites’ half, Moses took one out of every fifty persons and animals and gave them to the Levites who kept charge of the tabernacle of the LORD, as the LORD had commanded him.

The Voluntary Offering

48Then the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and of hundreds—approached Moses 49and said, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one of us is missing. 50So we have brought to the LORD an offering of the gold articles each man acquired—armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.”

51So Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them all the articles made out of gold. 52All the gold that the commanders of thousands and of hundreds presented as an offering to the LORD weighed 16,750 shekels.a
53Each of the soldiers had taken plunder for himself. 54And Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and brought it into the Tent of Meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD.

Footnotes:

52 a 16,750 shekels is approximately 420.8 pounds or 190.9 kilograms.

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◀   ◀   Numbers 32   ▶   ▶

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The Tribes East of the Jordan
(Deuteronomy 3:12–22; Joshua 13:8–14)

1Now the Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, surveyed the lands of Jazer and Gilead, and they saw that the region was suitable for livestock. 2So the Gadites and Reubenites came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the congregation, and said, 3“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam,a Nebo, and Beon, 4which the LORD conquered before the congregation of Israel, are suitable for livestock—and your servants have livestock.”

5“If we have found favor in your sight,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”

6But Moses asked the Gadites and Reubenites, “Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here? 7Why are you discouraging the Israelites from crossing into the land that the LORD has given them? 8This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to inspect the land.

9For when your fathers went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land that the LORD had given them. 10So the anger of the LORD was kindled that day, and He swore an oath, saying, 11‘Because they did not follow Me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years of age or older who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— 12not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun—because they did follow the LORD wholeheartedly.’ 13The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation who had done evil in His sight was gone.

14Now behold, you, a brood of sinners, have risen up in place of your fathers to further stoke the burning anger of the LORD against Israel. 15For if you turn away from following Him, He will once again leave this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.”

16Then the Gadites and Reubenites approached Moses and said, “We want to build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones. 17But we will arm ourselves and be readyb to go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them into their place. Meanwhile, our little ones will remain in the fortified cities for protection from the inhabitants of the land. 18We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has taken possession of his inheritance. 19Yet we will not have an inheritance with them across the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”

20Moses replied, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle, 21and if every one of your armed men crosses the Jordan before the LORD, until He has driven His enemies out before Him, 22then when the land is subdued before the LORD, you may return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel. And this land will belong to you as a possession before the LORD. 23But if you do not do this, you will certainly sin against the LORD—and be assured that your sin will find you out. 24Build cities for your little ones and folds for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”

25The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “Your servants will do just as our lord commands. 26Our children, our wives, our livestock, and all our animals will remain here in the cities of Gilead. 27But your servants are equipped for war, and every man will cross over to the battle before the LORD, just as our lord says.”

28So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the family leaders of the tribes of Israel. 29And Moses said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites cross the Jordan with you, with every man armed for battle before the LORD, and the land is subdued before you, then you are to give them the land of Gilead as a possession. 30But if they do not arm themselves and go across with you, then they must accept their possession among you in the land of Canaan.”

31The Gadites and Reubenites replied, “As the LORD has spoken to your servants, so we will do. 32We will cross over into the land of Canaan armed before the LORD, that we may have our inheritance on this side of the Jordan.”

33So Moses gave to the Gadites, to the Reubenites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the land including its cities and the territory surrounding them.

34And the Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as fortified cities, and they built folds for their flocks.

37The Reubenites built up Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38as well as Nebo and Baal-meon (whose names were changed), and Sibmah. And they renamed the cities they rebuilt.

39The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there. 40So Moses gave Gilead to the clan of Machir son of Manasseh, and they settled there. 41Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, went and captured their villages and called them Havvoth-jair.c
42And Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages and called it Nobah, after his own name.

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew; see verse 38, and similarly in SP and LXX Sibmah

17 b LXX we will arm ourselves for battle

41 c Havvoth-jair means the villages of Jair.

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Forty-Two Journeys of the Israelites

1These are the journeys of the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt by their divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2At the LORD’s command, Moses recorded the stages of their journey. These are the stages listed by their starting points:

3On the fifteenth day of the first month, on the day after the Passover, the Israelites set out from Rameses. They marched out defiantlya in full view of all the Egyptians, 4who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had executed judgment against their gods. 5The Israelites set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth.

6They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.

7They set out from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon, and they camped near Migdol.

8They set out from Pi-hahirothb and crossed through the sea, into the wilderness, and they journeyed three days into the Wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.

9They set out from Marah and came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.

10They set out from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.c

11They set out from the Red Sea and camped in the Desert of Sin.d

12They set out from the Desert of Sin and camped at Dophkah.

13They set out from Dophkah and camped at Alush.

14They set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

15They set out from Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai.

16They set out from the Wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah.

17They set out from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.

18They set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.

19They set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez.

20They set out from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah.

21They set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah.

22They set out from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.

23They set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.

24They set out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.

25They set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.

26They set out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.

27They set out from Tahath and camped at Terah.

28They set out from Terah and camped at Mithkah.

29They set out from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.

30They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.

31They set out from Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan.

32They set out from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.

33They set out from Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.

34They set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.

35They set out from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber.

36They set out from Ezion-geber and camped at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.

37They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the outskirts of the land of Edom. 38At the LORD’s command, Aaron the priest climbed Mount Hor and died there on the first day of the fifth month, in the fortieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt. 39Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.

40Now the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev in the land of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming. 41And the Israelites set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.

42They set out from Zalmonah and camped at Punon.

43They set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.

44They set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim on the border of Moab.

45They set out from Iyime and camped at Dibon-gad.

46They set out from Dibon-gad and camped at Almon-diblathaim.

47They set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarimf facing Nebo.

48They set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

49And there on the plains of Moab they camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim.g

Instructions for Occupying Canaan

50On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the LORD said to Moses, 51“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places.

53You are to take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54And you are to divide the land by lot according to your clans. Give a larger inheritance to a larger clan and a smaller inheritance to a smaller one. Whatever falls to each one by lot will be his. You will receive an inheritance according to the tribes of your fathers.

55But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you settle. 56And then I will do to you what I had planned to do to them.”

Footnotes:

3 a Or marched out boldly; literally marched out with an upraised hand

8 b Some Hebrew manuscripts, SP, and Vulgate; see verse 7; most MT manuscripts Hahiroth

10 c Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 11

11 d The geographical name Sin is related to Sinai and should not be mistaken for the English word sin; also in verse 12.

45 e Iyim is another name for Iye-abarim; see verse 44.

47 f Or the mountains beyond the river; also in verse 48

49 g Or the Meadow of the Acacias; that is, an area in the lowlands of Moab

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The Boundaries of Canaan
(Genesis 15:8–21)

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries:

3Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea,a
4cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim,b continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon, 5where it will turn from Azmon, join the Brook of Egypt, and end at the Sea.c

6Your western border will be the coastline of the Great Sea; this will be your boundary on the west.

7Your northern border will run from the Great Sea directly to Mount Hor, 8and from Mount Hor to Lebo-hamath, then extend to Zedad, 9continue to Ziphron, and end at Hazar-enan. This will be your boundary on the north.

10And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham, 11then go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Chinnereth.d
12Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea.

This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.”

13So Moses commanded the Israelites, “Apportion this land by lot as an inheritance. The LORD has commanded that it be given to the nine and a half tribes. 14For the tribes of the Reubenites and Gadites, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh, have already received their inheritance. 15These two and a half tribes have received their inheritance across the Jordan from Jericho, toward the sunrise.”

Leaders to Divide the Land

16Then the LORD said to Moses, 17“These are the names of the men who are to assign the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun. 18Appoint one leader from each tribe to distribute the land. 19These are their names:

Caleb son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Judah;

20Shemuel son of Ammihud from the tribe of Simeon;

21Elidad son of Chislon from the tribe of Benjamin;

22Bukki son of Jogli, a leader from the tribe of Dan;

23Hanniel son of Ephod, a leader from the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph;

24Kemuel son of Shiphtan, a leader from the tribe of Ephraim;

25Eli-zaphan son of Parnach, a leader from the tribe of Zebulun;

26Paltiel son of Azzan, a leader from the tribe of Issachar;

27Ahihud son of Shelomi, a leader from the tribe of Asher;

28and Pedahel son of Ammihud, a leader from the tribe of Naphtali.”

29These are the ones whom the LORD commanded to apportion the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.

Footnotes:

3 a That is, the Dead Sea; also in verse 12

4 b Or the Ascent of Scorpions or Scorpion Pass

5 c That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea; also in verses 6 and 7

11 d That is, the Sea of Galilee

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Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites
(Joshua 21:1–45; 1 Chronicles 6:54–81)

1Again the LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho: 2“Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities. 3The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock.

4The pasturelands around the cities you are to give the Levites will extend a thousand cubitsa from the wall on every side. 5You are also to measure two thousand cubitsb outside the city on the east, two thousand on the south, two thousand on the west, and two thousand on the north, with the city in the center. These areas will serve as larger pasturelands for the cities.

6Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities. 7The total number of cities you give the Levites will be forty-eight, with their corresponding pasturelands. 8The cities that you apportion from the territory of the Israelites should be given to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: more from a larger tribe and less from a smaller one.”

Six Cities of Refuge
(Deuteronomy 4:41–43; Deuteronomy 19:1–14; Joshua 20:1–9)

9Then the LORD said to Moses, 10“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. 12You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.

13The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge. 14Select three cities across the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan as cities of refuge. 15These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.

16If, however, anyone strikes a person with an iron object and kills him, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death. 17Or if anyone has in his hand a stone of deadly size, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death. 18If anyone has in his hand a deadly object of wood, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.

19The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him.

20Likewise, if anyone maliciously pushes another or intentionally throws an object at him and kills him, 21or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him.

22But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally, 23or without looking drops a heavy stone that kills him, but he was not an enemy and did not intend to harm him, 24then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. 25The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

26But if the manslayer ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which he fled 27and the avenger of blood finds him outside of his city of refuge and kills him, then the avenger will not be guilty of bloodshed 28because the manslayer must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Only after the death of the high priest may he return to the land he owns. 29This will be a statutory ordinance for you for the generations to come, wherever you live.

30If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.

31You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death. 32Nor should you accept a ransom for the person who flees to a city of refuge and allow him to return and live on his own land before the death of the high priest.

33Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell. For I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.”

Footnotes:

4 a 1,000 cubits is approximately 1,500 feet or 457.2 meters.

5 b 2,000 cubits is approximately 3,000 feet or 914.4 meters.

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Zelophehad’s Daughters Marry
(Numbers 27:1–11)

1Now the family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, one of the clans of Joseph, approached Moses and the leaders who were the heads of the Israelite families and addressed them, 2saying, “When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, He also commanded him to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. 3But if they marry any of the men from the other tribes of Israel, their inheritance will be withdrawn from the portion of our fathers and added to the tribe into which they marry. So our allotted inheritance would be taken away. 4And when the Jubilee for the Israelites comes, their inheritance will be added to the tribe into which they marry and taken away from the tribe of our fathers.”

5So at the word of the LORD, Moses commanded the Israelites: “The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaks correctly. 6This is what the LORD has commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad: They may marry anyone they please, provided they marry within a clan of the tribe of their father. 7No inheritance in Israel may be transferred from tribe to tribe, because each of the Israelites is to retain the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. 8Every daughter who possesses an inheritance from any Israelite tribe must marry within a clan of the tribe of her father, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers. 9No inheritance may be transferred from one tribe to another, for each tribe of Israel must retain its inheritance.”

10So the daughters of Zelophehad did as the LORD had commanded Moses. 11Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to cousins on their father’s side. 12They married within the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained within the tribe of their father’s clan.

13These are the commandments and ordinances that the LORD gave the Israelites through Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34)

The Command to Leave Horeb
(Exodus 33:1–6)

1These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel in the wilderness east of the Jordan—in the Arabah opposite Suph—between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.

2It is an eleven-day journey from Horeba to Kadesh-barnea by way of Mount Seir. 3In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them. 4This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and then at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.

5On the east side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying:b

6The LORD our God said to us at Horeb: “You have stayed at this mountain long enough. 7Resume your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the hill country, in the foothills,c in the Negev, and along the seacoast to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great River Euphrates.

8See, I have placed the land before you. Enter and possess the land that the LORD swore He would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants after them.”

Moses Appoints Leaders
(Exodus 18:13–27)

9At that time I said to you, “I cannot carry the burden for you alone. 10The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. 11May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times over and bless you as He has promised. 12But how can I bear your troubles, burdens, and disputes all by myself? 13Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”

14And you answered me and said, “What you propose to do is good.”

15So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them as leaders over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, and as officers for your tribes.

16At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident. 17Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”

18And at that time I commanded you all the things you were to do.

Twelve Spies Sent Out
(Numbers 13:1–33)

19And just as the LORD our God had commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went toward the hill country of the Amorites, through all the vast and terrifying wilderness you have seen. When we reached Kadesh-barnea, 20I said: “You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us. 21See, the LORD your God has placed the land before you. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

22Then all of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us to search out the land and bring us word of what route to follow and which cities to enter.”

23The plan seemed good to me, so I selected twelve men from among you, one from each tribe. 24They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied out the land. 25They took some of the fruit of the land in their hands, carried it down to us, and brought us word: “It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.”

Israel’s Rebellion
(Numbers 14:1–12)

26But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. 27You grumbled in your tents and said, “Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be annihilated. 28Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’ ”

29So I said to you: “Do not be terrified or afraid of them! 30The LORD your God, who goes before you, will fight for you, just as you saw Him do for you in Egypt 31and in the wilderness, where the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way by which you traveled until you reached this place.”

32But in spite of all this, you did not trust the LORD your God, 33who went before you on the journey, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day, to seek out a place for you to camp and to show you the road to travel.

Israel’s Penalty
(Numbers 14:20–35)

34When the LORD heard your words, He grew angry and swore an oath, saying, 35“Not one of the men of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your fathers, 36except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.”

37The LORD was also angry with me on your account, and He said, “Not even you shall enter the land. 38Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit the land. 39And the little ones you said would become captives—your children who on that day did not know good from evil—will enter the land that I will give them, and they will possess it. 40But you are to turn back and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.d”

The Defeat at Hormah
(Numbers 14:40–45)

41“We have sinned against the LORD,” you replied. “We will go up and fight, as the LORD our God has commanded us.” Then each of you put on his weapons of war, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country.

42But the LORD said to me, “Tell them not to go up and fight, for I am not with you to keep you from defeat by your enemies.”

43So I spoke to you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the command of the LORD and presumptuously went up into the hill country.

44Then the Amorites who lived in the hills came out against you and chased you like a swarm of bees. They routed you from Seir all the way to Hormah. 45And you returned and wept before the LORD, but He would not listen to your voice or give ear to you.

46For this reason you stayed in Kadesh for a long time—a very long time.

Footnotes:

2 a That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai; also in verses 6 and 19

5 b Note that Deuteronomy 1:6 through Deuteronomy 4:40 may be presented as a continuous section of unbroken speech by Moses. In place of multiple levels of nested quotes, this section has been set apart with a double space.

7 c Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

40 d Or the Sea of Reeds

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Wanderings in the Wilderness

1Then we turned back and headed for the wilderness by way of the Red Sea,a as the LORD had instructed me, and for many days we wandered around Mount Seir.

2At this time the LORD said to me, 3“You have been wandering around this hill country long enough; turn to the north 4and command the people: ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so you must be very careful. 5Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a footprint, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession. 6You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’ ”

7Indeed, the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. The LORD your God has been with you these forty years, and you have lacked nothing.

8So we passed by our brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned away from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion-geber, and traveled along the road of the Wilderness of Moab. 9Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”

10(The Emites used to live there, a people great and many, as tall as the Anakites. 11Like the Anakites, they were also regarded as Rephaim, though the Moabites called them Emites. 12The Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land that the LORD gave them as their possession.)

13“Now arise and cross over the Brook of Zered.”

So we crossed over the Brook of Zered.

14The time we spent traveling from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed over the Brook of Zered was thirty-eight years, until that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them. 15Indeed, the LORD’s hand was against them, to eliminate them from the camp, until they had all perished.

16Now when all the fighting men among the people had died, 17the LORD said to me, 18“Today you are going to cross the border of Moab at Ar. 19But when you get close to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites. I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”

20(That too was regarded as the land of the Rephaim, who used to live there, though the Ammonites called them Zamzummites. 21They were a people great and many, as tall as the Anakites. But the LORD destroyed them from before the Ammonites, who drove them out and settled in their place, 22just as He had done for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day. 23And the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, were destroyed by the Caphtorites, who came out of Caphtorb and settled in their place.)

The Defeat of Sihon
(Numbers 21:21–30)

24“Arise, set out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have delivered into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle. 25This very day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon all the nations under heaven. They will hear the reports of you and tremble in anguish because of you.”

26So from the Wilderness of Kedemoth I sent messengers with an offer of peace to Sihon king of Heshbon, saying, 27“Let us pass through your land; we will stay on the main road. We will not turn to the right or to the left. 28You can sell us food to eat and water to drink in exchange for silver. Only let us pass through on foot, 29just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for us, until we cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD our God is giving us.”

30But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as is the case this day.

31Then the LORD said to me, “See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his land over to you. Now begin to conquer and possess his land.”

32So Sihon and his whole army came out for battle against us at Jahaz. 33And the LORD our God delivered him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and his whole army.

34At that time we captured all his cities and devoted to destructionc the people of every city, including women and children. We left no survivors. 35We carried off for ourselves only the livestock and the plunder from the cities we captured.

36From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the valley, even as far as Gilead, not one city had walls too high for us. The LORD our God gave us all of them. 37But you did not go near the land of the Ammonites, or the land along the banks of the Jabbok River, or the cities of the hill country, or any place that the LORD our God had forbidden.

Footnotes:

1 a Or the Sea of Reeds

23 b That is, Crete

34 c Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

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The Defeat of Og
(Numbers 21:31–35)

1Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army came out to meet us in battle at Edrei. 2But the LORD said to me, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.”

3So the LORD our God also delivered Og king of Bashan and his whole army into our hands. We struck them down until no survivor was left.

4At that time we captured all sixty of his cities. There was not a single city we failed to take—the entire region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5All these cities were fortified with high walls and gates and bars, and there were many more unwalled villages. 6We devoted them to destruction,a as we had done to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children of every city.

7But all the livestock and plunder of the cities we carried off for ourselves.

8At that time we took from the two kings of the Amorites the land across the Jordan, from the Arnon Valley as far as Mount Hermon— 9which the Sidonians call Sirion but the Amorites call Senir— 10all the cities of the plateau, all of Gilead, and all of Bashan as far as the cities of Salecah and Edrei in the kingdom of Og.

11(For only Og king of Bashan had remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. His bed of iron, nine cubits long and four cubits wide,b is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.)

Land Division East of the Jordan
(Numbers 32:1–42; Joshua 13:8–14)

12So at that time we took possession of this land. To the Reubenites and Gadites I gave the land beyond Aroer along the Arnon Valley, and half the hill country of Gilead, along with its cities.

13To the half-tribe of Manasseh I gave the rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og. (The entire region of Argob, the whole territory of Bashan, used to be called the land of the Rephaim.) 14Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, took the whole region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites. He renamed Bashan after himself, Havvoth-jair,c by which it is called to this day.

15To Machir I gave Gilead, 16and to the Reubenites and Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead to the Arnon Valley (the middle of the valley was the border) and up to the Jabbok River, the border of the Ammonites. 17The Jordan River in the Arabah bordered it from Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sead) with the slopes of Pisgah to the east.

18At that time I commanded you: “The LORD your God has given you this land to possess. All your men of valor are to cross over, armed for battle, ahead of your brothers, the Israelites. 19But your wives, your children, and your livestock—I know that you have much livestock—may remain in the cities I have given you, 20until the LORD gives rest to your brothers as He has to you, and they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them across the Jordan. Then each of you may return to the possession I have given you.”

21And at that time I commanded Joshua: “Your own eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms you are about to enter. 22Do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God Himself will fight for you.”

Moses Forbidden to Cross the Jordan
(Numbers 27:12–17)

23At that time I also pleaded with the LORD: 24“O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your greatness and power to Your servant. For what god in heaven or on earth can perform such works and mighty acts as Yours? 25Please let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that pleasant hill country as well as Lebanon!”

26But the LORD was angry with me on account of you, and He would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the LORD said to me. “Do not speak to Me again about this matter. 27Go to the top of Pisgah and look to the west and north and south and east. See the land with your own eyes, for you will not cross this Jordan. 28But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.”

29So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth-peor.

Footnotes:

6 a Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

11 b Og’s bed was approximately 14 feet long and 6 feet wide (4.3 meters long and 1.8 meters wide).

14 c Or the villages of Jair

17 d That is, the Dead Sea

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 4   ▶   ▶

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An Exhortation to Obedience
(Deuteronomy 11:1–7)

1Hear now, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to follow, so that you may live and may enter and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.

3Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal-peor, for the LORD your God destroyed from among you all who followed Baal of Peor. 4But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive to this day, every one of you.

5See, I have taught you statutes and ordinances just as the LORD my God has commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land that you are about to enter and possess. 6Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

7For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him? 8And what nation is great enough to have righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?

9Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren. 10The day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb,a the LORD said to me, “Gather the people before Me to hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach them to their children.”

11You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. 12And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; there was only a voice. 13He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to follow—the Ten Commandmentsb that He wrote on two tablets of stone.

14At that time the LORD commanded me to teach you the statutes and ordinances you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.

A Warning against Idolatry
(Deuteronomy 12:29–32; Ezekiel 6:1–7)

15So since you saw no form of any kind on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, be careful 16that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female, 17of any beast that is on the earth or bird that flies in the air, 18or of any creature that crawls on the ground or fish that is in the waters below.

19When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. 20Yet the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of His inheritance, as you are today.

21The LORD, however, was angry with me on account of you, and He swore that I would not cross the Jordan to enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. 22For I will not be crossing the Jordan, because I must die in this land. But you shall cross over and take possession of that good land.

23Be careful that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make an idol for yourselves in the form of anything He has forbidden you. 24For the LORD your God is a consuming fire,c a jealous God.

25After you have children and grandchildren and you have been in the land a long time, if you then act corruptly and make an idol of any form—doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God and provoking Him to anger— 26I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live long upon it, but will be utterly destroyed.

27Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. 28And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.

29But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. 31For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which He swore to them by oath.

The LORD Alone Is God

32Indeed, ask now from one end of the heavens to the other about the days that long preceded you, from the day that God created man on earth: Has anything as great as this ever happened or been reported? 33Has a people ever heard the voice of Godd speaking out of the fire, as you have, and lived? 34Or has any god tried to take as his own a nation out of another nation—by trials, signs, wonders, and war, by a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors—as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt, before your eyes?

35You were shown these things so that you would know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him.

36He let you hear His voice from heaven to discipline you, and on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the fire. 37Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by His presence and great power, 38to drive out before you nations greater and mightier than you, and to bring you into their land and give it to you for your inheritance, as it is this day.

39Know therefore this day and take to heart that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other. 40Keep His statutes and commandments, which I am giving you today, so that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may live long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time.

Cities of Refuge
(Numbers 35:9–34; Deuteronomy 19:1–14; Joshua 20:1–9)

41Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east 42to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice.

To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities: 43Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, or Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites.

Introduction to the Law

44This is the law that Moses set before the Israelites. 45These are the testimonies, statutes, and ordinances that Moses proclaimed to them after they had come out of Egypt, 46while they were in the valley across the Jordan facing Beth-peor in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon and was defeated by Moses and the Israelites after they had come out of Egypt.

47They took possession of the land belonging to Sihon and to Og king of Bashan—the two Amorite kings across the Jordan to the east— 48extending from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley as far as Mount Siyone (that is, Hermon), 49including all the Arabah on the east side of the Jordan and as far as the Sea of the Arabah,f below the slopes of Pisgah.

Footnotes:

10 a That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai; also in verse 15

13 b Hebrew the Ten Words

24 c Cited in Hebrews 12:29

33 d Or of a god

48 e Or Sion; Syriac Sirion

49 f That is, the Dead Sea

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 5   ▶   ▶

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The Covenant at Horeb

1Then Moses summoned all Israel and said to them:a

Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances that I declare in your hearing this day. Learn them and observe them carefully. 2The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.b

3He did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with all of us who are alive here today. 4The LORD spoke with you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

The Ten Commandments
(Exodus 20:1–17)

5At that time I was standing between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. And He said: 6“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

7You shall have no other gods before Me.c

8You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. 9You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 10but showing loving devotion to a thousand generationsd of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

11You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.

12Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do. 15Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

16Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.e

17You shall not murder.f

18You shall not commit adultery.g

19You shall not steal.h

20You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.i

21You shall not covetj your neighbor’s wife. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house or field, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Moses Intercedes for the People
(Exodus 20:18–21; Hebrews 12:18–29)

22The LORD spoke these commandments in a loud voice to your whole assembly out of the fire, the cloud, and the deep darkness on the mountain; He added nothing more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.

23And when you heard the voice out of the darkness while the mountain was blazing with fire, all the heads of your tribes and your elders approached me, 24and you said, “Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him. 25But now, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us, and we will die, if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer. 26For who of all flesh has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire, as we have, and survived? 27Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then you can tell us everything the LORD our God tells you; we will listen and obey.”

28And the LORD heard the words you spoke to me, and He said to me, “I have heard the words that these people have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken. 29If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever. 30Go and tell them: ‘Return to your tents.’ 31But you stand here with Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and statutes and ordinances you are to teach them to follow in the land that I am giving them to possess.”

32So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left. 33You must walk in all the ways that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Footnotes:

1 a Note that Deuteronomy 5:1 through Deuteronomy 26:19 may be presented as a continuous section of unbroken speech by Moses. In place of multiple levels of nested quotes, this section has been set apart with a double space.

2 b That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

7 c Or besides Me

10 d Hebrew loving devotion to thousands; forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

16 e Cited in Matthew 15:4, Matthew 19:19, Mark 7:10, Luke 18:20, and Ephesians 6:2–3

17 f Cited in Matthew 5:21, Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9, and James 2:11

18 g Cited in Matthew 5:27, Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9, and James 2:11

19 h Cited in Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, and Romans 13:9

20 i Cited in Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, and Luke 18:20

21 j Cited in Romans 7:7 and Romans 13:9

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 6   ▶   ▶

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The Greatest Commandment
(Matthew 22:34–40; Mark 12:28–34)

1These are the commandments and statutes and ordinances that the LORD your God has instructed me to teach you to follow in the land that you are about to enter and possess, 2so that you and your children and grandchildren may fear the LORD your God all the days of your lives by keeping all His statutes and commandments that I give you, and so that your days may be prolonged. 3Hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.

4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.a
5And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.b

6These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. 7And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.

10And when the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give you—a land with great and splendid cities that you did not build, 11with houses full of every good thing with which you did not fill them, with wells that you did not dig, and with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant—and when you eat and are satisfied, 12be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

13Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.c
14Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you. 15For the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God. Otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.

16Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah.d
17You are to diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God and the testimonies and statutes He has given you. 18Do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, so that it may be well with you and that you may enter and possess the good land that the LORD your God swore to give your fathers, 19driving out all your enemies before you, as the LORD has said.

Teach Your Children

20In the future, when your son asks, “What is the meaning of the decrees and statutes and ordinances that the LORD our God has commanded you?” 21then you are to tell him, “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22Before our eyes the LORD inflicted great and devastating signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his household. 23But He brought us out from there to lead us in and give us the land that He had sworn to our fathers.

24And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes and to fear the LORD our God, that we may always be prosperous and preserved, as we are to this day. 25And if we are careful to observe every one of these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us, then that will be our righteousness.”

Footnotes:

4 a Or The LORD our God is One LORD or The LORD is our God, the LORD is One or The LORD is our God, the LORD alone; cited in Mark 12:29

5 b Cited in Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27

13 c Or serve Him, and take your oaths only in His name; cited in Matthew 4:10 and Luke 4:8

16 d Massah means testing; see Exodus 17:7; cited in Matthew 4:7 and Luke 4:12.

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 7   ▶   ▶

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Drive Out the Nations

1When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— 2and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction.a Make no treatyb with them and show them no mercy.

3Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, 4because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.

5Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire. 6For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.

7The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

9Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. 10But those who hate Him He repays to their faces with destruction; He will not hesitate to repay to his face the one who hates Him.

11So keep the commandments and statutes and ordinances that I am giving you to follow this day.

The Promises of God
(Exodus 23:20–33)

12If you listen to these ordinances and keep them carefully, then the LORD your God will keep His covenant and the loving devotion that He swore to your fathers. 13He will love you and bless you and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your land—your grain, new wine, and oil, the young of your herds and the lambs of your flocks—in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you. 14You will be blessed above all peoples; among you there will be no barren man or woman or livestock.

15And the LORD will remove from you all sickness. He will not lay upon you any of the terrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but He will inflict them on all who hate you. 16You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God will deliver to you. Do not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.

17You may say in your heart, “These nations are greater than we are; how can we drive them out?” 18But do not be afraid of them. Be sure to remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt: 19the great trials that you saw, the signs and wonders, and the mighty hand and outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.

20Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet against them until even the survivors hiding from you have perished. 21Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.

22The LORD your God will drive out these nations before you little by little. You will not be enabled to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals would multiply around you. 23But the LORD your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion, until they are destroyed. 24He will hand their kings over to you, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand against you; you will annihilate them.

25You must burn up the images of their gods; do not covet the silver and gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it; for it is detestable to the LORD your God. 26And you must not bring any detestable thing into your house, or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. You are to utterly detest and abhor it, because it is set apart for destruction.

Footnotes:

2 a Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also twice in verse 26.

2 b Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant.

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 8   ▶   ▶

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Remember the LORD Your God

1You must carefully follow every commandment I am giving you today, so that you may live and multiply, and enter and possess the land that the LORD swore to give your fathers. 2Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.

3He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.a
4Your clothing did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.

5So know in your heart that just as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you. 6Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, walking in His ways and fearing Him.

7For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks and fountains and springs that flow through the valleys and hills; 8a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey; 9a land where you will eat food without scarcity, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and whose hills are ready to be mined for copper. 10When you eat and are satisfied, you are to bless the LORD your God for the good land that He has given you.

11Be careful not to forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments and ordinances and statutes, which I am giving you this day. 12Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses in which to dwell, 13and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied, 14then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

15He led you through the vast and terrifying wilderness with its venomous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty and waterless land. He brought you water from the rock of flint. 16He fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers had not known, in order to humble you and test you, so that in the end He might cause you to prosper.

17You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.” 18But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.

19If you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. 20Like the nations that the LORD has destroyed before you, so you will perish if you do not obey the LORD your God.

Footnotes:

3 a Cited in Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 9   ▶   ▶

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Assurance of Victory

1Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens. 2The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, “Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?” 3But understand that today the LORD your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them swiftly, as the LORD has promised you.

4When the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say in your heart, “Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land.” Rather, the LORD is driving out these nations before you because of their wickedness.

5It is not because of your righteousness or uprightness of heart that you are going in to possess their land, but it is because of their wickedness that the LORD your God is driving out these nations before you, to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.

The Golden Calf
(Exodus 32:1–35; Acts 7:39–43)

7Remember this, and never forget how you provoked the LORD your God in the wilderness. From the day you left the land of Egypt until you reached this place, you have been rebelling against the LORD.

8At Horeba you provoked the LORD, and He was angry enough to destroy you. 9When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I ate no bread and drank no water.

10Then the LORD gave me the two stone tablets, inscribed by the finger of God with the exact words that the LORD spoke to you out of the fire on the mountain on the day of the assembly. 11And at the end of forty days and forty nights, the LORD gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant. 12And the LORD said to me, “Get up and go down from here at once, for your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten image.”

13The LORD also said to me, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people. 14Leave Me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. Then I will make you into a nation mightier and greater than they are.”

15So I went back down the mountain while it was blazing with fire, with the two tablets of the covenant in my hands. 16And I saw how you had sinned against the LORD your God; you had made for yourselves a molten calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD had commanded you. 17So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, shattering them before your eyes.

18Then I fell down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, as I had done the first time. I did not eat bread or drink water because of all the sin you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD and provoking Him to anger. 19For I was afraidb of the anger and wrath that the LORD had directed against you, enough to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me this time as well.

20The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I also prayed for Aaron. 21And I took that sinful thing, the calf you had made, and burned it in the fire. Then I crushed it and ground it to powder as fine as dust, and I cast it into the stream that came down from the mountain.

22You continued to provoke the LORD at Taberah,c at Massah,d and at Kibroth-hattaavah.e
23And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, “Go up and possess the land that I have given you.”

But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him. 24You have been rebelling against the LORD since the day I came to know you. 25So I fell down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, because the LORD had said He would destroy you.

26And I prayed to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, do not destroy Your people, Your inheritance, whom You redeemed through Your greatness and brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Overlook the stubbornness of this people and the wickedness of their sin. 28Otherwise, those in the land from which You brought us out will say, ‘Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land He had promised them, and because He hated them, He has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.’ 29But they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your great power and outstretched arm.”

Footnotes:

8 a That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

19 b LXX And I am greatly terrified; cited in Hebrews 12:21

22 c Taberah means burning; see Numbers 11:3.

22 d Massah means testing; see Exodus 17:7.

22 e Kibroth-hattaavah means graves of craving; see Numbers 11:34.

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 10   ▶   ▶

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New Stone Tablets
(Exodus 34:1–9)

1At that time the LORD said to me, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the originals, come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood. 2And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you are to place them in the ark.”

3So I made an ark of acacia wood, chiseled out two stone tablets like the originals, and went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hands. 4And the LORD wrote on the tablets what had been written previously, the Ten Commandmentsa that He had spoken to you on the mountain out of the fire on the day of the assembly. The LORD gave them to me, 5and I went back down the mountain and placed the tablets in the ark I had made, as the LORD had commanded me; and there they have remained.

6The Israelites traveled from Beeroth Bene-jaakanb to Moserah, where Aaron died and was buried, and Eleazar his son succeeded him as priest. 7From there they traveled to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land with streams of water.

8At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day. 9That is why Levi has no portion or inheritance among his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God promised him.

10I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights, like the first time, and that time the LORD again listened to me and agreed not to destroy you.

11Then the LORD said to me, “Get up. Continue your journey ahead of the people, that they may enter and possess the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.”

A Call to Obedience
(Joshua 24:14–28)

12And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?

14Behold, to the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, and the earth and everything in it. 15Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers and loved them. And He has chosen you, their descendants after them, above all the peoples, even to this day.

16Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more. 17For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe. 18He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. 19So you also must love the foreigner, since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

20You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name. 21He is your praise and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome wonders that your eyes have seen. 22Your fathers went down to Egypt, seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Footnotes:

4 a Hebrew the Ten Words

6 b Or from the wells of the Bene-jaakan

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 11   ▶   ▶

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Obedience and Discipline
(Deuteronomy 4:1–14)

1You shall therefore love the LORD your God and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments.

2Know this day that it is not your children who have known and seen the discipline of the LORD your God: His greatness, His mighty hand, and His outstretched arm; 3the signs and works He did in Egypt to Pharaoh king of Egypt and all his land; 4what He did to the Egyptian army and horses and chariots when He made the waters of the Red Seaa engulf them as they pursued you, and how He destroyed them completely, even to this day; 5what He did for you in the wilderness until you reached this place; 6and what He did in the midst of all the Israelites to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that belonged to them.

7For it is your own eyes that have seen every great work that the LORD has done.

God’s Great Blessings
(Joshua 1:1–9)

8You shall therefore keep every commandment I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and possess the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 9and so that you may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.

10For the land that you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated on foot, like a vegetable garden. 11But the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks in the rain from heaven. 12It is a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning to the end of the year.

13So if you carefully obey the commandments I am giving you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14then I will provideb rain for your land in season, the autumn and spring rains, that you may gather your grain, new wine, and oil. 15And I will provide grass in the fields for your livestock, and you will eat and be satisfied.

16But be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside to worship and bow down to other gods, 17or the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you. He will shut the heavens so that there will be no rain, nor will the land yield its produce, and you will soon perish from the good land that the LORD is giving you.

Remember God’s Words

18Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates, 21so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to give your fathers.

22For if you carefully keep all these commandments I am giving you to follow—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him— 23then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and stronger than you. 24Every place where the sole of your foot treads will be yours. Your territory will extend from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Western Sea.c
25No man will be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will put the fear and dread of you upon all the land, wherever you set foot, as He has promised you.

A Blessing and a Curse

26See, today I am setting before you a blessing and a curse— 27a blessing if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you today, 28but a curse if you disobey the commandments of the LORD your God and turn aside from the path I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

29When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. 30Are not these mountains across the Jordan, west of the road toward the sunset, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah opposite Gilgal near the Oakd of Moreh?

31For you are about to cross the Jordan to enter and possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you. When you take possession of it and settle in it, 32be careful to follow all the statutes and ordinances that I am setting before you today.

Footnotes:

4 a Or the Sea of Reeds

14 b Hebrew; SP, LXX, and Vulgate He will provide; also in verse 15

24 c That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea

30 d SP, LXX, and Syriac (see Genesis 12:6); Hebrew Oaks or Terebinths or Great Trees

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 12   ▶   ▶

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One Place for Worship

1These are the statutes and ordinances you must be careful to follow all the days you live in the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess.

2Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree. 3Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place. 4You shall not worship the LORD your God in this way.

5Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go. 6To that place you are to bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and heave offerings, your vow offerings and freewill offerings, as well as the firstborn of your herds and flocks. 7There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your households shall eat and rejoice in all you do, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

8You are not to do as we are doing here today, where everyone does what seems right in his own eyes. 9For you have not yet come to the resting place and the inheritance that the LORD your God is giving you.

10When you cross the Jordan and live in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and He gives you rest from all the enemies around you and you dwell securely, 11then the LORD your God will choose a dwelling for His Name. And there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice offerings you vow to the LORD. 12And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.

13Be careful not to offer your burnt offerings in just any place you see; 14you must offer them only in the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribal territories, and there you shall do all that I command you.

15But whenever you want, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates, according to the blessing the LORD your God has given you. Both the ceremonially clean and unclean may eat it as they would a gazelle or deer, 16but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.

17Within your gates you must not eat the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, the firstborn of your herds or flocks, any of the offerings that you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. 18Instead, you must eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates. Rejoice before the LORD your God in all you do, 19and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

20When the LORD your God expands your territory as He has promised, and you crave meat and say, “I want to eat meat,” you may eat it whenever you want. 21If the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His Name is too far from you, then you may slaughter any of the herd or flock He has given you, as I have commanded you, and you may eat it within your gates whenever you want. 22Indeed, you may eat it as you would eat a gazelle or deer; both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it. 23Only be sure not to eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat. 24You must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water. 25Do not eat it, so that it may go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD.

26But you are to take your holy things and your vow offerings and go to the place the LORD will choose. 27Present the meat and blood of your burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD your God. The blood of your other sacrifices must be poured out beside the altar of the LORD your God, but you may eat the meat. 28Be careful to obey all these things I command you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God.

A Warning against Idolatry
(Deuteronomy 4:15–31; Ezekiel 6:1–7)

29When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations you are entering to dispossess, and you drive them out and live in their land, 30be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, “How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.”

31You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.

32See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 13   ▶   ▶

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Idolaters to Be Put to Death

1If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, 2and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” 3you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him.

5Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you.a

6If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace,b or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known, 7the gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, whether from one end of the earth or the other), 8you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him.

9Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people. 10Stone him to death for trying to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 11Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you.

Idolatrous Cities to Be Destroyed

12If, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said 13that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known), 14then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you, 15you must surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword. Devote to destructionc all its people and livestock.

16And you are to gather all its plunder in the middle of the public square, and completely burn the city and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. The city must remain a mound of ruins forever, never to be rebuilt.

17Nothing devoted to destruction shall cling to your hands, so that the LORD will turn from His fierce anger, grant you mercy, show you compassion, and multiply you as He swore to your fathers, 18because you obey the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments I am giving you today and doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God.

Footnotes:

5 a Cited in 1 Corinthians 5:13

6 b Hebrew the wife of your bosom

15 c Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; similarly in verse 17.

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 14   ▶   ▶

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Clean and Unclean Animals
(Leviticus 11:1–47; Acts 10:9–16)

1You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead, 2for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.

3You must not eat any detestable thing. 4These are the animals that you may eat:a

The ox, the sheep, the goat,

5the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer,
the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope,
and the mountain sheep.

6You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud.

7But of those that chew the cud or have a completely divided hoof, you are not to eat the following:

the camel,
the rabbit,
or the rock badger.b

Although they chew the cud, they do not have a divided hoof. They are unclean for you, 8as well as the pig; though it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat its meat or touch its carcass.

9Of all the creatures that live in the water, you may eat anything with fins and scales, 10but you may not eat anything that does not have fins and scales; it is unclean for you.

11You may eat any clean bird, 12but these you may not eat:

the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,

13the red kite, the falcon, any kind of kite,

14any kind of raven,

15the ostrich,c the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,

16the little owl, the great owl, the white owl,

17the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant,

18the stork, any kind of heron,
the hoopoe, or the bat.

19All flying insects are unclean for you; they may not be eaten. 20But you may eat any clean bird.

21You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to the foreigner residing within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God.

You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Giving Tithes
(Leviticus 27:30–34; Deuteronomy 26:1–15; Nehemiah 13:10–14)

22You must be sure to set aside a tenth of all the produce brought forth each year from your fields. 23And you are to eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks, in the presence of the LORD your God at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.

24But if the distance is too great for you to carry that with which the LORD your God has blessed you, because the place where the LORD your God will choose to put His Name is too far away, 25then exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26Then you may spend the money on anything you desire: cattle, sheep, wine, strong drink, or anything you wish. You are to feast there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice with your household. 27And do not neglect the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.

28At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and lay it up within your gates. 29Then the Levite (because he has no portion or inheritance among you), the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates may come and eat and be satisfied. And the LORD your God will bless you in all the work of your hands.

Footnotes:

4 a The precise identification of some of the birds and animals in this chapter is uncertain.

7 b Or the coney or the hyrax

15 c Literally the daughter of the ostrich or the daughter of the owl

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 15   ▶   ▶

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The Seventh Year
(Exodus 23:10–13; Leviticus 25:1–7)

1At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. 2This is the manner of remission: Every creditor shall cancel what he has loaned to his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the LORD’s time of release has been proclaimed. 3You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you.

4There will be no poor among you, however, because the LORD will surely bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, 5if only you obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commandments I am giving you today. 6When the LORD your God blesses you as He has promised, you will lend to many nations but borrow from none; you will rule over many nations but be ruled by none.

Generosity in Lending and Giving
(Matthew 6:1–4)

7If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to hardena your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. 8Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.

9Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought in your heart: “The seventh year, the year of release, is near,” so that you look upon your poor brother begrudgingly and give him nothing. He will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.

10Give generously to him, and do not let your heart be grieved when you do so. And because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything to which you put your hand. 11For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land.

Hebrew Servants
(Exodus 21:1–11)

12If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is soldb to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free.

13And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. 14You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. 15Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today.

16But if your servant says to you, ‘I do not want to leave you,’ because he loves you and your household and is well off with you, 17then take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he will become your servant for life. And treat your maidservant the same way.

18Do not regard it as a hardship to set your servant free, because his six years of service were worth twice the wages of a hired hand. And the LORD your God will bless you in all you do.

Firstborn Animals
(Exodus 13:1–16)

19You must set apart to the LORD your God every firstborn male produced by your herds and flocks. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work, nor are you to shear the firstborn of your flock. 20Each year you and your household are to eat it before the LORD your God in the place the LORD will choose.

21But if an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God. 22Eat it within your gates; both the ceremonially unclean and clean may eat it as they would a gazelle or a deer. 23But you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.

Footnotes:

7 a Or make strong or make courageous

12 b Or sells himself

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 16   ▶   ▶

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Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
(Exodus 12:14–28; Leviticus 23:4–8; Numbers 28:16–25)

1Observe the month of Abiba and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, because in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night.

2You are to offer to the LORD your God the Passover sacrifice from the herd or flock in the place the LORD will choose as a dwelling for His Name. 3You must not eat leavened bread with it; for seven days you are to eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left the land of Egypt in haste—so that you may remember for the rest of your life the day you left the land of Egypt.

4No leaven is to be found in all your land for seven days, and none of the meat you sacrifice in the evening of the first day shall remain until morning.

5You are not to sacrifice the Passover animal in any of the towns that the LORD your God is giving you. 6You must only offer the Passover sacrifice at the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name. Do this in the evening as the sun sets, at the same time you departed from Egypt. 7And you shall roast it and eat it in the place the LORD your God will choose, and in the morning you shall return to your tents.

8For six days you must eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day you shall hold a solemn assembly to the LORD your God, and you must not do any work.

The Feast of Weeks
(Numbers 28:26–31)

9You are to count off seven weeks from the time you first put the sickle to the standing grain. 10And you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeksb to the LORD your God with a freewill offering that you give in proportion to how the LORD your God has blessed you, 11and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you.

12Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and carefully follow these statutes.

The Feast of Tabernacles
(Numbers 29:12–40)

13You are to celebrate the Feast of Tabernaclesc for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. 14And you shall rejoice in your feast—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you.

15For seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the LORD your God in the place He will choose, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that your joy will be complete.

16Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread,d the Feast of Weeks,e and the Feast of Tabernacles.f No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed. 17Everyone must appear with a gift as he is able, according to the blessing the LORD your God has given you.

Judges and Justice

18You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.

19Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.

20Pursue justice, and justice alone, so that you may live, and you may possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Forbidden Forms of Worship

21Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole next to the altar you will build for the LORD your God, 22and do not set up for yourselves a sacred pillar, which the LORD your God hates.

Footnotes:

1 a Abib was the first month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of March and April; twice in this verse.

10 b That is, Shavuot; see footnotes for verse 16.

13 c Or Booths or Shelters; see footnotes for verse 16.

16 d That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten; see Exodus 12:14–20.

16 e That is, Shavuot, the late spring feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is also known as the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16) or the Feast of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1).

16 f That is, Sukkot, the autumn feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; also translated as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Shelters and originally called the Feast of Ingathering (see Exodus 23:16 and Exodus 34:22).

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 17   ▶   ▶

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Detestable Sacrifices

1You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep with any defect or serious flaw, for that is detestable to the LORD your God.

Purge the Idolater

2If a man or woman among you in one of the towns that the LORD your God gives you is found doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God by transgressing His covenant 3and going to worship other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven—which I have forbidden— 4and if it is reported and you hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly.

If the report is true and such an abomination has happened in Israel, 5you must bring out to your gates the man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you must stone that person to death. 6On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness. 7The hands of the witnesses shall be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people. So you must purge the evil from among you.a

Courts of Law

8If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose. 9You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you a verdict in the case.

10You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you, 11according to the terms of law they give and the verdict they proclaim. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from the decision they declare to you.

12But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel. 13Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will no longer behave arrogantly.

Guidelines for a King
(1 Samuel 8:1–9)

14When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers.

16But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ 17He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.

18When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes. 20Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel.

Footnotes:

7 a Cited in 1 Corinthians 5:13

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 18   ▶   ▶

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Provision for Priests and Levites
(1 Corinthians 9:1–18)

1The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the offerings made by fire to the LORD; that is their inheritance. 2Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.

3This shall be the priests’ share from the people who offer a sacrifice, whether a bull or a sheep: the priests are to be given the shoulder, the jowls, and the stomach. 4You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the first wool sheared from your flock. 5For the LORD your God has chosen Levi and his sons out of all your tribes to stand and minister in His name for all time.

6Now if a Levite moves from any town of residence throughout Israel and comes in all earnestness to the place the LORD will choose, 7then he shall serve in the name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the LORD. 8They shall eat equal portions, even though he has received money from the sale of his father’s estate.

Sorcery Forbidden
(Acts 8:9–25)

9When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire,a practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, 11casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. 12For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.

13You must be blameless before the LORD your God. 14Though these nations, which you will dispossess, listen to conjurers and diviners, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.

A Prophet Like Moses
(Acts 3:11–26)

15The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.b
16This is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horebc on the day of the assembly, when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this great fire anymore, so that we will not die!”

17Then the LORD said to me, “They have spoken well. 18I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19And I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name.d
20But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death.”

21You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?” 22When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

Footnotes:

10 a Literally makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire

15 b Cited in Acts 3:22

16 c That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

19 d See Acts 3:23.

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 19   ▶   ▶

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Cities of Refuge
(Numbers 35:9–34; Deuteronomy 4:41–43; Joshua 20:1–9)

1When the LORD your God has cut off the nations whose land He is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their cities and houses, 2then you are to set apart for yourselves three cities within the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess. 3You are to build roads for yourselvesa and divide into three regions the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that any manslayer can flee to these cities.

4Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him: 5If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life.

6Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him if the distance is great, and strike him dead though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm. 7This is why I am commanding you to set apart for yourselves three cities.

8And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as He swore to your fathers, and gives you all the land He promised them, 9and if you carefully keep all these commandments I am giving you today, loving the LORD your God and walking in His ways at all times, then you are to add three more cities to these three.

10Thus innocent blood will not be shed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.

11If, however, a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities, 12the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die. 13You must show him no pity. You are to purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, that it may go well with you.

14You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, which was set up by your ancestors to mark the inheritance you shall receive in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

The Testimony of Two or Three Witnesses
(Matthew 18:15–20)

15A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.b

16If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime, 17both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time. 18The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother, 19you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. So you must purge the evil from among you.c
20Then the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and they will never again do anything so evil among you. 21You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth,d hand for hand, and foot for foot.

Footnotes:

3 a Or You are to survey the way

15 b Cited in Matthew 18:16 and 2 Corinthians 13:1

19 c Cited in 1 Corinthians 5:13

21 d Cited in Matthew 5:38

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 20   ▶   ▶

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Laws of Warfare

1When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you. 2When you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army, 3saying to them, “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be alarmed or terrified because of them. 4For the LORD your God goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”

5Furthermore, the officers are to address the army, saying, “Has any man built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man dedicate it. 6Has any man planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy its fruit? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man enjoy its fruit. 7Has any man become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man marry her.”

8Then the officers shall speak further to the army, saying, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him return home, so that the hearts of his brothers will not melt like his own.”

9When the officers have finished addressing the army, they are to appoint commanders to lead it.

10When you approach a city to fight against it, you are to make an offer of peace. 11If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you.

12But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city. 13When the LORD your God has delivered it into your hand, you must put every male to the sword. 14But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you. 15This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.

16However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. 17For you must devote them to complete destructiona —the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, 18so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.

19When you lay siege to a city for an extended time while fighting against it to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. You must not cut them down. Are the trees of the field human, that you should besiege them? 20But you may destroy the trees that you know do not produce fruit. Use them to build siege works against the city that is waging war against you, until it falls.

Footnotes:

17 a Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 21   ▶   ▶

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Atonement for an Unsolved Murder

1If one is found slain, lying in a field in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who killed him, 2your elders and judges must come out and measure the distance from the victim to the neighboring cities.

3Then the elders of the city nearest the victim shall take a heifer that has never been yoked or used for work, 4bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream.

5And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every dispute and case of assault. 6Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken, 7and they shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. 8Accept this atonement, O LORD, for Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, and do not hold the shedding of innocent blood against them.”

And the bloodshed will be atoned for. 9So you shall purge from among you the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the LORD.

Marrying a Captive Woman

10When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive, 11if you see a beautiful woman among them, and you desire her and want to take her as your wife, 12then you shall bring her into your house. She must shave her head, trim her nails, 13and put aside the clothing of her captivity.

After she has lived in your house a full month and mourned her father and mother, you may have relations with her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. 14And if you are not pleased with her, you are to let her go wherever she wishes. But you must not sell her for money or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her.

Inheritance Rights of the Firstborn

15If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, 16when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife.

17Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.

A Rebellious Son
(Luke 15:11–32)

18If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined, 19his father and mother are to lay hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown, 20and say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he does not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.”

21Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. So you must purge the evil from among you,a and all Israel will hear and be afraid.

Cursed Is Anyone Hung on a Tree

22If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree,b
23you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse.c You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Footnotes:

21 a Cited in 1 Corinthians 5:13

22 b Or impale his body on a pole; similarly in verse 23

23 c LXX; Hebrew anyone who is hanged is under God’s curse; cited in Galatians 3:13

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 22   ▶   ▶

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Various Laws

1If you see your brother’s ox or sheep straying, you must not ignore it;a be sure to return it to your brother. 2If your brother does not live near you, or if you do not know who he is, you are to take the animal home to remain with you until your brother comes seeking it; then you can return it to him. 3And you shall do the same for his donkey, his cloak, or anything your brother has lost and you have found. You must not ignore it.

4If you see your brother’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, you must not ignore it; you must help him lift it up.

5A woman must not wear men’s clothing, and a man must not wear women’s clothing, for whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD your God.

6If you come across a bird’s nest with chicks or eggs, either in a tree or on the ground along the road, and the mother is sitting on the chicks or eggs, you must not take the mother along with the young. 7You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days.

8If you build a new house, you are to construct a railing around your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if someone falls from it.

9Do not plant your vineyard with two types of seed; if you do, the entire harvest will be defiledb —both the crop you plant and the fruit of your vineyard.

10Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.

11Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.

12You are to make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear.

Marriage Violations

13Suppose a man marries a woman, has relations with her, and comes to hate her, 14and he then accuses her of shameful conduct and gives her a bad name, saying, “I married this woman and had relations with her, but I discovered she was not a virgin.”

15Then the young woman’s father and mother shall bring the proof of her virginity to the city elders at the gate 16and say to the elders, “I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he has come to hate her. 17And now he has accused her of shameful conduct, saying, ‘I discovered that your daughter was not a virgin.’ But here is the proof of her virginity.” And they shall spread out the cloth before the city elders.

18Then the elders of that city shall take the man and punish him. 19They are also to fine him a hundred shekels of silverc and give them to the young woman’s father, because this man has given a virgin of Israel a bad name. And she shall remain his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.

20If, however, this accusation is true, and no proof of the young woman’s virginity can be found, 21she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house, and there the men of her city will stone her to death. For she has committed an outrage in Israel by being promiscuous in her father’s house. So you must purge the evil from among you.d

22If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

23If there is a virgin pledged in marriage to a man, and another man encounters her in the city and sleeps with her, 24you must take both of them out to the gate of that city and stone them to death—the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. So you must purge the evil from among you.

25But if the man encounters a betrothed woman in the open country, and he overpowers her and lies with her, only the man who has done this must die. 26Do nothing to the young woman, because she has committed no sin worthy of death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him. 27When he found her in the field, the betrothed woman cried out, but there was no one to save her.

28If a man encounters a virgin who is not pledged in marriage, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are discovered, 29then the man who lay with her must pay the young woman’s father fifty shekels of silver,e and she must become his wife because he has violated her. He must not divorce her as long as he lives.

30A man is not to marry his father’s wife, so that he will not dishonor his father’s marriage bed.f

Footnotes:

1 a Or you must not hide yourself

9 b Or will be forfeited to the sanctuary

19 c 100 shekels is approximately 2.5 pounds or 1.1 kilograms of silver.

21 d Here and in verse 24; cited in 1 Corinthians 5:13

29 e 50 shekels is approximately 1.26 pounds or 569.8 grams of silver.

30 f Or uncover his father’s skirt

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 23   ▶   ▶

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Exclusion from the Congregation

1No man with crushed or severed genitals may enter the assembly of the LORD.

2No one of illegitimate birth may enter the assembly of the LORD, nor may any of his descendants, even to the tenth generation.

3No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation. 4For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaima to curse you. 5Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you. 6You are not to seek peace or prosperity from them as long as you live.

7Do not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land. 8The third generation of children born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD.

Uncleanness in the Camp
(Leviticus 15:1–12)

9When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every wicked thing. 10If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he must leave the camp and stay outside. 11When evening approaches, he must wash with water, and when the sun sets he may return to the camp.

12You must have a place outside the camp to go and relieve yourself. 13And you must have a digging tool in your equipment so that when you relieve yourself you can dig a hole and cover up your excrement.

14For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, lest He see anything unclean among you and turn away from you.

Miscellaneous Laws

15Do not return a slave to his master if he has taken refuge with you. 16Let him live among you wherever he chooses, in the town of his pleasing. Do not oppress him.

17No daughter or son of Israel is to be a shrine prostitute. 18You must not bring the wages of a prostitute, whether female or male,b into the house of the LORD your God to fulfill any vow, because both are detestable to the LORD your God.

19Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan. 20You may charge a foreigner interest, but not your brother, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything to which you put your hand in the land that you are entering to possess.

21If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. 22But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. 23Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

24When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, but you must not put any in your basket.

25When you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not put a sickle to your neighbor’s grain.

Footnotes:

4 a That is, Mesopotamia; Aram-naharaim means Aram of the two rivers, likely the region between the Euphrates and Balih Rivers in northwestern Mesopotamia.

18 b Hebrew or a dog

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 24   ▶   ▶

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Marriage and Divorce Laws
(Matthew 5:31–32; Luke 16:18)

1If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce,a hand it to her, and send her away from his house.

2If, after leaving his house, she goes and becomes another man’s wife, 3and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies, 4then the husband who divorced her first may not remarry her after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination to the LORD. You must not bring sin upon the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

5If a man is newly married, he must not be sent to war or be pressed into any duty. For one year he is free to stay at home and bring joy to the wife he has married.

Additional Laws

6Do not take a pair of millstones or even an upper millstone as security for a debt, because that would be taking one’s livelihood as security.

7If a man is caught kidnapping one of his Israelite brothers, whether he treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. So you must purge the evil from among you.b

8In cases of infectious skin diseases,c be careful to diligently follow everything the Levitical priests instruct you. Be careful to do as I have commanded them. 9Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the journey after you came out of Egypt.

10When you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to collect security. 11You are to stand outside while the man to whom you are lending brings the security out to you. 12If he is a poor man, you must not go to sleep with the security in your possession; 13be sure to return it to him by sunset, so that he may sleep in his own cloak and bless you, and this will be credited to you as righteousness before the LORD your God.

14Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. 15You are to pay his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise he may cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.

16Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.d

17Do not deny justice to the foreigner or the fatherless, and do not take a widow’s cloak as security. 18Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from that place. Therefore I am commanding you to do this.

19If you are harvesting in your field and forget a sheaf there, do not go back to get it. It is to be left for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

20When you beat the olives from your trees, you must not go over the branches again. What remains will be for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow.

21When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you must not go over the vines again. What remains will be for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. 22Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. Therefore I am commanding you to do this.

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in Matthew 5:31; see also Mark 10:4.

7 b Cited in 1 Corinthians 5:13

8 c Forms of the Hebrew tzaraath, traditionally translated as leprosy, were used for various skin diseases; see Leviticus 13.

16 d Cited in 2 Kings 14:6 and 2 Chronicles 25:4

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 25   ▶   ▶

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Fairness and Mercy

1If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.

2If the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall have him lie down and be flogged in his presence with the number of lashes his crime warrants. 3He may receive no more than forty lashes, lest your brother be beaten any more than that and be degraded in your sight.

4Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.a

Widowhood and Marriage

5When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her.b
6The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

7But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.”

8Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, “I do not want to marry her,” 9his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal, spit in his face, and declare, “This is what is done to the man who will not maintain his brother’s line.” 10And his family name in Israel will be called “The House of the Unsandaled.”

11If two men are fighting, and the wife of one steps in to rescue her husband from the one striking him, and she reaches out her hand and grabs his genitals, 12you are to cut off her hand. You must show her no pity.

Standard Weights and Measures
(Proverbs 11:1–3; Ezekiel 45:10–12)

13You shall not have two differing weights in your bag, one heavy and one light. 14You shall not have two differing measures in your house, one large and one small.

15You must maintain accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 16For everyone who behaves dishonestly in regard to these things is detestable to the LORD your God.

Revenge on the Amalekites

17Remember what the Amalekites did to you along your way from Egypt, 18how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God.

19When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!

Footnotes:

4 a Cited in 1 Corinthians 9:9 and 1 Timothy 5:18

5 b Cited in Matthew 22:24, Mark 12:19, and Luke 20:28

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 26   ▶   ▶

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Offering Firstfruits and Tithes
(Leviticus 27:30–34; Deuteronomy 14:22–29; Nehemiah 13:10–14)

1When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and settle in it, 2you are to take some of the firstfruits of all your produce from the soil of the land that the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name, 3to the priest who is serving at that time, and say to him, “I declare today to the LORD your God that I have entered the land that the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.”

4Then the priest shall take the basket from your hands and place it before the altar of the LORD your God, 5and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty and numerous. 6But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor. 7So we called out to the LORD, the God of our fathers; and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, toil, and oppression. 8Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, signs, and wonders. 9And He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land that You, O LORD, have given me.”

Then you are to place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before Him. 11So you shall rejoice—you, the Levite, and the foreigner dwelling among you—in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household.

12When you have finished laying aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you are to give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat and be filled within your gates.

13Then you shall declare in the presence of the LORD your God, “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all the commandments You have given me. I have not transgressed or forgotten Your commandments. 14I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while in mourning, or removed any of it while unclean, or offered any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything You commanded me. 15Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land You have given us as You swore to our fathers—a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Obey the LORD’s Commands

16The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these statutes and ordinances. You must be careful to follow them with all your heart and with all your soul.

17Today you have proclaimed that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in His ways, keep His statutes and commandments and ordinances, and listen to His voice.

18And today the LORD has proclaimed that you are His people and treasured possession as He promised, that you are to keep all His commandments, 19that He will set you high in praise and name and honor above all the nations He has made, and that you will be a holy people to the LORD your God, as He has promised.

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 27   ▶   ▶

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The Altar on Mount Ebal
(Joshua 8:30–35)

1Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all the commandments I am giving you today.

2And on the day you cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster. 3Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you. 4And when you have crossed the Jordan, you are to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and you are to coat them with plaster.

5Moreover, you are to build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them. 6You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to the LORD your God. 7There you are to sacrifice your peace offerings, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God. 8And you shall write distinctly upon these stones all the words of this law.”

9Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: “Be silent, O Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the LORD your God. 10You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God and follow His commandments and statutes I am giving you today.”

Curses Pronounced from Ebal

11On that day Moses commanded the people: 12“When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14Then the Levites shall proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:

15‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

16‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

17‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

18‘Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

19‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

20‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’a

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

21‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

22‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

23‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

24‘Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

25‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

26‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’b

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Footnotes:

20 a Or uncovered his father’s skirt

26 b LXX Cursed is every man who does not continue in all the words of this law; cited in Galatians 3:10

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 28   ▶   ▶

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The Blessings of Obedience
(Leviticus 25:18–22)

1“Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2And all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the voice of the LORD your God:

3You will be blessed in the city
and blessed in the country.

4The fruit of your womb will be blessed,
as well as the produce of your land
and the offspring of your livestock—
the calves of your herds
and the lambs of your flocks.

5Your basket and kneading bowl will be blessed.

6You will be blessed when you come in
and blessed when you go out.

7The LORD will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you. They will march out against you in one direction but flee from you in seven.

8The LORD will decree a blessing on your barns and on everything to which you put your hand; the LORD your God will bless you in the land He is giving you. 9The LORD will establish you as His holy people, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. 10Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you.

11The LORD will make you prosper abundantly—in the fruit of your womb, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land—in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.

12The LORD will open the heavens, His abundant storehouse, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but borrow from none.

13The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward, if you hear and carefully follow the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am giving you today. 14Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from any of the words I command you today, and do not go after other gods to serve them.

The Curses of Disobedience
(Leviticus 20:1–9; Leviticus 26:14–39)

15If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

16You will be cursed in the city
and cursed in the country.

17Your basket and kneading bowl will be cursed.

18The fruit of your womb will be cursed,
as well as the produce of your land,
the calves of your herds,
and the lambs of your flocks.

19You will be cursed when you come in
and cursed when you go out.

20The LORD will send curses upon you, confusion and reproof in all to which you put your hand, until you are destroyed and quickly perish because of the wickedness you have committed in forsaking Him.a

21The LORD will make the plague cling to you until He has exterminated you from the land that you are entering to possess. 22The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought,b and with blight and mildew; these will pursue you until you perish. 23The sky over your head will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron.

24The LORD will turn the rain of your land into dust and powder; it will descend on you from the sky until you are destroyed.

25The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 26Your corpses will be food for all the birds of the air and beasts of the earth, with no one to scare them away.

27The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors and scabs and itch from which you cannot be cured.

28The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind, 29and at noon you will grope about like a blind man in the darkness. You will not prosper in your ways. Day after day you will be oppressed and plundered, with no one to save you.

30You will be pledged in marriage to a woman, but another man will violate her. You will build a house but will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard but will not enjoy its fruit. 31Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will not eat any of it. Your donkey will be taken away and not returned to you. Your flock will be given to your enemies, and no one will save you.

32Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation, while your eyes grow weary looking for them day after day, with no power in your hand. 33A people you do not know will eat the produce of your land and of all your toil. All your days you will be oppressed and crushed. 34You will be driven mad by the sights you see.

35The LORD will afflict you with painful, incurable boils on your knees and thighs, from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.

36The LORD will bring you and the king you appoint to a nation neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone. 37You will become an object of horror, scorn, and ridicule among all the nations to which the LORD will drive you.

38You will sow much seed in the field but harvest little, because the locusts will consume it. 39You will plant and cultivate vineyards, but will neither drink the wine nor gather the grapes, because worms will eat them. 40You will have olive trees throughout your territory but will never anoint yourself with oil, because the olives will drop off. 41You will father sons and daughters, but they will not remain yours, because they will go into captivity. 42Swarms of locusts will consume all your trees and the produce of your land.

43The foreigner living among you will rise higher and higher above you, while you sink down lower and lower. 44He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail.

45All these curses will come upon you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, since you did not obey the LORD your God and keep the commandments and statutes He gave you. 46These curses will be a sign and a wonder upon you and your descendants forever.

47Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart in all your abundance, 48you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.

49The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle—a nation whose language you will not understand, 50a ruthless nation with no respect for the old and no pity for the young. 51They will eat the offspring of your livestock and the produce of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain or new wine or oil, no calves of your herds or lambs of your flocks, until they have caused you to perish. 52They will besiege all the cities throughout your land, until the high and fortified walls in which you trust have fallen. They will besiege all your cities throughout the land that the LORD your God has given you.

53Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you.

54The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces,c and the rest of his children who have survived, 55refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates.d

56The most gentle and refined woman among you, so gentle and refined she would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge the husband she embracese and her son and daughter 57the afterbirth that comes from between her legs and the children she bears, because she will secretly eat them for lack of anything else in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within your gates.

58If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your God— 59He will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary disasters, severe and lasting plagues, and terrible and chronic sicknesses. 60He will afflict you again with all the diseases you dreaded in Egypt, and they will cling to you.

61The LORD will also bring upon you every sickness and plague not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed. 62You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left few in number, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.

63Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and multiply, so also it will please Him to annihilate you and destroy you. And you will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.

64Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. 65Among those nations you will find no repose, not even a resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despairing soul.

66So your life will hang in doubt before you, and you will be afraid night and day, never certain of survival. 67In the morning you will say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and in the evening you will say, ‘If only it were morning!’—because of the dread in your hearts of the terrifying sights you will see.

68The LORD will return you to Egypt in ships by a route that I said you should never see again. There you will sell yourselves to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.”

Footnotes:

20 a Hebrew Me

22 b Or sword

54 c Hebrew the wife of his bosom

55 d Or within all your cities; similarly in verse 57

56 e Hebrew the husband of her bosom

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 29   ▶   ▶

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The Covenant in Moab

1These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant He had made with them at Horeb.a

2Moses summoned all Israel and proclaimed to them, “You have seen with your own eyes everything the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to all his land. 3You saw with your own eyes the great trials, and those miraculous signs and wonders. 4Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.

5For forty years I led you in the wilderness,
yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.

6You ate no bread and drank no wine or strong drink,
so that you might know that I am the LORD your God.

7When you reached this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us in battle, but we defeated them. 8We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 9So keep and follow the words of this covenant, that you may prosper in all you do.

10All of you are standing today before the LORD your God—you leaders of tribes,b elders, officials, and all the men of Israel, 11your children and wives, and the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water— 12so that you may enter into the covenant of the LORD your God, which He is making with you today, and into His oath, 13and so that He may establish you today as His people, and He may be your God as He promised you and as He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

14I am making this covenant and this oath not only with you, 15but also with those who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God, as well as with those who are not here today.

16For you yourselves know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we passed through the nations on the way here. 17You saw the abominations and idols among them made of wood and stone, of silver and gold.

18Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is no root among you that bears such poisonous and bitter fruit,c
19because when such a person hears the words of this oath,d he invokes a blessing on himself, saying, ‘I will have peace, even though I walk in the stubbornness of my own heart.’

This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. 20The LORD will never be willing to forgive him. Instead, His anger and jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse written in this book will fall upon him. The LORD will blot out his name from under heaven 21and single him out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.

22Then the generation to come—your sons who follow you and the foreigner who comes from a distant land—will see the plagues of the land and the sicknesses the LORD has inflicted on it. 23All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger.

24So all the nations will ask, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?’

25And the people will answer, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. 26They went and served other gods, and they worshiped gods they had not known—gods that the LORD had not given to them. 27Therefore the anger of the LORD burned against this land, and He brought upon it every curse written in this book. 28The LORD uprooted them from their land in His anger, rage, and great wrath, and He cast them into another land, where they are today.’

29The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

10 b LXX and Syriac; Hebrew you leaders, tribes

18 c See Hebrews 12:15

19 d Or curse

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 30   ▶   ▶

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The Promise of Restoration
(Nehemiah 1:1–11)

1“When all these things come upon you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you call them to mind in all the nations to which the LORD your God has banished you, 2and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey His voice with all your heart and all your soul according to everything I am giving you today, 3then He will restore you from captivitya and have compassion on you and gather you from all the nations to which the LORD your God has scattered you. 4Even if you have been banished to the farthest horizon,b He will gather you and return you from there.c

5And the LORD your God will bring you into the land your fathers possessed, and you will take possession of it. He will cause you to prosper and multiply more than your fathers. 6The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.

7Then the LORD your God will put all these curses upon your enemies who hate you and persecute you. 8And you will again obey the voice of the LORD and follow all His commandments I am giving you today. 9So the LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land. Indeed, the LORD will again delight in your goodness, as He delighted in that of your fathers, 10if you obey the LORD your God by keeping His commandments and statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

The Choice of Life or Death

11For this commandment I give you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12It is not in heaven, that you should need to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heavend to get it for us and proclaim it, that we may obey it?’ 13And it is not beyond the sea, that you should need to ask, ‘Who will cross the seae to get it for us and proclaim it, that we may obey it?’ 14But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,f so that you may obey it.

15See, I have set before you today life and goodness, as well as death and disaster. 16For I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and increase, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.

17But if your heart turns away and you do not listen, but are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18I declare to you today that you will surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.

19I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live, 20and that you may love the LORD your God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him. For He is your life, and He will prolong your life in the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Footnotes:

3 a Or restore your fortunes

4 b Or to the extremity of the heavens

4 c Cited in Nehemiah 1:8–9

12 d Cited in Romans 10:6

13 e See Romans 10:7.

14 f Cited in Romans 10:8

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 31   ▶   ▶

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Joshua to Succeed Moses
(Numbers 27:18–23)

1When Moses had finished speakinga these words to all Israel, 2he said to them, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old; I am no longer able to come and go, and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’

3The LORD your God Himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua will cross ahead of you, as the LORD has said. 4And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, when He destroyed them along with their land.

5The LORD will deliver them over to you, and you must do to them exactly as I have commanded you. 6Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”b

7Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. 8The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

The Reading of the Law
(Nehemiah 8:1–8)

9So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.

10Then Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of remission of debt, during the Feast of Tabernacles,c
11when all Israel comes before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel.

12Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and to follow carefully all the words of this law. 13Then their children who do not know the law will listen and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

God Commissions Joshua

14Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the time of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, so that I may commission him.”

So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting. 15Then the LORD appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent.

16And the LORD said to Moses, “You will soon rest with your fathers, and these people will rise up and prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake Me and break the covenant I have made with them.

17On that day My anger will burn against them, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them, so that they will be consumed, and many troubles and afflictions will befall them.

On that day they will say, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is no longer with us?’

18And on that day I will surely hide My face because of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods.

19Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites; have them recite it, so that it may be a witness for Me against them. 20When I have brought them into the land that I swore to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, they will eat their fill and prosper. Then they will turn to other gods and worship them, and they will reject Me and break My covenant. 21And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants. For I know their inclination, even before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.”

22So that very day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites.

23Then the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land that I swore to give them, and I will be with you.”

The Law Placed in the Ark

24When Moses had finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, 25he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD: 26“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you. 27For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you are already rebelling against the LORD while I am still alive, how much more will you rebel after my death!

28Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officers so that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt and turn from the path I have commanded you. And in the days to come, disaster will befall you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger by the work of your hands.”

Moses Begins His Song

30Then Moses recited aloud to the whole assembly of Israel the words of this song from beginning to end:

Footnotes:

1 a DSS and LXX; MT When Moses went out and spoke

6 b Cited in Hebrews 13:5; here and in verse 8

10 c That is, Sukkot, the autumn feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; also translated as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Shelters and originally called the Feast of Ingathering (see Exodus 23:16 and Exodus 34:22).

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 32   ▶   ▶

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The Song of Moses
(Revelation 15:1–4)

1Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak;
hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

2Let my teaching fall like rain
and my speech settle like dew,
like gentle rain on new grass,
like showers on tender plants.

3For I will proclaim the name of the LORD.

Ascribe greatness to our God!

4He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
all His ways are just.

A God of faithfulness without injustice,
righteous and upright is He.

5His people have acted corruptly toward Him;
the spot on them is not that of His children,
but of a perverse and crooked generation.a

6Is this how you repay the LORD,

O foolish and senseless people?

Is He not your Father and Creator?

Has He not made you and established you?

7Remember the days of old;
consider the years long past.

Ask your father, and he will tell you,
your elders, and they will inform you.

8When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,
when He divided the sons of man,

He set the boundaries of the peoples
according to the number of the sons of God.b

9But the LORD’s portion is His people,

Jacob His allotted inheritance.

10He found him in a desert land,
in a barren, howling wilderness;

He surrounded him, He instructed him,

He guarded him as the applec of His eye.

11As an eagle stirs up its nest
and hovers over its young,

He spread His wings to catch them
and carried them on His pinions.d

12The LORD alone led him,
and no foreign god was with him.

13He made him ride on the heights of the land
and fed him the produce of the field.

He nourished him with honey from the rock
and oil from the flinty crag,

14with curds from the herd and milk from the flock,
with the fat of lambs,
with rams from Bashan, and goats,
with the choicest grains of wheat.

From the juice of the finest grapes
you drank the wine.

15But Jeshurune grew fat and kicked—
becoming fat, bloated, and gorged.

He abandoned the God who made him
and scorned the Rock of his salvation.

16They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods;
they enraged Him with abominations.

17They sacrificed to demons, not to God,
to gods they had not known,
to newly arrived gods,
which your fathers did not fear.

18You ignored the Rock who brought you forth;
you forgot the God who gave you birth.

19When the LORD saw this, He rejected them,
provoked to anger by His sons and daughters.

20He said: “I will hide My face from them;

I will see what will be their end.

For they are a perverse generation—
children of unfaithfulness.

21They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God;
they have enraged Me with their worthless idols.

So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people;f

I will make them angry by a nation without understanding.g

22For a fire has been kindled by My anger,
and it burns to the depths of Sheol;
it consumes the earth and its produce,
and scorches the foundations of the mountains.

23I will heap disasters upon them;

I will spend My arrows against them.

24They will be wasted from hunger
and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague;

I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them,
with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust.

25Outside, the sword will take their children,
and inside, terror will strike
the young man and the young woman,
the infant and the gray-haired man.

26I would have said that I would cut them to pieces
and blot out their memory from mankind,

27if I had not dreaded the taunt of the enemy,
lest their adversaries misunderstand and say:

‘Our own hand has prevailed;
it was not the LORD who did all this.’ ”

28Israel is a nation devoid of counsel,
with no understanding among them.

29If only they were wise, they would understand it;
they would comprehend their fate.

30How could one man pursue a thousand,
or two put ten thousand to flight,
unless their Rock had sold them,
unless the LORD had given them up?

31For their rock is not like our Rock,
even our enemies concede.h

32But their vine is from the vine of Sodom
and from the fields of Gomorrah.

Their grapes are poisonous;
their clusters are bitter.

33Their wine is the venom of serpents,
the deadly poison of cobras.

34“Have I not stored up these things,
sealed up within My vaults?

35Vengeance is Mine; I will repay.i

In due time their foot will slip;
for their day of disaster is near,
and their doom is coming quickly.”

36For the LORD will vindicate His peoplej
and have compassion on His servants
when He sees that their strength is gone
and no one remains, slave or free.

37He will say: “Where are their gods,
the rock in which they took refuge,

38which ate the fat of their sacrifices
and drank the wine of their drink offerings?

Let them rise up and help you;
let them give you shelter!

39See now that I am He;
there is no God besides Me.

I bring death and I give life;

I wound and I heal,
and there is no one
who can deliver from My hand.

40For I lift up My hand to heaven and declare:

As surely as I live forever,

41when I sharpen My flashing sword,
and My hand grasps it in judgment,

I will take vengeance on My adversaries
and repay those who hate Me.

42I will make My arrows drunk with blood,
while My sword devours flesh—
the blood of the slain and captives,
the heads of the enemy leaders.”

43Rejoice, O heavens, with Him,
and let all God’s angels worship Him.k

Rejoice, O nations, with His people;l
for He will avenge the blood of His children.m

He will take vengeance on His adversaries
and repay those who hate Him;n

He will cleanse His land
and His people.

44Then Moses came with Joshuao son of Nun and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. 45When Moses had finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46he said to them, “Take to heart all these words I testify among you today, so that you may command your children to carefully follow all the words of this law. 47For they are not idle words to you, because they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

Moses’ Death Foretold

48On that same day the LORD said to Moses, 49“Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites as their own possession.

50And there on the mountain that you climb, you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people.

51For at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites by failing to treat Me as holy in their presence. 52Although you shall see from a distance the land that I am giving the Israelites, you shall not enter it.”

Footnotes:

5 a Cited in Philippians 2:15

8 b DSS; LXX according to the number of the angels of God; MT according to the number of the sons of Israel

10 c Literally the pupil

11 d Pinions are the outer parts of a bird’s wings, including the flight feathers.

15 e Jeshurun means the upright one, a term of endearment for Israel.

21 f Or not a nation; see also LXX.

21 g Cited in Romans 10:19

31 h Hebrew; LXX but our enemies are void of understanding

35 i LXX; Hebrew Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; cited in Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30

36 j Or will judge His people; see also LXX; cited in Hebrews 10:30

43 k See DSS and LXX; MT lacks Rejoice, O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s angels worship Him. Cited in Hebrews 1:6

43 l Cited in Romans 15:10

43 m DSS and LXX; MT servants

43 n LXX and Vulgate; MT lacks and repay those who hate Him

44 o LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew Hoshea, a variant of Joshua

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 33   ▶   ▶

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Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes

1This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced upon the Israelites before his death. 2He said:

“The LORD came from Sinai
and dawned upon usa from Seir;

He shone forth from Mount Paran
and came with myriads of holy ones,
with flaming fire at His right hand.b

3Surely You love the people;
all the holy ones are in Your hand,
and they sit down at Your feet;c
each receives Your words—

4the law that Moses gave us,
the possession of the assembly of Jacob.

5So the LORD became King in Jeshurund
when the leaders of the people gathered,
when the tribes of Israel came together.

6Let Reuben live and not die,
nore his men be few.”

7And concerning Judah he said:

“O LORD, hear the cry of Judah
and bring him to his people.

With his own hands he defends his cause,
but may You be a help against his foes.”

8Concerning Levi he said:

“Give Your Thummim to Levi
and Your Urim to Your godly one,f
whom You tested at Massahg
and contested at the waters of Meribah.h

9He said of his father and mother,

‘I do not consider them.’

He disregarded his brothers
and did not know his own sons,
for he kepti Your word
and maintained Your covenant.

10He will teach Your ordinances to Jacob
and Your law to Israel;
he will set incense before You
and whole burnt offerings on Your altar.

11Bless his substance, O LORD,
and accept the work of his hands.

Smash the loins of those who rise against him,
and of his foes so they can rise no more.”

12Concerning Benjamin he said:

“May the beloved of the LORD
rest secure in Him;

God shieldsj him all day long,
and upon His shoulders he rests.”

13Concerning Joseph he said:

“May his land be blessed by the LORD
with the precious dew from heaven above
and the deep waters that lie beneath,

14with the bountiful harvest from the sun
and the abundant yield of the seasons,

15with the best of the ancient mountains
and the bounty of the everlasting hills,

16with the choice gifts of the land and everything in it,
and with the favor of Him who dwelt in the burning bush.

May these rest on the head of Joseph
and crown the brow of the prince of his brothers.

17His majesty is like a firstborn bull,
and his horns are like those of a wild ox.

With them he will gore the nations,
even to the ends of the earth.

Such are the myriads of Ephraim,
and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”

18Concerning Zebulun he said:

“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys,
and Issachar, in your tents.

19They will call the peoples to a mountain;
there they will offer sacrifices of righteousness.

For they will feast on the abundance of the seas
and the hidden treasures of the sand.”

20Concerning Gad he said:

“Blessed is he who enlarges
the domain of Gad!

He lies down like a lion
and tears off an arm or a head.

21He chose the best land for himself,
because a ruler’s portion was reserved for him there.

He came with the leaders of the people;
he administered the LORD’s justice
and His ordinances for Israel.”

22Concerning Dan he said:

“Dan is a lion’s cub,
leaping out of Bashan.”

23Concerning Naphtali he said:

“Naphtali is abounding with favor,
full of the blessing of the LORD;
he shall take possession
of the seak and the south.”

24And concerning Asher he said:

“May Asher be the most blessed of sons;
may he be the most favored among his brothers
and dip his foot in oil.

25May the bolts of your gate be iron and bronze,
and may your strength match your days.”

26“There is none like the God of Jeshurun,
who rides the heavens to your aid,
and the clouds in His majesty.

27The eternal God is your dwelling place,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.

He drives out the enemy before you,
giving the command, ‘Destroy him!’

28So Israel dwells securely;
the fountain of Jacob lives untroubled
in a land of grain and new wine,
where even the heavens drip with dew.

29Blessed are you, O Israel!

Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD?

He is the shield that protects you,
the sword in which you boast.

Your enemies will cower before you,
and you shall trample their high places.”

Footnotes:

2 a LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew upon them

2 b Or with myriads of holy ones from the south, from His mountain slopes

3 c Or they follow in Your steps

5 d Jeshurun means the upright one, a term of endearment for Israel; also in verse 26.

6 e Or but let

8 f DSS and LXX; MT does not include to Levi; literally Let Your Perfections and Your Lights be to Your godly one.

8 g Massah means testing; see Exodus 17:7.

8 h Meribah means quarreling; see Exodus 17:7.

9 i Hebrew they kept, most likely referring to Levi in the plural; similarly twice in verse 10

12 j LXX; Hebrew He shields

23 k Or the west

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◀   ◀   Deuteronomy 34   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Death of Moses

1Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which faces Jericho. And the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead as far as Dan, 2all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea,a
3the Negev, and the region from the Valley of Jericho (the City of Palms) all the way to Zoar.

4And the LORD said to him, “This is the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross into it.”

5So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, as the LORD had said. 6And He buried himb in a valley in the land of Moab facing Beth-peor, and no one to this day knows the location of his grave.

7Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not diminished. 8The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.

9Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. 10Since that time, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face— 11no prophet who did all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent Moses to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and to all his officials and all his land, 12and no prophet who performed all the mighty acts of power and awesome deedsc that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Footnotes:

2 a That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea

6 b SP and some LXX manuscripts they buried him

12 c Or terrifying deeds

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◀   ◀   Joshua 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24)

God Instructs Joshua
(Deuteronomy 11:8–17)

1Now after the death of His servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, 2“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel.

3I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses. 4Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great River Euphrates—all the land of the Hittites—and west as far as the Great Sea.a

5No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.b

6Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them.

7Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go. 8This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.

9Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua Takes Charge

10Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: 11“Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you will cross the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’ ”

12But to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13“Remember what Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you when he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest, and He will give you this land.’ 14Your wives, your young children, and your livestock may remain in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But all your mighty men of valor must be armed for battle to cross over ahead of your brothers and help them, 15until the LORD gives them rest as He has done for you, and your brothers also possess the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you may return to the land of your inheritance and take possession of that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the east side of the Jordan.”

16So they answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. 17Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. And may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses. 18Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words, all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!”

Footnotes:

4 a That is, the Mediterranean Sea

5 b Cited in Hebrews 13:5

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◀   ◀   Joshua 2   ▶   ▶

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Rahab Welcomes the Spies
(Hebrews 11:30–31)

1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim,a saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

2And it was reported to the king of Jericho: “Behold, some men of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.”

3So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.”

4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!” 6(But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.)

7So the king’s men set out in pursuit of the spies along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they had gone out, the gate was shut.

The Promise to Rahab

8Before the spies lay down for the night, Rahab went up on the roof 9and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you. 10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Seab before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction.c
11When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.

12Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD that you will indeed show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will deliver us from death.”

14“Our lives for your lives!” the men agreed. “If you do not report our mission, we will show you kindness and faithfulness when the LORD gives us the land.”

15Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city. 16“Go to the hill country,” she said, “so that your pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there for three days until they have returned; then go on your way.”

17The men said to her, “We will not be bound by this oath you made us swear 18unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother and brothers and all your family into your house. 19If anyone goes out the door of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if a hand is laid on anyone with you in the house, his blood will be on our heads. 20And if you report our mission, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”

21“Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. And when they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

22So the spies went out into the hill country and stayed there three days, until their pursuers had returned without finding them, having searched all along the road. 23Then the two men started back, came down from the hill country, and crossed the river. So they came to Joshua son of Nun and reported all that had happened to them.

24“The LORD has surely delivered the entire land into our hands,” they said to Joshua. “Indeed, all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of us.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or Acacia Grove

10 b Or the Sea of Reeds

10 c Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

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◀   ◀   Joshua 3   ▶   ▶

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Crossing the Jordan

1Early the next morning Joshua got up and left Shittima with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.

2After three days the officers went through the camp 3and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it. 4But keep a distance of about two thousand cubitsb between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.”

5Then Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” 6And he said to the priests, “Take the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them.

7Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses. 8Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.’ ”

9So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.” 10He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. 11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan.

12Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.”

14So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them.

15Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Seac) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan.

Footnotes:

1 a Or Acacia Grove

4 b 2,000 cubits is approximately 3,000 feet or 914.4 meters.

16 c That is, the Dead Sea

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◀   ◀   Joshua 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Twelve Stones from the Jordan

1When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2“Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3and command them: ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing, carry them with you, and set them down in the place where you spend the night.’ ”

4So Joshua summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5and said to them, “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, 6to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.”

8Thus the Israelites did as Joshua had commanded them. They took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each tribe of Israel, just as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them to the camp, where they set them down.

9Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan,a in the place where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood. And the stones are there to this day.

10Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until the people had completed everything the LORD had commanded Joshua to tell them, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried across, 11and after everyone had finished crossing, the priests with the ark of the LORD crossed in the sight of the people. 12The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over before the Israelites, armed for battle as Moses had instructed them. 13About 40,000 troops armed for battle crossed over before the LORD into the plains of Jericho.

14On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.

15Then the LORD said to Joshua, 16“Command the priests who carry the ark of the Testimonyb to come up from the Jordan.”

17So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan.”

18When the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up out of the Jordan and their feet touched the dry land, the waters of the Jordan returned to their course and overflowed all the banks as before.

The Camp at Gilgal

19On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20And there at Gilgal Joshua set up the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan.

21Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of these stones?’ 22you are to tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as He did to the Red Sea,c which He dried up before us until we had crossed over. 24He did this so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and so that you may always fear the LORD your God.”

Footnotes:

9 a Some translators And Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan

16 b That is, the ark of the covenant

23 c Or the Sea of Reeds

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◀   ◀   Joshua 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal

1Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coasta heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over,b their hearts melted and their spirits failed for fear of the Israelites.

2At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel once again.c” 3So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.d

4Now this is why Joshua circumcised them: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of war—had died on the journey in the wilderness after they had left Egypt. 5Though all who had come out were circumcised, none of those born in the wilderness on the journey from Egypt had been circumcised.

6For the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness forty years, until all the nation’s men of war who had come out of Egypt had died, since they did not obey the LORD. So the LORD vowed never to let them see the land He had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7And Joshua raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones he circumcised. Until this time they were still uncircumcised, since they had not been circumcised along the way.

8And after all the nation had been circumcised, they stayed there in the camp until they were healed.

9Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So that place has been called Gilgale to this day.

10On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover. 11The day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate unleavened bread and roasted grain from the produce of the land.

12And the day after they had eaten from the produce of the land, the manna ceased. There was no more manna for the Israelites, so that year they began to eat the crops of the land of Canaan.

The Commander of the LORD’s Army

13Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?”

14“Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as Commander of the LORD’s army.”

Then Joshua fell facedown in reverencef and asked Him, “What does my Lord have to say to His servant?”

15The Commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.”

And Joshua did so.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, along the Mediterranean coast; literally along the sea

1 b Or until we had crossed over

2 c Literally again the second time

3 d Gibeath-haaraloth means the hill of the foreskins.

9 e Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew for roll.

14 f Or and paid homage or and worshiped

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◀   ◀   Joshua 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Walls of Jericho

1Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

2And the LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, along with its king and its mighty men of valor. 3March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. 4Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. 5And when there is a long blast of the ram’s horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the wall of the city will collapsea and all your people will charge straight into the city.b”

6So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.”

7And he told the people, “Advance and march around the city, with the armed troops going ahead of the ark of the LORD.”

8After Joshua had spoken to the people, seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the horns, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9While the horns continued to sound, the armed troops marched ahead of the priests who blew the horns, and the rear guard followed the ark.

10But Joshua had commanded the people: “Do not give a battle cry or let your voice be heard; do not let one word come out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout. Then you are to shout!” 11So he had the ark of the LORD carried around the city, circling it once. And the people returned to the camp and spent the night there.

12Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests took the ark of the LORD. 13And the seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns kept marching ahead of the ark of the LORD and blowing the horns. The armed troops went in front of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the horns kept sounding. 14So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

15Then on the seventh day, they got up at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. That was the only day they circled the city seven times. 16After the seventh time around, the priests blew the horns, and Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! 17Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction.c Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent. 18But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it. 19For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.”

20So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it. 21At the edge of the sword they devoted to destruction everything in the city—man and woman, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.

22Meanwhile, Joshua told the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the house of the prostitute and bring out the woman and all who are with her, just as you promised her.” 23So the young spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother and brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and settled them outside the camp of Israel.

24Then the Israelites burned up the city and everything in it. However, they put the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD’s house. 25And Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her father’s household and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent to spy out Jericho. So she has lived among the Israelites to this day.

26At that time Joshua invoked this solemn oath:

“Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up
and rebuilds this city, Jericho;
at the cost of his firstborn
he will lay its foundations;
at the cost of his youngest
he will set up its gates.”d

27So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.

Footnotes:

5 a Or fall under itself or fall flat; similarly in verse 20

5 b Literally and the people will go up, every man straight ahead; similarly in verse 20

17 c Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in verses 18 and 21.

26 d See 1 Kings 16:34.

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◀   ◀   Joshua 7   ▶   ▶

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The Defeat at Ai

1The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction.a Achanb son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi,c the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.

2Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.

3On returning to Joshua, they reported, “There is no need to send all the people; two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, you need not wear out all our people there.”

4So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarriesd and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

6Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the LORD until evening, as did the elders of Israel; and they all sprinkled dust on their heads.

7“O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies? 9When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”

10But the LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face? 11Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions. 12This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction.

13Get up and consecrate the people, saying, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Among you, O Israel, there are things devoted to destruction. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them. 14In the morning you must present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD selects shall come forward clan by clan, and the clan that the LORD selects shall come forward family by family, and the family that the LORD selects shall come forward man by man. 15The one who is caught with the things devoted to destruction must be burned, along with all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD and committed an outrage in Israel.’ ”

The Sin of Achan

16So Joshua arose early the next morning and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. 17He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward, and the family of Zabdi was selected. 18And he had the family of Zabdi come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected.

19So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

20“It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: 21When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar,e two hundred shekels of silver,f and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels,g I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

22So Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent, and there it all was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23They took the things from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out before the LORD.

24Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor.

25“Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies. 26And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achorh to this day.

Footnotes:

1 a Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in verses 11, 12, 13, and 15.

1 b Achan means troubler; also called Achar in 1 Chronicles 2:7.

1 c Zabdi is a variant of Zimri; also in verses 17 and 18; see LXX and 1 Chronicles 2:6.

5 d Or as far as Shebarim

21 e That is, Babylonia

21 f 200 shekels is approximately 5 pounds or 2.3 kilograms of silver.

21 g 50 shekels is approximately 1.26 pounds or 569.8 grams of gold.

26 h Achor means trouble.

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◀   ◀   Joshua 8   ▶   ▶

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The Conquest of Ai

1Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. See, I have delivered into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. 2And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set up an ambush behind the city.”

3So Joshua and the whole army set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out at night 4with these orders: “Pay attention. You are to lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it. All of you must be ready. 5Then I and all the troops with me will advance on the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them. 6They will pursue us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.’ So as we flee from them, 7you are to rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand. 8And when you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do as the LORD has commanded! See, I have given you orders.”

9So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But Joshua spent that night among the people.

10Joshua got up early the next morning and mobilized his men, and he and the elders of Israel marched before them up to Ai. 11Then all the troops who were with him marched up and approached the city. They arrived in front of Ai and camped to the north of it, with the valley between them and the city.

12Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. 13So the forces were stationed with the main camp to the north of the city and the rear guard to the west of the city. And that night Joshua went into the valley.

14When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, he hurried out early in the morning with the men of the city to engage them in battle at an appointed place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set up against him behind the city. 15Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness. 16Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city. 17Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city wide open while they pursued Israel.

18Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Hold out your battle lancea toward Ai, for into your hand I will deliver the city.” So Joshua held out his battle lance toward Ai, 19and as soon as he did so, the men in ambush rose quickly from their position. They rushed forward, entered the city, captured it, and immediately set it on fire.

20When the men of Ai turned and looked back, the smoke of the city was rising into the sky. They could not escape in any direction, and the troops who had fled to the wilderness now became the pursuers. 21When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that smoke was rising from it, they turned around and struck down the men of Ai. 22Meanwhile, those in the ambush came out of the city against them, and the men of Ai were trapped between the Israelite forces on both sides. So Israel struck them down until no survivor or fugitive remained. 23But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

24When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai who had pursued them into the field and wilderness, and when every last one of them had fallen by the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and put it to the sword as well. 25A total of twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai. 26Joshua did not draw back the hand that held his battle lance until he had devoted to destructionb all who lived in Ai. 27Israel took for themselves only the cattle and plunder of that city, as the LORD had commanded Joshua.

28So Joshua burned Aic and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolation to this day. 29He hung the king of Ai on a treed until evening, and at sunset Joshua commanded that they take down the body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And over it they raised a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day.

Joshua Renews the Covenant
(Deuteronomy 27:1–10)

30At that time Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the LORD, the God of Israel, 31just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used.”e And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, and they sacrificed peace offerings.

32And there in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. 33All Israel, foreigners and citizens alike, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded earlier, to bless the people of Israel.

34Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. 35There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua failed to read before the whole assembly of Israel, including the women, the little ones, and the foreigners who lived among them.

Footnotes:

18 a Or javelin; twice in this verse, and also in verse 26

26 b Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

28 c Ai means ruin.

29 d Or He impaled the king of Ai on a pole

31 e Exodus 20:25; Deuteronomy 27:5

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◀   ◀   Joshua 9   ▶   ▶

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The Deceit of the Gibeonites

1Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Jordan—those in the hill country, the foothills,a and all along the coast of the Great Seab toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)— 2they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

3But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4acted deceptively and set out as envoys,c carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. 5They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy. 6They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treatyd with us.”

7But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?”

8“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua.

Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”

9“Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt, 10and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. 11So the elders and inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’

12This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But take a look, it is now dry and moldy. 13These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”

14Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not seek the counsel of the LORD. 15And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

16Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them. 17So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

19All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them. 20This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.” 21They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.

22Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us? 23Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this. 25Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

26So Joshua did this and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites. 27On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

1 b That is, the Mediterranean Sea

4 c Or set out with provisions

6 d Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant; also in verses 7, 11, 15, and 16.

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◀   ◀   Joshua 10   ▶   ▶

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The Day the Sun Stood Still

1Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destructiona —doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king—and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them. 2So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

3Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4“Come up and help me. We will attack Gibeon, because they have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.”

5So the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—joined forces and advanced with all their armies. They camped before Gibeon and made war against it.

6Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come quickly and save us! Help us, because all the kings of the Amorites from the hill country have joined forces against us.”

7So Joshua and his whole army, including all the mighty men of valor, came from Gilgal.

8The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for I have delivered them into your hand. Not one of them shall stand against you.”

9After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua caught them by surprise. 10And the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon, pursued them along the ascent to Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11As they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites.

12On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel:

“O sun, stand still over Gibeon,

O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”b

13So the sun stood still
and the moon stopped
until the nation took vengeance
upon its enemies.c

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar?d

“So the sun stopped
in the middle of the sky
and delayed going down
about a full day.”e

14There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man, because the LORD fought for Israel.

15Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

The Victory at Makkedah

16Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. 17And Joshua was informed: “The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”

18So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and post men there to guard them. 19But you, do not stop there. Pursue your enemies and attack them from behind. Do not let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.”

20So Joshua and the Israelites continued to inflict a terrible slaughter until they had finished them off, and the remaining survivors retreated to the fortified cities. 21The whole army returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one dared to utter a word against the Israelites.

22Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” 23So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.

24When they had brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.”

So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks.

25“Do not be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua said. “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD will do this to all the enemies you fight.”

26After this, Joshua struck down and killed the kings, and he hung their bodies on five treesf and left them there until evening. 27At sunset Joshua ordered that they be taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave in which they had hidden. Then large stones were placed against the mouth of the cave, and the stones are there to this day.

28On that day Joshua captured Makkedah and put it to the sword, along with its king. He devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. So he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Conquest of the Southern Cities

29Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah. 30And the LORD also delivered that city and its king into the hand of Israel, and Joshua put all the people to the sword, leaving no survivors. And he did to the king of Libnah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31And Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish. They laid siege to it and fought against it. 32And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, and Joshua captured it on the second day. He put all the people to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah.

33At that time Horam king of Gezer went to help Lachish, but Joshua struck him down along with his people, leaving no survivors.

34So Joshua moved on from Lachish to Eglon, and all Israel with him. They laid siege to it and fought against it. 35That day they captured Eglon and put it to the sword, and Joshua devoted to destruction everyone in the city, just as he had done to Lachish.

36Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and fought against it. 37They captured it and put to the sword its king, all its villages, and all the people. Joshua left no survivors, just as he had done at Eglon; he devoted to destruction Hebron and everyone in it.

38Finally Joshua and all Israel with him turned toward Debir and fought against it. 39And they captured Debir, its king, and all its villages. They put them to the sword and devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. Joshua did to Debir and its king as he had done to Hebron and as he had done to Libnah and its king.

40So Joshua conquered the whole region—the hill country, the Negev, the foothills,g and the slopes, together with all their kings—leaving no survivors. He devoted to destruction everything that breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. 41Joshua conquered the area from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and the whole region of Goshen as far as Gibeon.

42And because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel, Joshua captured all these kings and their land in one campaign. 43Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

Footnotes:

1 a Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in verses 28, 35, 37, 39, and 40.

12 b See Jasher 88:63.

13 c Or triumphed over its enemies

13 d Or the Book of the Upright One, commonly cited as Jasher

13 e See Jasher 88:64.

26 f Or impaled their bodies on five poles; similarly in verse 27

40 g Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

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◀   ◀   Joshua 11   ▶   ▶

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Conquest of the Northern Cities

1Now when Jabin king of Hazor heard about these things, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon; to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph; 2to the kings of the north in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Chinnereth, in the foothills,a and in Naphoth-dorb to the west; 3to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpah.

4So these kings came out with all their armies, a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a great number of horses and chariots. 5All these kings joined forces and encamped at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.

6Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.”

7So by the waters of Merom, Joshua and his whole army came upon them suddenly and attacked them, 8and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who struck them down and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon and Misrephoth-maim, and eastward as far as the Valley of Mizpeh. They struck them down, leaving no survivors. 9Joshua treated them as the LORD had told him; he hamstrung their horses and burned up their chariots.

10At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword, because Hazor was formerly the head of all these kingdoms. 11The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, devoting them to destruction.c Nothing that breathed remained, and Joshua burned down Hazor itself.

12Joshua captured all these kings and their cities and put them to the sword. He devoted them to destruction, as Moses the LORD’s servant had commanded. 13Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds, except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

14The Israelites took for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but they put all the people to the sword until they had completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone who breathed. 15As the LORD had commanded His servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua. That is what Joshua did, leaving nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

Joshua Takes the Whole Land

16So Joshua took this entire region: the hill country, all the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah, and the mountains of Israel and their foothills, 17from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, as far as Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon at the foot of Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and struck them down, putting them to death.

18Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long period of time. 19No city made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites living in Gibeon; all others were taken in battle. 20For it was of the LORD to hardend their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD had commanded Moses.

21At that time Joshua proceeded to eliminate the Anakim from the hill country of Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction, along with their cities. 22No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any survive.

23So Joshua took the entire land, in keeping with all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to the allotments to their tribes. Then the land had rest from war.

Footnotes:

2 a Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea; also in verse 16

2 b Or in the heights of Dor; Naphoth-dor is a variant of Naphath-dor; see Joshua 12:23.

11 c Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in verses 12, 20, and 21.

20 d Or stiffen or strengthen

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◀   ◀   Joshua 12   ▶   ▶

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The Kings Defeated East of the Jordan

1Now these are the kings of the land whom the Israelites struck down and whose lands they took beyond the Jordan to the east, from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon, including all the Arabah eastward:

2Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along the middle of the valley, up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites), that is, half of Gilead, 3as well as the Arabah east of the Sea of Chinneretha to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Seab), eastward through Beth-jeshimoth, and southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

4And Og king of Bashan,c one of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei. 5He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan up to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

6Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the Israelites had struck them down and given their land as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

The Kings Defeated West of the Jordan

7And these are the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered beyond the Jordan to the west, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir (according to the allotments to the tribes of Israel, Joshua gave them as an inheritance 8the hill country, the foothills,d the Arabah, the slopes, the wilderness, and the Negev—the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites):

9the king of Jericho, one;
the king of Ai, which is near Bethel, one;

10the king of Jerusalem, one;
the king of Hebron, one;

11the king of Jarmuth, one;
the king of Lachish, one;

12the king of Eglon, one;
the king of Gezer, one;

13the king of Debir, one;
the king of Geder, one;

14the king of Hormah, one;
the king of Arad, one;

15the king of Libnah, one;
the king of Adullam, one;

16the king of Makkedah, one;
the king of Bethel, one;

17the king of Tappuah, one;
the king of Hepher, one;

18the king of Aphek, one;
the king of Lasharon, one;

19the king of Madon, one;
the king of Hazor, one;

20the king of Shimron-meron, one;
the king of Achshaph, one;

21the king of Taanach, one;
the king of Megiddo, one;

22the king of Kedesh, one;
the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;

23the king of Dor in Naphath-dor,e one;
the king of Goiim in Gilgal,f one;

24and the king of Tirzah, one.

So there were thirty-one kings in all.

Footnotes:

3 a That is, the Sea of Galilee

3 b That is, the Dead Sea

4 c LXX; Hebrew And the territory of Og king of Bashan

8 d Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

23 e Or in the heights of Dor; Naphath-dor is a variant of Naphoth-dor; see Joshua 11:2.

23 f Hebrew; LXX Goyim in Galilee

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Lands Yet Unconquered
(Judges 1:1–7)

1Now Joshua was old and well along in years, and the LORD said to him, “You are old and well along in years, but very much of the land remains to be possessed. 2This is the land that remains:

All the territory of the Philistines and the Geshurites, 3from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as that of the Avvites;

4to the south, all the land of the Canaanites, from Mearaha of the Sidonians to Aphek, as far as the border of the Amorites;

5the land of the Gebalites;b
and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath.

6All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim—all the Sidonians—I Myself will drive out before the Israelites. Be sure to divide it by lot as an inheritance to Israel, as I have commanded you. 7Now therefore divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”

The Inheritance East of the Jordan
(Numbers 32:1–42; Deuteronomy 3:12–22)

8The other half of Manasseh, along with the Reubenites and Gadites, had received the inheritance Moses had given them beyond the Jordan to the east, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had assigned to them:

9The area from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon, 10and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the border of the Ammonites;

11also Gilead and the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites, all of Mount Hermon, and all Bashan as far as Salecah— 12the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei and had remained as a remnant of the Rephaim.

Moses had struck them down and dispossessed them, 13but the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites. So Geshur and Maacath dwell among the Israelites to this day.

14To the tribe of Levi, however, Moses had given no inheritance. The offerings made by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, just as He had promised them.

Reuben’s Inheritance

15This is what Moses had given to the clans of the tribe of Reuben:

16The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, to the whole plateau beyond Medeba, 17to Heshbon and all its cities on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon, 18Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley, 20Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth— 21all the cities of the plateau and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon until Moses killed him and the chiefs of Midian (Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba), the princes of Sihon who lived in the land.

22The Israelites also killed the diviner Balaam son of Beor along with the others they put to the sword. 23And the border of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan.

This was the inheritance of the clans of the Reubenites, including the cities and villages.

Gad’s Inheritance

24This is what Moses had given to the clans of the tribe of Gad:

25The territory of Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;

26the territory from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;c

27and in the valley, Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, with the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon (the territory on the east side of the Jordan up to the edge of the Sea of Chinnerethd).

28This was the inheritance of the clans of the Gadites, including the cities and villages.

Manasseh’s Eastern Inheritance

29This is what Moses had given to the clans of the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the tribe of the descendants of Manasseh:

30The territory from Mahanaim through all Bashan—all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, including all the towns of Jair that are in Bashan, sixty cities; 31half of Gilead; and Ashtaroth and Edrei, the royal cities of Og in Bashan.

All this was for the clans of the descendants of Machir son of Manasseh, that is, half of the descendants of Machir.

32These were the portions Moses had given them on the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho.

33To the tribe of Levi, however, Moses had given no inheritance. The LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, just as He had promised them.

Footnotes:

4 a Or Arah

5 b Or the area of Byblos

26 c LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew Li-debir, a variant of Lo-debar; see 2 Samuel 9:4, 2 Samuel 17:27, and Amos 6:13.

27 d That is, the Sea of Galilee

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◀   ◀   Joshua 14   ▶   ▶

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Land Division West of the Jordan

1Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel. 2Their inheritance was assigned by lot for the nine and a half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses. 3For Moses had given the inheritance east of the Jordan to the other two and a half tribes. But he granted no inheritance among them to the Levites.

4The descendants of Joseph became two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion of the land was given to the Levites, except for cities in which to live, along with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.

5So the Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they divided the land.

Caleb Requests Hebron

6Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me. 7I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back to him an honest report.

8Although my brothers who went with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear, I remained loyal to the LORD my God. 9On that day Moses swore to me, saying, ‘Surely the land on which you have set foot will be an inheritance to you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’

10Now behold, as the LORD promised, He has kept me alive these forty-five years since He spoke this word to Moses, while Israel wandered in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old, 11still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. As my strength was then, so it is now for war, for going out, and for coming in.

12Now therefore give me this hill country that the LORD promised me on that day, for you yourself heard then that the Anakim were there, with great and fortified cities. Perhaps with the LORD’s help I will drive them out, as the LORD has spoken.”

13Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. 15(Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba, after Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim.)

Then the land had rest from war.

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Judah’s Inheritance

1Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary:

2Their southern border started at the bay on the southern tip of the Salt Sea,a
3proceeded south of the Ascent of Akrabbim,b continued on to Zin, went over to the south of Kadesh-barnea, ran past Hezron up to Addar, and curved toward Karka. 4It proceeded to Azmon, joined the Brook of Egypt, and ended at the Sea.c This was theird southern border.

5The eastern border was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

The northern border started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, 6went up to Beth-hoglah, proceeded north of Beth-arabah, and went up to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 7Then the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to Gilgal, which faces the Ascent of Adummim south of the ravine. It continued along the waters of En-shemesh and came out at En-rogel. 8From there the border went up the Valley of Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusites (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim. 9From the hilltop the border curved to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, proceeded to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then bent around toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim). 10The border curled westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), went down to Beth-shemesh, and crossed to Timnah. 11Then it went out to the northern slope of Ekron, curved toward Shikkeron, proceeded to Mount Baalah, went on to Jabneel, and ended at the Sea.

12And the western border was the coastline of the Great Sea.

These are the boundaries around the clans of the descendants of Judah.

Caleb’s Portion and Conquest
(Judges 1:8–26)

13According to the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah—Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 14And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

15From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher). 16And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.” 17So Othniel son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.

18One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged hime to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you desire?”

19“Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.”

So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.

The Cities of Judah

20This is the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Judah. 21These were the southernmost cities of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the border of Edom:

Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 22Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor), 26Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, 28Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, 29Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, 31Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—twenty-nine cities in all, along with their villages.

33These were in the foothills:f

Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim)—fourteen cities, along with their villages.

37Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad, 38Dilan, Mizpeh, Joktheel, 39Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40Cabbon, Lahmas, Chitlish, 41Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah—sixteen cities, along with their villages.

42Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah—nine cities, along with their villages.

45Ekron, with its towns and villages; 46from Ekron to the sea, all the cities near Ashdod, along with their villages; 47Ashdod, with its towns and villages; Gaza, with its towns and villages, as far as the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Great Sea.

48These were in the hill country:

Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir), 50Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51Goshen, Holon, and Giloh—eleven cities, along with their villages.

52Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 53Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, 54Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—nine cities, along with their villages.

55Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah—ten cities, along with their villages.

58Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, 59Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon—six cities, along with their villages.

60Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah—two cities, along with their villages.

61These were in the wilderness:

Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi—six cities, along with their villages.

63But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah.

Footnotes:

2 a That is, the Dead Sea; also in verse 5

3 b Or the Ascent of Scorpions or Scorpion Pass

4 c That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea; also in verses 11, 12, and 47

4 d LXX; Hebrew your

18 e Hebrew and some LXX manuscripts; other LXX manuscripts and he urged her; see Judges 1:14.

33 f Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

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Ephraim’s Inheritance

1The allotment for the descendants of Joseph extended from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east, through the wilderness that goes up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel. 2It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz)a and proceeded to the border of the Archites in Ataroth. 3Then it descended westward to the border of the Japhletites as far as the border of Lower Beth-horon and on to Gezer, and it ended at the Sea.b

4So Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, received their inheritance. 5This was the territory of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans:

The border of their inheritance went from Ataroth-addar in the east to Upper Beth-horon 6and out toward the Sea. From Michmethath on the north it turned eastward toward Taanath-shiloh and passed by it to Janoah on the east. 7From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah, and then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 8From Tappuah the border went westward to the Brook of Kanah and ended at the Sea.

This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, 9along with all the cities and villages set apart for the descendants of Ephraim within the inheritance of Manasseh. 10But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, but they are forced laborers.

Footnotes:

2 a LXX (See also Joshua 18:13); Hebrew from Bethel to Luz

3 b That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea; also in verses 6 and 8

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Manasseh’s Western Inheritance

1Now this was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn son, namely for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh and father of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because Machir was a man of war. 2So this allotment was for the rest of the descendants of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer,a Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph.

3But Zelophehad son of Hepher (the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) had no sons but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.”

So Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the command of the LORD. 5Thus ten shares fell to Manasseh, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan beyond the Jordan, 6because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons. And the land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.

7Now the border of Manasseh went from Asher to Michmethath near Shechem, then southward to include the inhabitants of En-tappuah. 8The region of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah itself, on the border of Manasseh, belonged to Ephraim. 9From there the border continued southward to the Brook of Kanah. There were cities belonging to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh, but the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook and ended at the Sea.b
10Ephraim’s territory was to the south, and Manasseh’s was to the north, having the Sea as its border and adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

11Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was assigned Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphath), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements.

12But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land. 13However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely.

14Then the sons of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one portion as an inheritance? We have many people, because the LORD has blessed us abundantly.”

15Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.”

16“The hill country is not enough for us,” they replied, “and all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots, both in Beth-shean with its towns and in the Valley of Jezreel.”

17So Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You have many people and great strength. You shall not have just one allotment, 18because the hill country will be yours as well. It is a forest; clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours. Although the Canaanites have iron chariots and although they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Footnotes:

2 a Abiezer is a variant of Iezer; see Numbers 26:30.

9 b That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea; also in verse 10

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The Remainder Divided

1Then the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. And though the land was subdued before them, 2there were still seven tribes of Israel who had not yet received their inheritance.

3So Joshua said to the Israelites, “How long will you put off entering and possessing the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? 4Appoint three men from each tribe, and I will send them out to survey the land and map it out, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me 5and divide the land into seven portions. Judah shall remain in their territory in the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in their territory in the north. 6When you have mapped out the seven portions of land and brought it to me, I will cast lots for you here in the presence of the LORD our God.

7The Levites, however, have no portion among you, because their inheritance is the priesthood of the LORD. And Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have already received the inheritance that Moses the servant of the LORD gave them beyond the Jordan to the east.”

8As the men got up to go out, Joshua commanded them to map out the land, saying, “Go and survey the land, map it out, and return to me. Then I will cast lots for you here in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD.”

9So the men departed and went throughout the land, mapping it city by city into seven portions. Then they returned with the document to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.

10And Joshua cast lots for them in the presence of the LORD at Shiloh, where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions.

Benjamin’s Inheritance

11The first lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:

12On the north side their border began at the Jordan, went up past the northern slope of Jericho, headed west through the hill country, and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 13From there the border crossed over to the southern slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth-addar on the hill south of Lower Beth-horon.

14On the west side the border curved southward from the hill facing Beth-horon on the south and came out at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the sons of Judah. This was the western side.

15On the south side the border began at the outskirts of Kiriath-jearim and extended westward to the spring at the Waters of Nephtoah. 16Then it went down to the foot of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim and ran down the Valley of Hinnom toward the southern slope of the Jebusites and downward to En-rogel. 17From there it curved northward and proceeded to En-shemesh and on to Geliloth facing the Ascent of Adummim, and continued down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 18Then it went on to the northern slope of Beth-arabaha and went down into the valley. 19The border continued to the northern slope of Beth-hoglah and came out at the northern bay of the Salt Sea,b at the mouth of the Jordan. This was the southern border.

20On the east side the border was the Jordan.

These were the borders around the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.

21These were the cities of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin:

Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz, 22Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve cities, along with their villages.

25Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah, 27Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28Zelah, Haeleph, Jebusc (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah,d and Kiriath-jearime—fourteen cities, along with their villages.

This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.

Footnotes:

18 a LXX; Hebrew slope facing the Arabah

19 b That is, the Dead Sea

28 c LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew the Jebusite

28 d Hebrew Gibeath

28 e LXX; Hebrew Kiriath

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Simeon’s Inheritance

1The second lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Simeon:

Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah 2and included Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah, 3Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, 4Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah, 6Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen cities, along with their villages.

7Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—four cities, along with their villages, 8and all the villages surrounding these cities as far as Baalath-beer (Ramah of the Negev).

This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Simeon. 9The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the territory of Judah, because the share for Judah’s descendants was too large for them. So the Simeonites received an inheritance within Judah’s portion.

Zebulun’s Inheritance

10The third lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Zebulun:

The border of their inheritance stretched as far as Sarid. 11It went up westward to Maralah, reached Dabbesheth, and met the brook east of Jokneam. 12From Sarid it turned eastward along the border of Chisloth-tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia. 13From there it crossed eastward to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon and curved around toward Neah. 14Then the border circled around the north side of Neah to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el. 15It also included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem. There were twelve cities, along with their villages.

16This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Zebulun, including these cities and their villages.

Issachar’s Inheritance

17The fourth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Issachar:

18Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem, 19Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 21Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez. 22The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen cities, along with their villages.

23This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Issachar, including these cities and their villages.

Asher’s Inheritance

24The fifth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Asher:

25Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, 26Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. On the west the border touched Carmel and Shihor-libnath, 27then turned eastward toward Beth-dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah-el, and went north to Beth-emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left. 28It went on to Ebron,a Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 29The border then turned back toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah, and came out at the Seab in the region of Achzib, 30Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages.

31This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Asher, including these cities and their villages.

Naphtali’s Inheritance

32The sixth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Naphtali:

33Their border started at Heleph and the great tree of Zaanannim, passing Adami-nekeb and Jabneel as far as Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. 34Then the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor and ran from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun on the south side, Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordanc on the east. 35The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth, 36Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor, 38Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh. There were nineteen cities, along with their villages.

39This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Naphtali, including these cities and their villages.

Dan’s Inheritance

40The seventh lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Dan:

41The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh, 42Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 43Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon, 46Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory across from Joppa.

47(Later, when the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and put it to the sword. So they took possession of Leshem, settled there, and renamed it after their father Dan.)

48This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Dan, including these cities and their villages.

Joshua’s Inheritance

49When they had finished distributing the land into its territories, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, 50as the LORD had commanded. They gave him the city of Timnath-serahd in the hill country of Ephraim, as he requested. He rebuilt the city and settled in it.

51These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed by lot to the tribes of Israel at Shiloh before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.

Footnotes:

28 a Some Hebrew manuscripts Abdon; see Joshua 21:30.

29 b That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea

34 c Hebrew; LXX west, and the Jordan

50 d Timnath-serah is also known as Timnath-heres; see Judges 2:9.

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◀   ◀   Joshua 20   ▶   ▶

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Six Cities of Refuge
(Numbers 35:9–34; Deuteronomy 4:41–43; Deuteronomy 19:1–14)

1Then the LORD said to Joshua, 2“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood. 4When someone flees to one of these cities, stands at the entrance of the city gate, and states his case before its elders, they are to bring him into the city and give him a place to live among them.

5Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, because that man killed his neighbor accidentally without prior malice. 6He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own home in the city from which he fled.”

7So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.

8And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they designated Bezer on the wilderness plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

9These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.

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◀   ◀   Joshua 21   ▶   ▶

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Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites
(Numbers 35:1–8; 1 Chronicles 6:54–81)

1Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribes of Israel 2at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said to them, “The LORD commanded through Moses that we be given cities in which to live, together with pasturelands for our livestock.”

3So by the command of the LORD, the Israelites gave the Levites these cities and their pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

4The first lot came out for the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

5The remaining descendants of Kohath received ten cities by lot from the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

6The descendants of Gershon received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

7And the descendants of Merari received twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

8So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these cities, together with their pasturelands, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

9From the tribes of Judah and Simeon, they designated these cities by name 10to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them:

11They gave them Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pasturelands, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the father of Anak.) 12But they had given the fields and villages around the city to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.

13So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah, 14Jattir, Eshtemoa, 15Holon, Debir, 16Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh—nine cities from these two tribes, together with their pasturelands.

17And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba, 18Anathoth, and Almon—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

19In all, thirteen cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

20The remaining Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted these cities:

From the tribe of Ephraim 21they were given Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Gezer, 22Kibzaim, and Beth-horon—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

23From the tribe of Dan they were given Elteke, Gibbethon, 24Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

25And from the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Taanach and Gath-rimmon—two cities, together with their pasturelands.

26In all, ten cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.

27This is what the Levite clans of the Gershonites were given:

From the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah—two cities, together with their pasturelands.

28From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kishion, Daberath, 29Jarmuth, and En-gannim—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

30From the tribe of Asher they were given Mishal, Abdon, 31Helkath, and Rehob—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

32And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Hammoth-dor, and Kartan—three cities, together with their pasturelands.

33In all, thirteen cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the Gershonite clans.

34This is what the Merarite clan (the rest of the Levites) were given:

From the tribe of Zebulun they were given Jokneam, Kartah, 35Dimnah, and Nahalal—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

36From the tribe of Reuben they were given Bezer, Jahaz, 37Kedemoth, and Mephaath—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

38And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim, 39Heshbon, and Jazer—four cities in all, together with their pasturelands.

40In all, twelve cities were allotted to the clans of Merari, the remaining Levite clans.

41For the Levites, then, there were forty-eight cities in all, together with their pasturelands, within the territory of the Israelites. 42Each of these cities had its own surrounding pasturelands; this was true for all the cities.

43Thus the LORD gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers, and they took possession of it and settled in it.

44And the LORD gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their fathers. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.

45Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled.

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◀   ◀   Joshua 22   ▶   ▶

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The Eastern Tribes Return Home

1Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh 2and told them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and you have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you. 3All this time you have not deserted your brothers, up to this very day, but have kept the charge given you by the LORD your God.

4And now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as He promised them, you may return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you across the Jordan. 5But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

6So Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way, and they went to their homes. 7(To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan among their brothers.) When Joshua sent them to their homes he blessed them, 8saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”

The Altar of Witness

9So the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in the land of Canaan to return to their own land of Gilead, which they had acquired according to the command of the LORD through Moses. 10And when they came to Gelilotha near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan.

11Then the Israelites received the report: “Behold, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the border of the land of Canaan, at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side.” 12And when they heard this, the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh to go to war against them.

13The Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the land of Gilead, to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 14With him they sent ten chiefs—one family leader from each tribe of Israel, each the head of a family among the clans of Israel.

15They went to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead and said to them, 16“This is what the whole congregation of the LORD says: ‘What is this breach of faith you have committed today against the God of Israel by turning away from the LORD and building for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel against the LORD this day?

17Was not the sin of Peor enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day? It even brought a plague upon the congregation of the LORD. 18And now, would you turn away from the LORD? If you rebel today against the LORD, tomorrow He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.

19If indeed the land of your inheritance is unclean, then cross over to the land of the LORD’s possession, where the LORD’s tabernacle stands, and take possession of it among us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God.

20Was not Achanb son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction,c bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin!’ ”

21Then the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the clans of Israel: 22“The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today. 23If we have built for ourselves an altar to turn away from Him and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings on it, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the LORD Himself hold us accountable.

24But in fact we have done this for fear that in the future your descendants might say to ours, ‘What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? 25For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no share in the LORD!’ So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD.

26That is why we said, ‘Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices. 27Rather, let it be a witness between us and you and the generations to come, that we will worship the LORD in His presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings.’ Then in the future, your descendants cannot say to ours, ‘You have no share in the LORD!’

28Therefore we said, ‘If they ever say this to us or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the altar of the LORD that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’

29Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD and turn away from Him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices, other than the altar of the LORD our God, which stands before His tabernacle.”

30When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation—the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him—heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were satisfied. 31Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this breach of faith against Him. Consequently, you have delivered the Israelites from the hand of the LORD.”

32Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, together with the other leaders, returned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan and brought back a report regarding the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead. 33The Israelites were satisfied with the report, and they blessed God and spoke no more about going to war against them to destroy the land where the Reubenites and Gadites lived. 34So the Reubenites and Gadites named the altar Witness, for they said,d “It is a witness between us that the LORD is God.”

Footnotes:

10 a Or to the circle of stones or to the region; similarly in verse 11

20 b Achan means troubler; also called Achar in 1 Chronicles 2:7.

20 c Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

34 d Literally named the altar, for

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◀   ◀   Joshua 23   ▶   ▶

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Joshua’s Charge to Leaders

1A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, when Joshua was old and well along in years, 2he summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers. “I am old and well along in years,” he said, 3“and you have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, because it was the LORD your God who fought for you.

4See, I have allotted as an inheritance to your tribes these remaining nations, including all the nations I have already cut off, from the Jordan westward to the Great Sea.a
5The LORD your God will push them out of your way and drive them out before you, so that you can take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you.

6Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the left. 7So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them. 8Instead, you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.

9The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations before you, and to this day no one can stand against you. 10One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised. 11Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your God. 12For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, 13know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.

14Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed. 15But just as every good thing the LORD your God promised you has come to pass, likewise the LORD will bring upon you the calamity He has threatened, until He has destroyed you from this good land He has given you. 16If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you.”

Footnotes:

4 a That is, the Mediterranean Sea

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◀   ◀   Joshua 24   ▶   ▶

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Joshua Reviews Israel’s History

1Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.

2And Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your fathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphratesa and worshiped other gods. 3But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and led him through all the land of Canaan, and I multiplied his descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau Mount Seir to possess, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

5Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and afterward I brought you out. 6When I brought your fathers out of Egypt and you reached the Red Sea,b the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. 7So your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, over whom He brought the sea and engulfed them. Your very eyes saw what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.

8Later, I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan. They fought against you, but I delivered them into your hand, that you should possess their land when I destroyed them before you. 9Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, 10but I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand.

11After this, you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The people of Jericho fought against you, as did the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I delivered them into your hand. 12I sent the hornet ahead of you, and it drove out the two Amorite kings before you, but not by your own sword or bow. 13So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities that you did not build, and now you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’

Choose Whom You Will Serve
(Deuteronomy 10:12–22)

14Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”

16The people replied, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17For the LORD our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us throughout our journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because He is our God!”

19But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your rebellion or your sins. 20If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.”

21“No!” replied the people. “We will serve the LORD!”

22Then Joshua told them, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.”

“We are witnesses!” they said.

23“Now, therefore,” he said, “get rid of the foreign gods among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”

24So the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey His voice.”

25On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he established for them a statute and ordinance. 26Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oakc that was near the sanctuary of the LORD. 27And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone. It will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD has spoken to us, and it will be a witness against you if you ever deny your God.”

28Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.

Joshua’s Death and Burial
(Judges 2:6–9)

29Some time later, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110. 30And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath-serahd in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 31Israel had served the LORD throughout the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced all the works that the LORD had done for Israel.

32And the bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up out of Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the plot of land that Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.e So it became an inheritance for Joseph’s descendants.

33Eleazar son of Aaron also died, and they buried him at Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.

Footnotes:

2 a Hebrew the River; also in verses 3, 14, and 15

6 b Or the Sea of Reeds

26 c Or terebinth

30 d Timnath-serah is also known as Timnath-heres; see Judges 2:9.

32 e Hebrew a hundred kesitahs; the value or weight of the kesitah is no longer known.

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◀   ◀   Judges 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21)

The Conquest of Canaan Proceeds
(Joshua 13:1–7)

1After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”

2“Judah shall go up,” answered the LORD. “Indeed, I have delivered the land into their hands.”

3Then the men of Judah said to their brothers the Simeonites, “Come up with us to our allotted territory, and let us fight against the Canaanites. And we likewise will go with you to your territory.” So the Simeonites went with them.

4When Judah attacked, the LORD delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek. 5And there they found Adoni-bezek and fought against him, striking down the Canaanites and Perizzites.

6As Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, seized him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes. 7Then Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have gathered the scraps under my table. As I have done to them, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.

The Capture of Jerusalem and Hebron
(Joshua 15:13–19)

8Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire. 9Afterward, the men of Judah marched down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, in the Negev, and in the foothills.a

10Judah also marched against the Canaanites who were living in Hebron (formerly known as Kiriath-arba), and they struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

11From there they marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher). 12And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.” 13So Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.

14One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged himb to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you desire?”

15“Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.”

So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.

16Now the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up with the men of Judah from the City of Palmsc to the Wilderness of Judah in the Negev near Arad. They went to live among the people.

17Then the men of Judah went with their brothers the Simeonites, attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, and devoted the city to destruction.d So it was called Hormah.e
18And Judah also capturedf Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron—each with its territory. 19The LORD was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plains because they had chariots of iron.

20Just as Moses had promised, Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, who drove out the descendants of the three sons of Anak.

21The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites.

22The house of Joseph also attacked Bethel, and the LORD was with them. 23They sent spies to Bethel (formerly known as Luz), 24and when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, “Please show us how to get into the city, and we will treat you kindly.”

25So the man showed them the entrance to the city, and they put the city to the sword but released that man and all his family. 26And the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called it Luz, which is its name to this day.

The Failure to Complete the Conquest

27At that time Manasseh failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. 28When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.

29Ephraim also failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer; so the Canaanites continued to dwell among them in Gezer.

30Zebulun failed to drive out the inhabitants of Kitron and Nahalol; so the Canaanites lived among them and served as forced laborers.

31Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob. 32So the Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, because they did not drive them out.

33Naphtali failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. So the Naphtalites also lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served them as forced laborers.

34The Amorites forced the Danites into the hill country and did not allow them to come down into the plain. 35And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the house of Joseph grew in strength, they pressed the Amorites into forced labor. 36And the border of the Amorites extended from the Ascent of Akrabbimg to Sela and beyond.

Footnotes:

9 a Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

14 b Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate and he urged her; see Joshua 15:18.

16 c That is, Jericho

17 d Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

17 e Hormah means destruction.

18 f Hebrew; LXX But Judah did not capture

36 g Or the Ascent of Scorpions or Scorpion Pass

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◀   ◀   Judges 2   ▶   ▶

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Israel Rebuked at Bochim

1Now the angela of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I had promised to your fathers, and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you, 2and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars.’

Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done? 3So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.”

4When the angel of the LORD had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people lifted up their voices and wept. 5So they called that place Bochimb and offered sacrifices there to the LORD.

Joshua’s Death and Burial
(Joshua 24:29–33)

6After Joshua had dismissed the people, the Israelites went out to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance. 7And the people served the LORD throughout the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him, who had seen all the great works that the LORD had done for Israel.

8And Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110. 9They buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath-heresc in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness
(Isaiah 43:22–28; Jeremiah 2:23–37)

10After that whole generation had also been gathered to their fathers, another generation rose up who did not know the LORD or the works that He had done for Israel. 11And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.

12Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger, 13for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.

14Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them.d He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 15Wherever Israel marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring calamity, just as He had sworn to them. So they were greatly distressed.

Judges Raised Up

16Then the LORD raised up judges,e who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them.

17Israel, however, did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commandments; they did not do as their fathers had done.

18Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for the Israelites, He was with that judge and saved them from the hands of their enemies while the judge was still alive; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning under those who oppressed them and afflicted them. 19But when the judge died, the Israelites became even more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods to serve them and bow down to them. They would not give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

20So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed the covenant I laid down for their fathers and has not heeded My voice, 21I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. 22In this way I will test whether Israel will keep the way of the LORD by walking in it as their fathers did.”

23That is why the LORD had left those nations in place and had not driven them out immediately by delivering them into the hand of Joshua.

Footnotes:

1 a Or Angel; also in verse 4

5 b Bochim means weepers.

9 c Timnath-heres is also known as Timnath-serah; see Joshua 19:50 and Joshua 24:30.

14 d Literally of plunderers who plundered them

16 e Or governors or leaders; here and throughout the book of Judges

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◀   ◀   Judges 3   ▶   ▶

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Nations Left to Test Israel

1These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan, 2if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly: 3the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.

4These nations were left to test the Israelites, to find out whether they would keep the commandments of the LORD, which He had given their fathers through Moses. 5Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 6And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

Othniel

7So the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. 8Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram-naharaim,a and the Israelites served him eight years.

9But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised up Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz as a deliverer to save them. 10The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him.

11So the land had rest for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.

Ehud

12Once again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. So He gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. 13After enlisting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join forces with him, Eglon attacked and defeated Israel, taking possession of the City of Palms.b

14The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years. 15And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.

16Now Ehud had made for himself a double-edged sword a cubit long.c He strapped it to his right thigh under his cloak 17and brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was an obese man.

18After Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he ushered out those who had carried it. 19But upon reaching the idols near Gilgal, he himself turned back and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.”

“Silence,” said the king, and all his attendants left him.

20Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in the coolness of his upper room. “I have a word from God for you,” Ehud said, and the king rose from his seat.

21And Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly. 22Even the handle sank in after the blade, and Eglon’s fat closed in over it, so that Ehud did not withdraw the sword from his belly. And Eglon’s bowels emptied. 23Then Ehud went out through the porch, closing and locking the doors of the upper room behind him.

24After Ehud was gone, Eglon’s servants came in and found the doors of the upper room locked. “He must be relieving himself in the cool room,” they said. 25So they waited until they became worried and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upper room. Then they took the key and opened the doors—and there was their lord lying dead on the floor.

26Ehud, however, had escaped while the servants waited. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah.

27On arriving in Seirah, he blew the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hills, and he became their leader. 28“Follow me,” he told them, “for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.”

So they followed him down and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over. 29At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all robust and valiant men. Not one of them escaped.

30So Moab was subdued under the hand of Israel that day, and the land had rest for eighty years.

Shamgar

31After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath. And he too saved Israel, striking down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.

Footnotes:

8 a That is, Mesopotamia; Aram-naharaim means Aram of the two rivers, likely the region between the Euphrates and Balih Rivers in northwestern Mesopotamia.

13 b That is, Jericho

16 c A cubit is approximately 18 inches or 45.7 centimeters.

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◀   ◀   Judges 4   ▶   ▶

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Deborah and Barak

1After Ehud died, the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the LORD. 2So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. 3Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, because Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and he had harshly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.

4Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5And she would sit under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites would go up to her for judgment.

6She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Surely the LORD, the God of Israel, is commanding you: ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, taking with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun. 7And I will draw out Sisera the commander of Jabin’s army, his chariots, and his troops to the River Kishon, and I will deliver him into your hand.’ ”

8Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

9“I will certainly go with you,” Deborah replied, “but the road you are taking will bring you no honor, because the LORD will be selling Sisera into the hand of a woman.” So Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh, 10where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.

11Now Heber the Kenite had moved away from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-lawa of Moses, and had pitched his tent by the great tree of Zaanannim, which was near Kedesh.

12When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up Mount Tabor, 13he summoned all nine hundred of his iron chariots and all the men with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the River Kishon.

14Then Deborah said to Barak, “Arise, for this is the day that the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone before you?”

So Barak came down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 15And in front of him the LORD routed with the sword Sisera, all his charioteers, and all his army. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot.

16Then Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and the whole army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a single man was left.

Jael Kills Sisera

17Meanwhile, Sisera had fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18Jael went out to greet Sisera and said to him, “Come in, my lord. Come in with me. Do not be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

19Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again.

20“Stand at the entrance to the tent,” he said, “and if anyone comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here?’ say, ‘No.’ ”

21But as he lay sleeping from exhaustion, Heber’s wife Jael took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She drove the peg through his temple and into the ground, and he died.

22When Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to greet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man you are seeking.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera dead, with a tent peg through his temple.

23On that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites. 24And the hand of the Israelites grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him.

Footnotes:

11 a Or brother-in-law

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◀   ◀   Judges 5   ▶   ▶

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The Song of Deborah and Barak
(Exodus 15:1–21)

1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

2“When the princes take the lead in Israel,
when the people volunteer,
bless the LORD.

3Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes!

I will sing to the LORD;

I will sing praise to the LORD,
the God of Israel.

4O LORD, when You went out from Seir,
when You marched from the land of Edom,
the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain,
and the clouds poured down water.

5The mountains quaked before the LORD,
the One of Sinai,
before the LORD,
the God of Israel.

6In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,
in the days of Jael,
the highways were deserted
and the travelers took the byways.

7Life in the villages ceased;
it ended in Israel,
until I, Deborah, arose,
a mother in Israel.

8When they chose new gods,
then war came to their gates.

Not a shield or spear was found
among forty thousand in Israel.

9My heart is with the princes of Israel,
with the volunteers among the people.

Bless the LORD!

10You who ride white donkeys,
who sit on saddle blankets,
and you who travel the road,
ponder 11the voices of the singersa
at the watering places.

There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD,
the righteous deeds of His villagersb in Israel.

Then the people of the LORD
went down to the gates:

12‘Awake, awake, O Deborah!

Awake, awake, sing a song!

Arise, O Barak,
and take hold of your captives, O son of Abinoam!’

13Then the survivors came down to the nobles;
the people of the LORD came down to me against the mighty.

14Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek;

Benjamin came with your people after you.

The commanders came down from Machir,
the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun.

15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah,
and Issachar was with Barak,
rushing into the valley at his heels.

In the clans of Reuben
there was great indecision.c

16Why did you sit among the sheepfolds
to hear the whistling for the flocks?

In the clans of Reuben
there was great indecision.

17Gilead remained beyond the Jordan.

Dan, why did you linger by the ships?

Asher stayed at the coast
and remained in his harbors.

18Zebulun was a people who risked their lives;

Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield.

19Kings came and fought;
then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach
by the waters of Megiddo,
but they took no plunder of silver.

20From the heavens the stars fought;
from their courses they fought against Sisera.

21The River Kishon swept them away,
the ancient river, the River Kishon.

March on, O my soul, in strength!

22Then the hooves of horses thundered—
the mad galloping of his stallions.

23‘Curse Meroz,’ says the angel of the LORD.

‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants;
for they did not come to help the LORD,
to help the LORD against the mighty.’

24Most blessed among women is Jael,
the wife of Heber the Kenite,
most blessed of tent-dwelling women.

25He asked for water, and she gave him milk.

In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.

26She reached for the tent peg,
her right hand for the workman’s hammer.

She struck Sisera and crushed his skull;
she shattered and pierced his temple.

27At her feet he collapsed, he fell,
there he lay still;
at her feet he collapsed, he fell;
where he collapsed, there he fell dead.

28Sisera’s mother looked through the window;
she peered through the lattice and lamented:

‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?

What has delayed the clatter of his chariots?’

29Her wisest ladies answer;
indeed she keeps telling herself,

30‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil—
a girl or two for each warrior,
a plunder of dyed garments for Sisera,
the spoil of embroidered garments
for the neck of the looter?’

31So may all Your enemies perish,

O LORD!

But may those who love You
shine like the sun at its brightest.”

And the land had rest for forty years.

Footnotes:

11 a Or archers or those who divide the sheep

11 b Or warriors

15 c Or much searching of heart; also in verse 16

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◀   ◀   Judges 6   ▶   ▶

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Midian Oppresses Israel

1Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; so He delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, 2and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.

3Whenever the Israelites would plant their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them, 4encamping against them as far as Gaza and destroying the produce of the land. They left Israel with no sustenance, neither sheep nor oxen nor donkeys. 5For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were innumerable, and they entered the land to ravage it.

6Israel was greatly impoverished by Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the LORD.

7Now when the Israelites cried out to the LORD because of Midian, 8He sent them a prophet, who told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 9I delivered you out of the hands of Egypt and all your oppressors. I drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10And I said to you: ‘I am the LORD your God. You must not feara the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.’ But you did not obey Me.”

The Call of Gideon

11Then the angelb of the LORD came and sat down under the oakc in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

13“Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonders of which our fathers told us, saying, ‘Has not the LORD brought us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”

14The LORDd turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Am I not sending you?”

15“Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I save Israel? Indeed, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.”

16“Surely I will be with you,” the LORD replied, “and you will strike down all the Midianites as one man.”

17Gideon answered, “If I have found favor in Your sight, give me a sign that it is You speaking with me. 18Please do not depart from this place until I return to You. Let me bring my offering and set it before You.”

And the LORD said, “I will stay until you return.”

19So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread and an ephah of flour.e He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and brought them out to present to Him under the oak.

20And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so.

21Then the angel of the LORD extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. And fire flared from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.

22When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he said, “Oh no, Lord GOD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!”

23But the LORD said to him, “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid, for you will not die.”

24So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace.f To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Gideon Destroys Baal’s Altar

25On that very night the LORD said to Gideon, “Take your father’s young bull and a second bull seven years old, tear down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. 26Then build a proper altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold. And with the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down, take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering.”

27So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city, he did it by night rather than in the daytime.

28When the men of the city got up in the morning, there was Baal’s altar torn down, with the Asherah pole cut down beside it and the second bull offered up on the newly built altar. 29“Who did this?” they said to one another.

And after they had investigated thoroughly, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”

30Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has torn down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

31But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Are you contending for Baal? Are you trying to save him? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself with the one who has torn down his altar.”

32So on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal,g that is to say, “Let Baal contend with him,” because he had torn down Baal’s altar.

The Sign of the Fleece

33Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

34So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him. 35Calling them to arms, Gideon sent messengers throughout Manasseh, as well as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they came up to meet him.

36Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said, 37then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said.”

38And that is what happened. When Gideon arose the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

39Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time let it be dry, and the ground covered with dew.”

40And that night God did so. Only the fleece was dry, and dew covered the ground.

Footnotes:

10 a Or worship

11 b Or Angel; also in verses 12, 20, 21, and 22; corresponding pronouns may also be capitalized.

11 c Or terebinth or great tree; also in verse 19

14 d LXX The angel of the LORD or The Angel of the LORD; also in verse 16

19 e An ephah is approximately 20 dry quarts or 22 liters (probably about 25.5 pounds or 11.6 kilograms of flour).

24 f Hebrew YHWH Shalom

32 g Jerubbaal probably means let Baal contend.

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◀   ◀   Judges 7   ▶   ▶

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Gideon’s Army of Three Hundred

1Early in the morning Jerubbaala (that is, Gideon) and all the men with him camped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh.

2Then the LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many people for Me to deliver Midian into their hands, lest Israel glorify themselves over Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ ”

So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained.

4Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many people. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go. But if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”

5So Gideon brought the people down to the water, and the LORD said to him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.” 6And the number of those who lapped the water with their hands to their mouths was three hundred men; all the others knelt to drink.

7Then the LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped the water I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. But all the others are to go home.”

8So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred men, who took charge of the provisions and rams’ horns of the others. And the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.

The Sword of Gideon

9That night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up and go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. 10But if you are afraid to do so, then go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11and listen to what they are saying. Then your hands will be strengthened to attack the camp.” So he went with Purah his servant to the outposts where armed men were guarding the camp.

12Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the other people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. “Behold, I had a dream,” he said, “and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed.”

14His friend replied: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has delivered Midian and the whole camp into his hand.”

Gideon Defeats Midian

15When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Get up, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.” 16And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each man a ram’s horn in one hand and a large jar in the other, containing a torch.b

17“Watch me and do as I do,” Gideon said. “When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18When I and all who are with me blow our horns, then you are also to blow your horns from all around the camp and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’ ”

19Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!”

21Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, crying out as they ran. 22And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererahc as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath. 23Then the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites.

24Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim to say, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth-barah.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth-barah. 25They also captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian; and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. So they pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan.

Footnotes:

1 a Jerubbaal is another name for Gideon and probably means let Baal contend; see Judges 6:32.

16 b Literally and put rams’ horns and empty jars—large jars with torches inside—into the hand of all

22 c Some Hebrew manuscripts Zeredah

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◀   ◀   Judges 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna

1Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why have you done this to us? Why did you fail to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him violently.

2But Gideon answered them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? 3God has delivered Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian, into your hand. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he had said this, their angera against him subsided.

4Then Gideon and his three hundred men came to the Jordan and crossed it, exhausted yet still in pursuit. 5So Gideon said to the men of Succoth, “Please give my troops some bread, for they are exhausted, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

6But the leaders of Succoth asked, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your possession, that we should give bread to your army?”

7“Very well,” Gideon replied, “when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with the thorns and briers of the wilderness!”

8From there he went up to Penuelb and asked the same from them, but the men of Penuel gave the same response as the men of Succoth. 9So Gideon told the men of Penuel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower!”

10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army of about fifteen thousand men—all that were left of the armies of the people of the east. A hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had already fallen. 11And Gideon went up by way of the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked their army, taking them by surprise. 12When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, Gideon pursued and captured these two kings of Midian, routing their entire army.

13After this, Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle along the Ascent of Heres. 14There he captured a young man of Succoth and interrogated him. The young man wrote down for him the names of the seventy-seven leaders and elders of Succoth.

15And Gideon went to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your possession, that we should give bread to your weary men?’ ” 16Then he took the elders of the city, and using the thorns and briers of the wilderness, he disciplined the men of Succoth. 17He also pulled down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

18Next, Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?”

“Men like you,” they answered, “each one resembling the son of a king.”

19“They were my brothers,” Gideon replied, “the sons of my mother! As surely as the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.”

20So he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Get up and kill them.” But the young man did not draw his sword; he was fearful because he was still a youth.

21Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Get up and kill us yourself, for as the man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon got up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments from the necks of their camels.

Gideon’s Ephod

22Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you and your son and grandson—for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

23But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you.”

24Then he added, “Let me make a request of you, that each of you give me an earring from his plunder.” (For the enemies had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)

25“We will give them gladly,” they replied.

So they spread out a garment, and each man threw an earring from his plunder onto it. 26The weight of the gold earrings he had requested was 1,700 shekels,c in addition to the crescent ornaments, the pendants, the purple garments of the kings of Midian, and the chains from the necks of their camels.

27From all this Gideon made an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his hometown. But soon all Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household.

Forty Years of Peace

28In this way Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. So the land had rest for forty years in the days of Gideon, 29and he—Jerubbaald son of Joash—returned home and settled down.

30Gideon had seventy sons of his own,e since he had many wives. 31His concubine, who dwelt in Shechem, also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.

Gideon’s Death

32Later, Gideon son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33And as soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelites turned and prostituted themselves with the Baals, and they set up Baal-berith as their god.

34The Israelites failed to remember the LORD their God who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35They did not show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for Israel.

Footnotes:

3 a Or their spirit

8 b Penuel is a variant of Peniel; also in verses 9 and 17; see Genesis 32:30.

26 c 1,700 shekels is approximately 42.7 pounds or 19.4 kilograms.

29 d Jerubbaal is another name for Gideon and probably means let Baal contend; also in verse 35; see Judges 6:32.

30 e Hebrew who came from his own loins

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Abimelech’s Conspiracy

1Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaala went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother, 2“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”

3And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” 4So they gave him seventy shekels of silverb from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him. 5He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.

6Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oakc at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.

Jotham’s Parable

7When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out:

“Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem,
and may God listen to you.

8One day the trees set out
to anoint a king for themselves.

They said to the olive tree,

‘Reign over us.’

9But the olive tree replied,

‘Should I stop giving my oil
that honors both God and man,
to hold sway over the trees?’

10Then the trees said to the fig tree,

‘Come and reign over us.’

11But the fig tree replied,

‘Should I stop giving my sweetness
and my good fruit,
to hold sway over the trees?’

12Then the trees said to the grapevine,

‘Come and reign over us.’

13But the grapevine replied,

‘Should I stop giving my wine
that cheers both God and man,
to hold sway over the trees?’

14Finally all the trees said to the thornbush,

‘Come and reign over us.’

15But the thornbush replied,

‘If you really are anointing me as king over you,
come and find refuge in my shade.

But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush
and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

16Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves— 17for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian, 18but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother— 19if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you.

20But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”

21Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.

Gaal Conspires with the Shechemites

22After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years, 23God sent a spirit of animosityd between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully, 24in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.

25The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.

26Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.

28Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech? 29If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’ ”e

The Fall of Shechem

30When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger. 31So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelechf to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring upg the city against you. 32Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields. 33And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”

34So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

35Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.

36When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!”

But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”

37Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land,h and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.i”

38“Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”

39So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech, 40but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate. 41Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.

42The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech. 43So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them.

44Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down. 45And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

46On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.j
47And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there, 48he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”

49So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.

Abimelech’s Punishment

50Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it. 51But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.

52When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire. 53But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. 54He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ”

So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died. 55And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.

56In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers. 57And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

Footnotes:

1 a Jerubbaal is another name for Gideon and probably means let Baal contend; here and throughout this chapter; see Judges 6:32.

4 b 70 shekels is approximately 1.76 pounds or 797.8 grams of silver.

6 c Or terebinth or great tree

23 d Or a harmful spirit

29 e LXX; Hebrew I would remove Abimelech.” And he said to him, “Muster your army and come out!”

31 f Or he sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah; see verse 41.

31 g Or besieging or closing up

37 h Literally the navel of the earth

37 i Or the Diviners’ Terebinth or the diviners’ tree

46 j El-berith was another name for Baal-berith; see verse 4.

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◀   ◀   Judges 10   ▶   ▶

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Tola

1After the time of Abimelech, a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose up to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.

2Tola judgeda Israel twenty-three years, and when he died, he was buried in Shamir.

Jair

3Tola was followed by Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years. 4He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth-jair.b

5When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

Oppression by the Philistines and Ammonites

6And again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. They served the Baals, the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and Philistines. Thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him.

7So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites, 8who that very year harassed and oppressed the Israelites, and did so for eighteen years to all the Israelites on the other side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites.

9The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, and Israel was in deep distress.

10Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against You, for we have indeed forsaken our God and served the Baals.”

11The LORD replied, “When the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines, 12Sidonians, Amalekites, and Maonitesc oppressed you and you cried out to Me, did I not save you from their hands? 13But you have forsaken Me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. 14Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.”

15“We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!” 16So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel.

17Then the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah. 18And the rulers of Gilead said to one another, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all who live in Gilead.”

Footnotes:

2 a Or governed or led; here and throughout the book of Judges

4 b Or the villages of Jair

12 c Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Midianites

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◀   ◀   Judges 11   ▶   ▶

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Jephthah Delivers Israel

1Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor; he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was his father. 2And Gilead’s wife bore him sons who grew up, drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, because you are the son of another woman.”

3So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where worthless men gathered around him and traveled with him.

4Some time later, when the Ammonites fought against Israel 5and made war with them, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6“Come,” they said, “be our commander, so that we can fight against the Ammonites.”

7Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and expel me from my father’s house? Why then have you come to me now, when you are in distress?”

8They answered Jephthah, “This is why we now turn to you, that you may go with us, fight the Ammonites, and become leader over all of us who live in Gilead.”

9But Jephthah asked them, “If you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, will I really be your leader?”

10And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.”

11So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.

12Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight against my land?”

13The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they seized my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and all the way to the Jordan. Now, therefore, restore it peaceably.”

14Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites 15to tell him, “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or of the Ammonites. 16But when Israel came up out of Egypt, they traveled through the wilderness to the Red Seaa and came to Kadesh. 17Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let us pass through your land,’ but the king of Edom would not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel stayed in Kadesh.

18Then Israel traveled through the wilderness and bypassed the lands of Edom and Moab. They came to the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the territory of Moab, since the Arnon was its border.

19And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land into our own place.’ 20But Sihon would not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So he gathered all his people, encamped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel.

21Then the LORD, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, who defeated them. So Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites who inhabited that country, 22seizing all the land from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.

23Now since the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from before His people Israel, should you now possess it? 24Do you not possess whatever your god Chemosh grants you? So also, we possess whatever the LORD our God has granted us. 25Are you now so much better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or fight against them?

26For three hundred years Israel has lived in Heshbon, Aroer, and their villages, as well as all the cities along the banks of the Arnon. Why did you not take them back during that time? 27I have not sinned against you, but you have done me wrong by waging war against me. May the LORD, the Judge, decide today between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”

28But the king of the Ammonites paid no heed to the message Jephthah sent him.

Jephthah’s Tragic Vow

29Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, then through Mizpah of Gilead. And from there he advanced against the Ammonites.

30Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand, 31then whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

32So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hand. 33With a great blow he devastated twenty cities from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel-keramim. So the Ammonites were subdued before the Israelites.

34And when Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, there was his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no son or daughter besides her.

35As soon as Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “No! Not my daughter! You have brought me to my knees! You have brought great misery upon me, for I have given my word to the LORD and cannot take it back.”

36“My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me as you have said, for the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites.” 37She also said to her father, “Let me do this one thing: Let me wander for two months through the mountains with my friends and mourn my virginity.”

38“Go,” he said. And he sent her away for two months.

So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity upon the mountains. 39After two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she had never had relations with a man.

So it has become a custom in Israel 40that each year the young women of Israel go out for four days to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

Footnotes:

16 a Or the Sea of Reeds

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Jephthah Defeats Ephraim

1Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”

2But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands. 3When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”

4Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.”

5The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?”

If he answered, “No,” 6they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.”

If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed.

7Jephthah judged Israel six years, and when he died, he was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.a

Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon

8After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. 9He had thirty sons, as well as thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage to men outside his clan; and for his sons he brought back thirty wives from elsewhere. Ibzan judged Israel seven years. 10Then Ibzan died, and he was buried in Bethlehem.

11After Ibzan, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel ten years. 12Then Elon the Zebulunite died, and he was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

13After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. 14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years. 15Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

Footnotes:

7 a LXX in his city in Gilead

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◀   ◀   Judges 13   ▶   ▶

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The Birth of Samson
(Numbers 6:1–21)

1Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD, so He delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

2Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children. 3The angela of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son. 4Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and not to eat anything unclean. 5For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall come over his head, because the boy will be a Naziriteb to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

6So the woman went and told her husband, “A man of God came to me. His appearance was like the angel of God, exceedingly awesome. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name. 7But he said to me, ‘Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. Now, therefore, do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death.’ ”

8Then Manoah prayed to the LORD, “Please, O Lord, let the man of God You sent us come to us again to teach us how to raise the boy who is to be born.”

9And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God returned to the woman as she was sitting in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her. 10The woman ran quickly to tell her husband, “Behold, the man who came to me the other day has reappeared!”

11So Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he asked, “Are you the man who spoke to my wife?”

“I am,” he said.

12Then Manoah asked, “When your words come to pass, what will be the boy’s rule of life and mission?”

13So the angel of the LORD answered Manoah, “Your wife is to do everything I told her. 14She must not eat anything that comes from the vine, nor drink any wine or strong drink, nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her.”

15“Please stay here,” Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “and we will prepare a young goat for you.”

16And the angel of the LORD replied, “Even if I stay, I will not eat your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD.” For Manoah did not know that it was the angel of the LORD.

17Then Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes to pass?”

18“Why do you ask my name,” said the angel of the LORD, “since it is beyond comprehension?”

19Then Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered them on a rock to the LORD. And as Manoah and his wife looked on, the LORD did a marvelous thing. 20When the flame went up from the altar to the sky, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame.

When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell facedown to the ground. 21And when the angel of the LORD did not appear again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it had been the angel of the LORD.

22“We are going to die,” he said to his wife, “for we have seen God!”

23But his wife replied, “If the LORD had intended to kill us, He would not have accepted the burnt offering and the grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things or spoken to us this way.”

24So the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the LORD blessed him. 25And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him at Mahaneh-dan,c between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Footnotes:

3 a Or Angel; here and throughout chapter 13; corresponding pronouns may also be capitalized.

5 b Or set apart

25 c Mahaneh-dan means camp of Dan.

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◀   ◀   Judges 14   ▶   ▶

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Samson’s Marriage

1One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman. 2So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”

3But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?”

But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.” 4(Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.)

5Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him, 6and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done. 7Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes.

Samson’s Riddle

8When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey. 9So he scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along. And when he returned to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.

10Then his father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as was customary for the bridegroom. 11And when the Philistines saw him,a they selected thirty men to accompany him.

12“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. 13But if you cannot solve it, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.”

“Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let us hear it.”

14So he said to them:

“Out of the eater came something to eat,
and out of the strong came something sweet.”

For three days they were unable to explain the riddle. 15So on the fourthb day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?”

16Then Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said, “You hate me! You do not really love me! You have posed to my people a riddle, but have not explained it to me.”

“Look,” he said, “I have not even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?”

17She wept the whole seven days of the feast, and finally on the seventh day, because she had pressed him so much, he told her the answer. And in turn she explained the riddle to her people.

18Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson:

“What is sweeter than honey?

And what is stronger than a lion?”

So he said to them:

“If you had not plowed with my heifer,
you would not have solved my riddle!”

19Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave their clothes to those who had solved the riddle. And burning with anger, Samson returned to his father’s house, 20and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.

Footnotes:

11 a Or when the bride’s parents saw him; literally when they saw him

15 b LXX and Syriac; Hebrew seventh

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◀   ◀   Judges 15   ▶   ▶

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Samson’s Revenge

1Later on, at the time of the wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. “I want to go to my wife in her room,” he said. But her father would not let him enter.

2“I was sure that you thoroughly hated her,” said her father, “so I gave her to one of the men who accompanied you. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead.”

3Samson said to them, “This time I will be blameless in doing harm to the Philistines.”

4Then Samson went out and caught three hundred foxes. And he took torches, turned the foxes tail-to-tail, and fastened a torch between each pair of tails. 5Then he lit the torches and released the foxes into the standing grain of the Philistines, burning up the piles of grain and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves.

6“Who did this?” the Philistines demanded.

“It was Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite,” they were told. “For his wife was given to his companion.”

So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death.

7And Samson told them, “Because you have done this, I will not rest until I have taken vengeance upon you.” 8And he struck them ruthlesslya with a great slaughter, and then went down and stayed in the cave at the rock of Etam.

9Then the Philistines went up, camped in Judah, and deployed themselves near the town of Lehi.b

10“Why have you attacked us?” said the men of Judah.

The Philistines replied, “We have come to arrest Samson and pay him back for what he has done to us.”

11In response, three thousand men of Judah went to the cave at the rock of Etam, and they asked Samson, “Do you not realize that the Philistines rule over us? What have you done to us?”

“I have done to them what they did to me,” he replied.

12But they said to him, “We have come down to arrest you and hand you over to the Philistines.”

Samson replied, “Swear to me that you will not kill me yourselves.”

13“No,” they answered, “we will not kill you, but we will tie you up securely and hand you over to them.” So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock.

14When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands. 15He found the fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and struck down a thousand men. 16Then Samson said:

“With the jawbone of a donkey

I have piled them into heaps.c

With the jawbone of a donkey

I have slain a thousand men.”

17And when Samson had finished speaking, he cast the jawbone from his hand; and he named that place Ramath-lehi.d

18And being very thirsty, Samson cried out to the LORD, “You have accomplished this great deliverance through Your servant. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”

19So God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned, and he was revived. That is why he named it En-hakkore,e and it remains in Lehi to this day.

20And Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.

Footnotes:

8 a Literally he struck them hip and thigh

9 b Literally and spread out in Lehi

16 c Or I have made them into donkeys

17 d Ramath-lehi means the hill of the jawbone.

19 e En-hakkore means the spring of him who calls.

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◀   ◀   Judges 16   ▶   ▶

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Samson Escapes Gaza

1One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to spend the night with her.

2When the Gazites heard that Samson was there, they surrounded that place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They were quiet throughout the night, saying, “Let us wait until dawn; then we will kill him.”

3But Samson lay there only until midnight, when he got up, took hold of the doors of the city gate and both gateposts, and pulled them out, bar and all. Then he put them on his shoulders and took them to the top of the mountain overlooking Hebron.

Samson and Delilah

4Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5The lords of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice him and find out the source of his great strength and how we can overpower him to tie him up and subdue him. Then each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.a”

6So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me the source of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”

7Samson told her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become as weak as any other man.”

8So the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them. 9While the men were hidden in her room, she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!”

But he snapped the bowstrings like a strand of yarn seared by a flame. So the source of his strength remained unknown.

10Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have mocked me and lied to me! Now please tell me how you can be tied up.”

11He replied, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become as weak as any other man.”

12So Delilah took new ropes, tied him up with them, and called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!”

But while the men were hidden in her room, he snapped the ropes off his arms like they were threads.

13Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have mocked me and lied to me all along! Tell me how you can be tied up.”

He told her, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the web of a loom and tighten it with a pin, I will become as weak as any other man.b”

14So while he slept, Delilah took the seven braids of his hair and wove them into the web.c Then she tightened it with a pin and called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are here!”

But he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin with the loom and the web.

Delilah Learns the Secret

15“How can you say, ‘I love you,’ ” she asked, “when your heart is not with me? This is the third time you have mocked me and failed to reveal to me the source of your great strength!”

16Finally, after she had pressed him daily with her words and pleaded until he was sick to death, 17Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”

18When Delilah realized that he had revealed to her all that was in his heart, she sent this message to the lords of the Philistines: “Come up once more, for he has revealed to me all that is in his heart.”

Then the lords of the Philistines came to her, bringing the money in their hands.

19And having lulled him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his head. In this way she began to subdue him,d and his strength left him. 20Then she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!”

When Samson awoke from his sleep, he thought, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.

21Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison.

22However, the hair of his head began to grow back after it had been shaved.

Samson’s Vengeance and Death

23Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.”

24And when the people saw him, they praised their god, saying:

“Our god has delivered into our hands
our enemy who destroyed our land
and multiplied our dead.”

25And while their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison to entertain them. And they stationed him between the pillars.

26Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Lead me where I can feel the pillars supporting the temple, so I can lean against them.”

27Now the temple was full of men and women; all the lords of the Philistines were there, and about three thousand men and women were on the roof watching Samson entertain them.

28Then Samson called out to the LORD: “O Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me, O God, just once more, so that with one vengeful blow I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.”

29And Samson reached out for the two central pillars supporting the temple. Bracing himself against them with his right hand on one pillar and his left hand on the other, 30Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.”

Then he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people in it. So in his death he killed more than he had killed in his life.

31Then Samson’s brothers and his father’s family came down, carried him back, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. And he had judged Israel twenty years.

Footnotes:

5 a 1,100 shekels is approximately 27.6 pounds or 12.5 kilograms of silver.

13 b See LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew does not include and tighten it with a pin, I will become as weak as any other man.

14 c See LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew does not include So while he slept, Delilah took the seven braids of his hair and wove them into the web.

19 d Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts he began to grow weak

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◀   ◀   Judges 17   ▶   ▶

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Micah’s Idolatry

1Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim 2said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silvera that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have the silver here with me; I took it.”

Then his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD!”

3And when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, “I wholly dedicate the silver to the LORD for my son’s benefit, to make a graven image and a molten idol. Therefore I will now return it to you.”

4So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silverb and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into a graven image and a molten idol. And they were placed in the house of Micah.

5Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household idols, and ordainedc one of his sons as his priest. 6In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

7And there was a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah who had been residing within the clan of Judah. 8This man left the city of Bethlehem in Judah to settle where he could find a place. And as he traveled, he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim.

9“Where are you from?” Micah asked him.

“I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,” he replied, “and I am on my way to settle wherever I can find a place.”

10“Stay with me,” Micah said to him, “and be my father and priest, and I will give you ten shekels of silverd per year, a suit of clothes, and your provisions.”

So the Levite went in 11and agreed to stay with him, and the young man became like a son to Micah.

12Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house. 13Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest.”

Footnotes:

2 a 1,100 shekels is approximately 27.6 pounds or 12.5 kilograms of silver; also in verse 3.

4 b 200 shekels is approximately 5 pounds or 2.3 kilograms of silver.

5 c Hebrew filled the hand of; also in verse 12

10 d 10 shekels is approximately 4 ounces or 114 grams of silver.

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◀   ◀   Judges 18   ▶   ▶

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The Danites Settle in Laish

1In those days there was no king in Israel, and the tribe of the Danites was looking for territory to occupy. For up to that time they had not come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 2So the Danites sent out five men from their clans, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. “Go and explore the land,” they told them.

The men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night. 3And while they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they went over and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?”

4“Micah has done this and that for me,” he replied, “and he has hired me to be his priest.”

5Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God to determine whether we will have a successful journey.”

6And the priest told them, “Go in peace. The LORD is watching over your journey.”

7So the five men departed and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living securely, like the Sidonians, tranquil and unsuspecting. There was nothing lacking in the land and no oppressive ruler. And they were far away from the Sidonians and had no alliance with anyone.

8When the men returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, “What did you find?”

9They answered, “Come on, let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and it is very good. Why would you fail to act? Do not hesitate to go there and take possession of the land! 10When you enter, you will come to an unsuspecting people and a spacious land, for God has delivered it into your hand. It is a place where nothing on earth is lacking.”

11So six hundred Danites departed from Zorah and Eshtaol, armed with weapons of war. 12They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. That is why the place west of Kiriath-jearim is called Mahaneh-dana to this day. 13And from there they traveled to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah’s house.

The Danites Take Micah’s Idols

14Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish said to their brothers, “Did you know that one of these houses has an ephod, household gods, a graven image, and a molten idol? Now think about what you should do.”

15So they turned aside there and went to the home of the young Levite, the house of Micah, and greeted him.

16The six hundred Danites stood at the entrance of the gate, armed with their weapons of war. 17And the five men who had gone to spy out the land went inside and took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten idol, while the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred armed men.

18When they entered Micah’s house and took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten idol, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”

19“Be quiet,” they told him. “Put your hand over your mouth and come with us and be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest for the house of one person or a priest for a tribe and family in Israel?”

20So the priest was glad and took the ephod, the household idols, and the graven image, and went with the people. 21Putting their small children, their livestock, and their possessions in front of them, they turned and departed.

22After they were some distance from Micah’s house, the men in the houses near Micah’s house mobilized and overtook the Danites. 23When they called out after them, the Danites turned to face them and said to Micah, “What is the matter with you that you have called out such a company?”

24He replied, “You took the gods I had made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you say to me, ‘What is the matter with you?’ ”

25The Danites said to him, “Do not raise your voice against us, or angry men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.”

26So the Danites went on their way, and Micah turned to go back home, because he saw that they were too strong for him.

27After they had taken Micah’s idols and his priest, they went to Laish, to a tranquil and unsuspecting people, and they struck them with their swords and burned down the city. 28There was no one to deliver them, because the city was far from Sidon and had no alliance with anyone; it was in a valley near Beth-rehob.

And the Danites rebuilt the city and lived there. 29They named it Dan, after their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city was formerly named Laish.

30The Danites set up idols for themselves, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses,b and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

31So they set up for themselves Micah’s graven image, and it was there the whole time the house of God was in Shiloh.

Footnotes:

12 a Mahaneh-dan means camp of Dan.

30 b Some Hebrew and LXX manuscripts and Vulgate; other Hebrew and LXX manuscripts the son of Manasseh

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◀   ◀   Judges 19   ▶   ▶

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The Crime of the Benjamites
(Genesis 19:1–11)

1Now in those days, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite who lived in the remote hill country of Ephraim took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. 2But she was unfaithful to hima and left him to return to her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah.

After she had been there four months, 3her husband got up and went after her to speak kindly to her and bring her back, taking his servant and a pair of donkeys. So the girl brought him into her father’s house, and when her father saw him, he gladly welcomed him. 4His father-in-law, the girl’s father, persuaded him to stay, so he remained with him three days, eating, drinking, and lodging there.

5On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning and prepared to depart, but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh your heart with a morsel of bread, and then you can go.” 6So they sat down and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the girl’s father said to the man, “Please agree to stay overnight and let your heart be merry.” 7The man got up to depart, but his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed there that night.

8On the fifth day, he got up early in the morning to depart, but the girl’s father said, “Please refresh your heart.” So they waited until late afternoon and the two of them ate. 9When the man got up to depart with his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Look, the day is drawing to a close. Please spend the night. See, the day is almost over. Spend the night here, that your heart may be merry. Then you can get up early tomorrow for your journey home.”

10But the man was unwilling to spend the night. He got up and departed, and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine. 11When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, “Please, let us stop at this Jebusite city and spend the night here.”

12But his master replied, “We will not turn aside to the city of foreigners, where there are no Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah.” 13He continued, “Come, let us try to reach one of these towns to spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.”

14So they continued on their journey, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin. 15They stopped to go in and lodge in Gibeah. The Levite went in and sat down in the city square, but no one would take them into his home for the night.

16That evening an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was residing in Gibeah (the men of that place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the field. 17When he looked up and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going, and where have you come from?”

18The Levite replied, “We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and now I am going to the house of the LORD;b but no one has taken me into his home, 19even though there is both straw and feed for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me and the maidservant and young man with me. There is nothing that we, your servants, lack.”

20“Peace to you,” said the old man. “Let me supply everything you need. Only do not spend the night in the square.” 21So he brought him to his house and fed his donkeys. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.

22While they were enjoying themselves, suddenly the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they said to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house, so we can have relations with him!”

23The owner of the house went out and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Do not commit this outrage. 24Look, let me bring out my virgin daughter and the man’s concubine, and you can use them and do with them as you wish. But do not do such a vile thing to this man.”

25But the men would not listen to him. So the Levite took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. 26Early that morning, the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, collapsed at the doorway, and lay there until it was light.

27In the morning, when her master got up and opened the doors of the house to go out on his journey, there was his concubine, collapsed in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28“Get up,” he told her. “Let us go.” But there was no response. So the man put her on his donkey and set out for home.

29When he reached his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. 30And everyone who saw it said, “Nothing like this has been seen or done from the day the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt until this day. Think it over, take counsel, and speak up!”

Footnotes:

2 a LXX became angry with him

18 b LXX I am going to my home; see verse 29.

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◀   ◀   Judges 20   ▶   ▶

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The Decree of the Assembly

1Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah. 2The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords. 3(Meanwhile the Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites asked, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?”

4So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night. 5And during the night, the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house. They intended to kill me, but they abused my concubine, and she died. 6Then I took my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance, because they had committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel. 7Behold, all you Israelites, give your advice and verdict here and now.”

8Then all the people stood as one man and said, “Not one of us will return to his tent or to his house. 9Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: We will go against it as the lot dictates. 10We will take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to supply provisions for the army when they go to Gibeaha in Benjamin to punish them for the atrocity they have committed in Israel.”

11So all the men of Israel gathered as one man, united against the city. 12And the tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has occurred among you? 13Hand over the wicked men of Gibeah so we can put them to death and purge Israel of this evil.”

But the Benjamites refused to heed the voice of their fellow Israelites. 14And from their cities they came together at Gibeah to go out and fight against the Israelites. 15On that day the Benjamites mobilized 26,000 swordsmen from their cities, in addition to the 700 select men of Gibeah. 16Among all these soldiers there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing.

17The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mobilized 400,000 swordsmen, each one an experienced warrior.

Civil War against Benjamin

18The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?”

“Judah will be first,” the LORD replied.

19The next morning the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah. 20And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took up their battle positions at Gibeah.

21And the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.

22But the Israelite army took courage and again took their battle positions in the same place where they had arrayed themselves on the first day. 23They went up and wept before the LORD until evening, inquiring of Him, “Should we again draw near for battle against our brothers the Benjamites?”

And the LORD answered, “Go up against them.”

24On the second day the Israelites advanced against the Benjamites. 25That same day the Benjamites came out against them from Gibeah and cut down another 18,000 Israelites, all of them armed with swords.

26Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. 27And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, 28and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?”

The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”

29So Israel set up an ambush around Gibeah. 30On the third day the Israelites went up against the Benjamites and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as they had done before. 31The Benjamites came out against them and were drawn away from the city. They began to attack the people as before, killing about thirty men of Israel in the fields and on the roads, one of which led up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah.

32“We are defeating them as before,” said the Benjamites.

But the Israelites said, “Let us retreat and draw them away from the city onto the roads.”

33So all the men of Israel got up from their places and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamar, and the Israelites in ambush charged from their positions west of Gibeah.b
34Then 10,000 select men from all Israel made a frontal assault against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce. But the Benjamites did not realize that disaster was upon them. 35The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords. 36Then the Benjamites realized they had been defeated.

Now the men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin because they were relying on the ambush they had set against Gibeah. 37The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah; they advanced and put the whole city to the sword.

38The men of Israel had arranged a signal with the men in ambush: When they sent up a great cloud of smoke from the city, 39the men of Israel would turn in the battle.

When the Benjamites had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They are defeated before us as in the first battle.” 40But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, the Benjamites looked behind them and saw the whole city going up in smoke.

41Then the men of Israel turned back on them, and the men of Benjamin were terrified when they realized that disaster had come upon them. 42So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there. 43They surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east. 44And 18,000 Benjamites fell, all men of valor.

45Then the Benjamites turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and Israel cut down 5,000 men on the roads. And they overtook them at Gidom and struck down 2,000 more.

46That day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor. 47But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. 48And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites and put to the sword all the cities, including the animals and everything else they found. And they burned down all the cities in their path.

Footnotes:

10 a One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts Geba, a variant of Gibeah

33 b Some LXX manuscripts and Vulgate; Hebrew charged from their positions in Maareh-geba or charged from their positions into the open space of Geba

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◀   ◀   Judges 21   ▶   ▶

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Wives for the Benjamites

1Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”

2So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, lifting up their voices and weeping bitterly. 3“Why, O LORD God of Israel,” they cried out, “has this happened in Israel? Today in Israel one tribe is missing!”

4The next day the people got up early, built an altar there, and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings. 5The Israelites asked, “Who among all the tribes of Israel did not come to the assembly before the LORD?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah would surely be put to death.

6And the Israelites grieved for their brothers, the Benjamites, and said, “Today a tribe is cut off from Israel. 7What should we do about wives for the survivors, since we have sworn by the LORD not to give them our daughters in marriage?”

8So they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah?” And, in fact, no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp for the assembly. 9For when the people were counted, none of the residents of Jabesh-gilead were there.

10So the congregation sent 12,000 of their most valiant men and commanded them: “Go and put to the sword those living in Jabesh-gilead, including women and children. 11This is what you are to do: Devote to destructiona every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.”

12So they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young women who had not had relations with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.

13Then the whole congregation sent a message of peace to the Benjamites who were at the rock of Rimmon. 14And at that time the Benjamites returned and were given the women who were spared from Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough women for all of them.

15The people grieved for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a void in the tribes of Israel.

16Then the elders of the congregation said, “What should we do about wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?” 17They added, “There must be heirs for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out. 18But we cannot give them our daughters as wives.”

For the Israelites had sworn, “Cursed is he who gives a wife to a Benjamite.”

19“But look,” they said, “there is a yearly feast to the LORD in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel east of the road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.”

20So they commanded the Benjamites: “Go, hide in the vineyards 21and watch. When you see the daughters of Shiloh come out to perform their dances, each of you is to come out of the vineyards, catch for himself a wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. 22When their fathers or brothers come to us to complain, we will tell them, ‘Do us a favor by helping them, since we did not get wives for each of them in the war. Since you did not actually give them your daughters, you have no guilt.’ ”

23The Benjamites did as instructed and carried away the number of women they needed from the dancers they caught. They went back to their own inheritance, rebuilt their cities, and settled in them. 24And at that time, each of the Israelites returned from there to his own tribe and clan, each to his own inheritance.

25In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Footnotes:

11 a Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

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◀   ◀   Ruth 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4)

Naomi Becomes a Widow
(1 Timothy 5:3–16)

1In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab. 2The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.

3Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons, 4who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth.

And after they had lived in Moab about ten years, 5both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband.

Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi

6When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab. 7Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road leading back to the land of Judah.

8Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you loving devotion,a as you have shown to your dead and to me. 9May the LORD enable each of you to find rest in the home of your new husband.”

And she kissed them as they wept aloud 10and said, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”

11But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands? 12Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons, 13would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”

14Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

15“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.”

16But Ruth replied:

“Do not urge me to leave you
or to turn from following you.

For wherever you go, I will go,
and wherever you live, I will live;
your people will be my people,
and your God will be my God.

17Where you die, I will die,
and there I will be buried.

May the LORD punish me,
and ever so severely,
if anything but death
separates you and me.”

18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.

The Return to Bethlehem

19So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

20“Do not call me Naomi,b” she replied. “Call me Mara,c because the Almightyd has dealt quite bitterly with me. 21I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.”

22So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

Footnotes:

8 a Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

20 b Naomi means pleasant.

20 c Mara means bitter.

20 d Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 21

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Boaz Meets Ruth

1Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a prominent man of noble character from the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.

2And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.”

“Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied.

3So Ruth departed and went out into the field and gleaned after the harvesters. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.

4Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.”

“The LORD bless you,” they replied.

5And Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?”

6The foreman answered, “She is the Moabitess who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab. 7She has said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the harvesters.’ So she came out and has continued from morning until now, except that she rested a short time in the shelter.”

8Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Do not go and glean in another field, and do not go away from this place, but stay here close to my servant girls. 9Let your eyes be on the field they are harvesting, and follow along after these girls. Indeed, I have ordered the young men not to touch you. And when you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.”

10At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me, even though I am a foreigner?”

11Boaz replied, “I have been made fully aware of all you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and how you came to a people you did not know before. 12May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”

13“My lord,” she said, “may I continue to find favor in your eyes, for you have comforted and spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your servant girls.”

14At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here; have some bread and dip it into the vinegar sauce.” So she sat down beside the harvesters, and he offered her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left over.

15When Ruth got up to glean, Boaz ordered his young men, “Even if she gathers among the sheaves, do not insult her. 16Rather, pull out for her some stalks from the bundles and leave them for her to gather. Do not rebuke her.”

17So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. And when she beat out what she had gleaned, it was about an ephah of barley.a
18She picked up the grain and went into the town, where her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. And she brought out what she had saved from her meal and gave it to Naomi.

19Then her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today, and where did you work? Blessed be the man who noticed you.”

So she told her mother-in-law where she had worked. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said.

20Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, who has not withdrawn His kindness from the living or the dead.” Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our kinsman-redeemers.b”

21Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also told me, ‘Stay with my young men until they have finished gathering all my harvest.’ ”

22And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “My daughter, it is good for you to work with his young women, so that nothing will happen to you in another field.”

23So Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz to glean grain until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

Footnotes:

17 a An ephah is approximately 20 dry quarts or 22 liters (probably about 29 pounds or 13.2 kilograms of barley).

20 b The Hebrew word for kinsman-redeemer or guardian-redeemer is a legal term for the kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative; see Leviticus 25:25–55.

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Ruth’s Redemption Assured

1One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek a resting place for you, that it may be well with you? 2Now is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been working, a relative of ours? In fact, tonight he is winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4When he lies down, note the place where he lies. Then go in and uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will explain to you what you should do.”

5“I will do everything you say,” Ruth answered. 6So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do.

7After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

8At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman!

9“Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garmenta over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.b”

10Then Boaz said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11And now do not be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you request, since all my fellow townspeople know that you are a woman of noble character. 12Yes, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than I.c
13Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem you, as surely as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie here until morning.”

14So she lay down at his feet until morning, but she got up before anyone else could recognize her.

Then Boaz said, “Do not let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.” 15And he told her, “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures of barleyd into her shawl. Then he wente into the city.

16When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked her, “How did it go, my daughter?”

Then Ruth told her all that Boaz had done for her. 17And she said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”

18“Wait, my daughter,” said Naomi, “until you find out how things go, for he will not rest unless he has resolved the matter today.”

Footnotes:

9 a Or Spread your wing; the word for wing can also mean corner of a garment; see Ruth 2:12.

9 b The Hebrew word for kinsman-redeemer or guardian-redeemer is a legal term for the kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative; similarly in verses 12 and 13; see Leviticus 25:25–55.

12 c That is, more closely related

15 d Possibly six seahs (two ephahs), or approximately 39.6 dry quarts or 43.8 liters (about 58 pounds or 26.3 kilograms of barley)

15 e Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, and Syriac she went

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◀   ◀   Ruth 4   ▶   ▶

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Boaz Redeems Ruth

1Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemera of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

2Then Boaz took ten of the elders of the city and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.

3And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4I thought I should inform you that you may buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do so. But if youb will not redeem it, tell me so I may know, because there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.”

“I will redeem it,” he replied.

5Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”

6The kinsman-redeemer replied, “I cannot redeem it myself, or I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I cannot redeem it.”

7Now in former times in Israel, concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party, and this was a confirmation in Israel. 8So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”

9At this, Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. 10Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”

11“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem. 12And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.”

Boaz Marries Ruth

13So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

14Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a kinsman-redeemer. May his name become famous in Israel. 15He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

16And Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a nurse to him. 17The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The Line of David
(Matthew 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38)

18Now these are the generations of Perez:

Perez was the father of Hezron,

19Hezron was the father of Ram,

Ram was the father of Amminadab,

20Amminadab was the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon was the father of Salmon,c

21Salmon was the father of Boaz,

Boaz was the father of Obed,

22Obed was the father of Jesse,
and Jesse was the father of David.

Footnotes:

1 a The Hebrew word for kinsman-redeemer or guardian-redeemer is a legal term for the kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative; also in verses 3, 6, 8, and 14; see Leviticus 25:25–55.

4 b Many Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts he

20 c A few Hebrew manuscripts, some LXX manuscripts, and Vulgate (see also verse 21 and LXX of 1 Chronicles 2:11); most Hebrew manuscripts Salma

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31)

Elkanah and His Wives
(Psalm 113:1–9)

1Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophima in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu,b the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD. 4And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5But to Hannah he would give a double portion,c for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.

6Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her and taunt her viciously. 7And this went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival taunted her until she wept and would not eat.

8“Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

Hannah Prays for a Son

9So after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.

10In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. 11And she made a vow, pleading, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head.”

12As Hannah kept on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth. 13Hannah was praying in her heart, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard.

So Eli thought she was drunk 14and said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine!”

15“No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman oppressed in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; for all this time I have been praying out of the depth of my anguish and grief.”

17“Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.”

18“May your maidservant find favor with you,” said Hannah. Then she went on her way, and she began eating again, and her face was no longer downcast.

The Birth of Samuel

19The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then returned home to Ramah.

And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,d saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

21Then Elkanah and all his house went up to make the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, 22but Hannah did not go. “After the boy is weaned,” she said to her husband, “I will take him to appear before the LORD and to stay there permanently.”e

23“Do what you think is best,” her husband Elkanah replied, “and stay here until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD confirm His word.”f

So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

24Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull,g an ephah of flour,h and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. 25And when they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.

26“Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him, 28I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.”

So they worshipedi the LORD there.

Footnotes:

1 a Or from Ramathaim, a Zuphite; see LXX and 1 Chronicles 6:26 and 35.

1 b Elihu is also called Eliab and Eliel; see 1 Chronicles 6:27 and 34.

5 c Or a choice portion

20 d Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for heard of God.

22 e MT; DSS include I will offer him as a Nazirite for all time.

23 f MT; DSS, LXX, and Syriac your word

24 g DSS, LXX, and Syriac; MT three bulls

24 h An ephah is approximately 20 dry quarts or 22 liters (probably about 25.5 pounds or 11.6 kilograms of flour).

28 i One DSS manuscript; MT he worshiped

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 2   ▶   ▶

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Hannah’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
(Luke 1:46–56)

1At that time Hannah prayed:

“My heart rejoices in the LORD
in whom my horna is exalted.

My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
for I rejoice in Your salvation.

2There is no one holy like the LORD.

Indeed, there is no one besides You!

And there is no Rock like our God.

3Do not boast so proudly,
or let arrogance come from your mouth,
for the LORD is a God who knows,
and by Him actions are weighed.

4The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble are equipped with strength.

5The well-fed hire themselves out for food,
but the starving hunger no more.

The barren woman gives birth to seven,
but she who has many sons pines away.

6The LORD brings death and gives life;

He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7The LORD sends poverty and wealth;

He humbles and He exalts.

8He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap.

He seats them among princes
and bestows on them a throne of honor.

For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s,
and upon them He has set the world.

9He guards the steps of His faithful ones,
but the wicked perish in darkness;
for by his own strength shall no man prevail.

10Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered.

He will thunder from heaven against them.

The LORD will judge the ends of the earth
and will give power to His king.

He will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

11Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy began ministering to the LORD before Eli the priest.

Eli’s Wicked Sons

12Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD 13or for the custom of the priests with the people.

When any man offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling 14and plunge it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot. And the priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh.

15Even before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he will not accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”

16And if any man said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you may take whatever you want,” the servant would reply, “No, you must give it to me right now. If you refuse, I will take it by force!”

17Thus the sin of these young men was severe in the sight of the LORD, for theyb were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt.

18Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19Each year his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the LORD give you children by this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the LORD.c” Then they would go home.

21So the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters.

Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.

22Now Eli was very old, and he heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

23“Why are you doing these things?” Eli said to his sons. “I hear about your wicked deeds from all these people. 24No, my sons; it is not a good report I hear circulating among the LORD’s people. 25If a man sins against another man, Godd can intercede for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?”

But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to put them to death.

26And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with man.

A Prophecy against the House of Eli

27Then a man of God came to Eli and told him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to your father’s house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh’s house? 28And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the offerings of the Israelites made by fire.

29Why then do you kick ate My sacrifice and offering that I have prescribed for My dwelling place? You have honored your sons more than Me by fattening yourselves with the best of all the offerings of My people Israel.’

30Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares:

‘I did indeed say that your house
and the house of your father
would walk before Me forever.

But now the LORD declares:

Far be it from Me!

For I will honor those who honor Me,
but those who despise Me will be disdained.

31Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that no older man will be left in your house. 32You will see distress in My dwelling place. Despite all that is good in Israel, no one in your house will ever again reach old age. 33And every one of you that I do not cut off from My altar, your eyes will fail and your heart will grieve.f All your descendantsg will die by the sword of men.h

34And this sign shall come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: They will both die on the same day.

35Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest. He will do whatever is in My heart and mind. And I will build for him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed one for all time.

36And everyone left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a morsel of bread, pleading, “Please appoint me to some priestly office so that I can eat a piece of bread.” ’ ”

Footnotes:

1 a Or strength; also in verse 10

17 b DSS and LXX; MT men

20 c DSS; MT in place of the one requested from the LORD

25 d Or the judges

29 e Or scorn

33 f Hebrew; LXX his eyes will fail and his heart will grieve

33 g Or increase

33 h DSS and LXX; MT will die as mortals or will die in the prime of life

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The LORD Calls Samuel

1And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli.

Now in those days the word of the LORD was rare and visions were scarce. 2And at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room.

3Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located.

4Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”

5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.”

“I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.”

So he went and lay down.

6Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!”

So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.”

“My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.”

7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8Once again, for the third time, the LORD called to Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.”

Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy. 9“Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’ ”

So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”

And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

11Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel at which the ears of all who hear it will tingle. 12On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I have spoken about his family, from beginning to end. 13I told him that I would judge his house forever for the iniquity of which he knows, because his sons blasphemed Goda and he did not restrain them. 14Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, ‘The iniquity of Eli’s house shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’ ”

Samuel Shares the Vision

15Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16but Eli called to him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

“Here I am,” answered Samuel.

17“What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God punish you, and ever so severely, if you hide from me anything He said to you.”

18So Samuel told him everything and did not hide a thing from him.

“He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”

19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.

20So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. 21And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word.

Footnotes:

13 a LXX; Hebrew made themselves contemptible

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The Philistines Capture the Ark

1Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel.

Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek. 2The Philistines arrayed themselves against Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.

3When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may goa with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.”

4So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that it shook the ground.

6On hearing the noise of the shout, the Philistines asked, “What is this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?”

And when they realized that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp, 7the Philistines were afraid. “The gods have enteredb their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before. 8Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9Take courage and be men, O Philistines! Otherwise, you will serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”

10So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great—thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 11The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

The Death of Eli

12That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line all the way to Shiloh, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. 13When he arrived, there was Eli, sitting on his chair beside the road and watching, because his heart trembled for the ark of God.

When the man entered the city to give a report, the whole city cried out.

14Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?”

So the man hurried over and reported to Eli. 15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his gaze was fixed because he could not see.

16“I have just come from the battle,” the man said to Eli. “I fled from there today.”

“What happened, my son?” Eli asked.

17The messenger answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”

18As soon as the ark of God was mentioned, Eli fell backward from his chair by the city gate, and being old and heavy, he broke his neck and died. And Eli had judgedc Israel forty years.

19Now Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news of the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth, for her labor pains overtook her.

20As she was dying, the women attending to her said, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son!”

But she did not respond or pay any heed. 21And she named the boy Ichabod,d saying, “The glory has departede from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured and her father-in-law and her husband had been killed.

22“The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “for the ark of God has been captured.”

Footnotes:

3 a Or He may go

7 b Or A god has entered

18 c Or governed or led

21 d Ichabod means no glory.

21 e Or gone into exile; also in verse 22

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 5   ▶   ▶

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The Ark Afflicts the Philistines

1After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, 2carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue.a

3When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place.

4But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD, with his head and his hands broken off and lying on the threshold. Only the torso remained. 5That is why, to this day, the priests of Dagon and all who enter the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on the threshold.

6Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors.b
7And when the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon our god Dagon.”

8So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?”

“It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel.

9But after they had moved the ark to Gath, the LORD’s hand was also against that city, throwing it into great confusion and afflicting the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.

10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron, but as it arrived, the Ekronites cried out, “They have brought us the ark of the God of Israel in order to kill us and our people!”

11Then the Ekronites assembled all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will notc kill us and our people!”

For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was heavy upon it. 12Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

Footnotes:

2 a Literally set it beside Dagon

6 b Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate include And rats appeared in their land, and death and destruction were throughout the city.

11 c Or He will not

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 6   ▶   ▶

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The Ark Returned to Israel

1When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months, 2the Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.”

3They replied, “If you return the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why His hand has not been lifted from you.”

4“What guilt offering should we send back to Him?” asked the Philistines.

“Five gold tumors and five gold rats,” they said, “according to the number of rulers of the Philistines, since the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. 5Make images of your tumors and of the rats that are ravaging the land. Give glory to the God of Israel, and perhaps He will lift His hand from you and your gods and your land.

6Why hardena your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When He afflicted them, did they not send the people on their way as they departed?

7Now, therefore, prepare one new cart with two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. 8Take the ark of the LORD, set it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending Him as a guilt offering.

Then send the ark on its way, 9but keep watching it. If it goes up the road to its homeland, toward Beth-shemesh, it is the LORD who has brought on us this great disaster. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not His hand that punished us and that it happened by chance.”

10So the men did as instructed. They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and penned up their calves. 11Then they put the ark of the LORD on the cart, along with the chest containing the gold rats and the images of the tumors.

12And the cows headed straight up the road toward Beth-shemesh, staying on that one highway and lowing as they went, never straying to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed behind them to the border of Beth-shemesh.

13Now the people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed at the sight.

14The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. 15And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the chest containing the gold objects, and they placed them on the large rock. That day the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD.

16And when the five rulers of the Philistines saw this, they returned to Ekron that same day.

17As a guilt offering to the LORD, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. 18The number of gold rats also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities belonging to the five rulers—the fortified cities and their outlying villages. And the large rockb on which they placed the ark of the LORD stands to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.

19But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men,c and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter.

20The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?”

21So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up with you.”

Footnotes:

6 a Or make heavy; similarly again in this verse

18 b Or great meadow; Hebrew Abel-haggedolah

19 c A few late Hebrew manuscripts and Josephus; most Hebrew manuscripts 70 men and 50,000 men; LXX 70 men and 50,000 men of the people; Syriac and Arabic 70 men and 5,000 men; alternately, possibly 70 men and 50 oxen

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 7   ▶   ▶

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Samuel Subdues the Philistines

1Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD.

2And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD.

3Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

4So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.

5Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”

6When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judgeda the Israelites at Mizpah.

7When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines 8and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”

9Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.

11Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth-car.

12Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.b He named it Ebenezer,c saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

13So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14The cities from Ekron to Gath, which the Philistines had taken, were restored to Israel, who also delivered the surrounding territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites.

15So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places. 17Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.

Footnotes:

6 a Or governed or led; similarly in verses 15, 16, and 17

12 b Hebrew; LXX and Syriac Jeshanah

12 c Ebenezer means stone of help.

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 8   ▶   ▶

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Israel Demands a King
(Deuteronomy 17:14–20)

1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judgesa over Israel. 2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. 3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

6But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

7And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. 8Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”

Samuel’s Warning

10So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. 11He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.

12He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.

13And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants. 15He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants. 16And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattleb and donkeys and put them to his own use.

17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

God Grants the Request

19Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. 20Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”

21Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.

22“Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.”

Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or governors or leaders; similarly in verses 2, 5, 6, and 20

16 b LXX; Hebrew your best young men

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 9   ▶   ▶

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Saul Chosen as King

1Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. 2And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.

3One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.”

4So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.

5When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”

6“Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.”

7“If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”

8The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver.a I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”

9(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)

10“Good,” said Saul to his servant. “Come, let us go.” So they set out for the city where the man of God was. 11And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?”

12“Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place. 13As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”

14So Saul and his servant went up toward the city, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

15Now on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel, 16“At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him leader over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

17When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke; he shall rule over My people.”

18Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”

19“I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. And when I send you off in the morning, I will tell you all that is in your heart. 20As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And upon whom is all the desire of Israel, if not upon you and all your father’s house?”

21Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?”

22Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them in the place of honor among those who were invited—about thirty in all. 23And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you and told you to set aside.”

24So the cook picked up the leg and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Here is what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’ ” So Saul dined with Samuel that day.

25And after they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof of his house.

26They got up early in the morning, and just before dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way!” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went outside together.

27As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I will reveal to you the word of God.” So the servant went on.

Footnotes:

8 a A quarter shekel is approximately 0.1 ounces or 2.85 grams of silver.

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 10   ▶   ▶

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Samuel Anoints Saul

1Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?a
2When you leave me today, you will find two men at Rachel’s tomb in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you seek have been found, and now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and started worrying about you, asking, “What should I do about my son?” ’

3Then you will go on from there until you come to the Oakb of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. 4They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from their hands.

5After that you will come to Gibeah of God,c where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.

6Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be transformed into a different person.

7When these signs have come, do as the occasion demands, for God is with you. 8And you shall go before me to Gilgal, and surely I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you are to do.”

Samuel’s Signs Fulfilled

9As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all the signs came to pass that day. 10When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah,d a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied along with them.

11All those who had formerly known Saul and saw him prophesying with the prophets asked one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

12Then a man who lived there replied, “And who is their father?” So the saying became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

13And when Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the high place.

14Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?”

“To look for the donkeys,” Saul replied. “When we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.”

15“Tell me,” Saul’s uncle asked, “what did Samuel say to you?”

16And Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But Saul did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.

Saul Proclaimed King

17After this, Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah 18and said to the Israelites, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’

19But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”

20Thus Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. 21Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was selected.e Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they looked for him, they could not find him. 22So again they inquired of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?”

And the LORD replied, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

23So they ran and brought Saul, and when he stood among the people, he was a head taller than any of the others. 24Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.”

And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

25Then Samuel explained to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, each to his own home.

26Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and the men of valor whose hearts God had touched went with him.

27But some worthless men said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him and brought him no gifts; but Saul remained silent about it.f

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew; LXX “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over Israel? And you will rule over the LORD’s people and save them from their enemies around them. This will be the sign to you that the LORD has appointed you to be leader over His inheritance.

3 b Or Terebinth or Great Tree

5 c Hebrew Gibeath-Elohim, meaning the hill of God

10 d Gibeah means the hill.

21 e LXX includes And he brought the family of the Matrites near, man by man.

27 f MT and LXX; One DSS manuscript includes Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had viciously oppressed the people of Gad and Reuben, gouging out the right eye of each Israelite dwelling there. He would not allow anyone to rescue them, and there was no Israelite east of the Jordan whose right eye had not been gouged out. But 7,000 men had escaped from the Ammonites and settled in Jabesh-gilead.

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 11   ▶   ▶

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Saul Defeats the Ammonites

1Soon Nahasha the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treatyb with us, and we will serve you.”

2But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.”

3“Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.”

4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and relayed these words in the hearing of the people, they all wept aloud.

5Just then Saul was returning from the field, behind his oxen. “What troubles the people?” asked Saul. “Why are they weeping?” And they relayed to him the words of the men from Jabesh.

6When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger. 7He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.”

Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they turned out as one man. 8And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, there were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000c men of Judah. 9So they said to the messengers who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’ ”

And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced.

10Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.”

11The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

Saul Confirmed as King

12Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!”

13But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”

14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.”

15So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.

Footnotes:

1 a DSS and LXX About a month later Nahash

1 b Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant.

8 c DSS and LXX 70,000

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 12   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Samuel’s Farewell Address

1Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and I have set over you a king. 2Now here is the king walking before you, and I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day.

3Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore ita to you.”

4“You have not wronged us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.”

5Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.”

“He is a witness,” they replied.

6Then Samuel said to the people, “The LORD is the One whob appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7Now present yourselves, so that I may confront you before the LORD with all the righteous acts He has done for you and your fathers.

8When Jacob went to Egypt,c your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He sent them Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place. 9But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor,d and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.

10Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’

11So the LORD sent Jerubbaal,e Barak,f Jephthah, and Samuel,g and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely. 12But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.

13Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you.

14If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well.h
15But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.i

16Now, therefore, stand and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. 17Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.”

18So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain.

As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

20“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty. 22Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.

23As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.

24Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you. 25But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew And I will restore it; LXX Testify against me, and I will restore it

6 b Hebrew; LXX The LORD is the witness who

8 c Hebrew; LXX includes and the Egyptians oppressed them

9 d LXX the army of Jabin king of Hazor

11 e Jerubbaal is another name for Gideon and probably means let Baal contend; see Judges 6:32.

11 f LXX and Syriac; Hebrew Bedan

11 g LXX and Syriac Samson

14 h then all will be well is implied; Literally If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, (then) both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.

15 i Hebrew; LXX against your king

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 13   ▶   ▶

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War with the Philistines

1Saul was thirty years olda when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years.b
2He chose for himself three thousand men of Israel: Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the troops he sent away, each to his own home.

3Then Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”

4And all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked an outpost of the Philistines, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines!” Then the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

5Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousandc chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

6Seeing that they were in danger because their troops were hard-pressed, the men of Israel hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in cellars and cisterns. 7Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, remained at Gilgal, and all his troops were quaking in fear.

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice

8And Saul waited seven days for the time appointed by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the troops began to desert Saul. 9So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered up the burnt offering.

10Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.

11“What have you done?” Samuel asked.

And Saul replied, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me, and that you did not come at the appointed time and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, 12I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will descend upon me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

13“You have acted foolishly,” Samuel declared. “You have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”

15Then Samuel set out from Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin.d And Saul numbered the troops who were with him, about six hundred men.

Israel without Weapons

16Now Saul and Jonathan his son and the troops with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash. 17And raiders went out of the Philistine camp in three divisions. One headed toward Ophrah in the land of Shual, 18another toward Beth-horon, and the third down the border road overlooking the Valley of Zeboim facing the wilderness.

19And no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “The Hebrews must not be allowed to make swords or spears.” 20Instead, all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles.e
21The charge was a pimf for sharpening a plowshare or mattock, a third of a shekel for sharpening a pitchfork or an axe, and a third of a shekel for repointing an oxgoad.g

22So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hands of the troops with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.

23And a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.

Footnotes:

1 a A few late LXX manuscripts; MT Saul was a son of a year

1 b Or over Israel forty years (see Acts 13:21); MT over Israel two years

5 c Some LXX manuscripts and Syriac; Hebrew thirty thousand

15 d LXX Then Samuel set out, and the rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.

20 e LXX; Hebrew and plowshares; (so plowshare appears twice in the Hebrew).

21 f A pim possibly refers to a polished stone weighing approximately 0.25 ounces or 7 grams found in excavations. This is equivalent to about two-thirds of a shekel and likely refers to the price charged by the Philistines for the services listed.

21 g Hebrew does not include the currency unit of a shekel charged for sharpening a pitchfork, an axe, or an oxgoad; alternatively, possibly a third of a pim for each.

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 14   ▶   ▶

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Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

1One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.

2Meanwhile, Saul was staying under the pomegranate treea in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. And the troops who were with him numbered about six hundred men, 3including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.

4Now there were cliffs on both sides of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh. 5One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba.

6Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

7His armor-bearer replied, “Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

8“Very well,” said Jonathan, “we will cross over toward these men and show ourselves to them. 9If they say, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stay where we are and will not go up to them. 10But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we will go up, because this will be our sign that the LORD has delivered them into our hands.”

11So the two of them showed themselves to the outpost of the Philistines, who exclaimed, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they were hiding!”

12So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come on up, and we will teach you a lesson!”

“Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”

13So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. And the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off. 14In that first assault, Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men over half an acreb of land.

15Then terror struck the Philistines in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked and panic spread from God.c

16Now when Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction,d
17Saul said to the troops who were with him, “Call the roll and see who has left us.”

And when they had called the roll, they saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.

18Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)e
19While Saul was talking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp continued to increase. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”

20Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor. 21And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps of the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined Saul and Jonathan in the battle.

23So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.

Jonathan Eats the Honey

24Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food.

25Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26And when they entered the forest and saw the flowing honey, not one of them put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.

27Jonathan, however, had not heard that his father had charged the people with the oath. So he reached out the end of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened.f
28Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the troops with a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ That is why the people are faint.”

29“My father has brought trouble to the land,” Jonathan replied. “Just look at how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much better it would have been if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been much greater?”

31That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, the people were very faint. 32So they rushed greedily to the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground and ate meat with the blood still in it.

33Then someone reported to Saul: “Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.”

“You have broken faith,” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” 34Then he said, “Go among the troops and tell them, ‘Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep, slaughter them in this place, and then eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.’ ”

So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there. 35Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD.

36And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, leaving no man alive!”

“Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied.

But the priest said, “We must consult God here.”

The People Save Jonathan

37So Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?”

But God did not answer him that day.

38Therefore Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the troops, and let us investigate how this sin has occurred today. 39As surely as the LORD who saves Israel lives, even if it is my son Jonathan, he must die!”

But not one of the troops said a word.

40Then Saul said to all Israel, “You stand on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side.”

“Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied.

41So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim; but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim.”g And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge.

42Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.

43“Tell me what you have done,” Saul commanded him.

So Jonathan told him, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. And now I must die?”

44And Saul declared, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if you, Jonathan, do not surely die!”

45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.”

So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die. 46Then Saul gave up his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own land.

Saul’s Victories

47After Saul had assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side—the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kingsh of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he routed them.i
48He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of its plunderers.

49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. His two daughters were named Merab (his firstborn) and Michal (his younger daughter). 50His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner. 51Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.

52And the war with the Philistines was fierce for all the days of Saul. So whenever he noticed any strong or brave man, Saul would enlist him.

Footnotes:

2 a Or around the rock of Rimmon or in the pomegranate cave; see Judges 20:45, Judges 20:47, and Judges 21:13.

14 b Hebrew half a yoke. A yoke was the amount of land plowed by a pair of yoked oxen in one day.

15 c Or and a terrible panic spread

16 d Or melting away and going here and there

18 e Hebrew; LXX “Bring the ephod.” For at that time he wore the ephod before the Israelites.

27 f Or his strength was renewed; similarly in verse 29

41 g LXX and Vulgate; MT contains only the short quotation, “Give a perfect (lot).”

47 h MT; DSS and LXX king

47 i Or he inflicted punishment on them from Hebrew; LXX he was victorious

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Saul’s Disobedience

1Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD. 2This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they ambushed them on their way up from Egypt. 3Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destructiona all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ ”

4So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. 5Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. 6And he warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt, go on and get away from the Amalekites. Otherwise I will sweep you away with them.”

So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.

7Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.

9Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calvesb and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to destroy them, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.

Samuel Denounces Saul

10Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, 11“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.”

And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.

12Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel, and behold, he has set up a monument for himself and has turned and gone down to Gilgal.”

13When Samuel reached him, Saul said to him, “May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”

14But Samuel replied, “Then what is this bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle that I hear?”

15Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we devoted to destruction.”

16“Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”

“Tell me,” Saul replied.

17And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel 18and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’ 19So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”

20“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

22But Samuel declared:

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obedience to His voice?

Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice,
and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.

23For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,

He has rejected you as king.”

Saul’s Confession

24Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD.”

26“I will not return with you,” Samuel replied. “For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel.”

27As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore. 28So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. 29Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”

30“I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”

31So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

32Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.”

Agag came to him cheerfully,c for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”d

33But Samuel declared:

“As your sword has made women childless,
so your mother will be childless among women.”

And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

34Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. 35And to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

Footnotes:

3 a Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in verses 8, 9, 15, 18, 20, and 21.

9 b Or the grown bulls

32 c Or cautiously or in chains; see DSS and LXX.

32 d Or “Surely this is the bitterness of death.” See DSS and LXX.

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Samuel Anoints David

1Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”

2“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!”

The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.”

4So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

5“In peace,” he replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.”

Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.”

7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

8Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

9Next Jesse presented Shammah,a but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

10Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”

11And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.”

“Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

12So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”

13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

David Serves Saul

14After the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, a spirit of distressb from the LORD began to torment him. 15Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you. 16Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.”

17And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.”

18One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”

19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

20And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David. 21When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.

22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” 23And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play, and Saul would become well, and the spirit of distress would depart from him.

Footnotes:

9 a Shammah is a variant of Shimeah, Shimea, and Shimei; see 2 Samuel 13:3, 1 Chronicles 2:13, and 2 Samuel 21:21.

14 b Or a harmful spirit; similarly in verses 15, 16, and 23

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 17   ▶   ▶

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Goliath’s Challenge

1Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. 2Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines.

3The Philistines stood on one hill and the Israelites stood on another, with the valley between them.

4Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height,a
5and he had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a bronze coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels,b
6and he had armor of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.c In addition, his shield bearer went before him.

8And Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and array yourselves for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. 9If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and labor for us.”

10Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!”

11On hearing the words of the Philistine, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and greatly afraid.

David Accepts the Challenge

12Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons in the days of Saul. And Jesse was old and well along in years.d
13The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul into battle: The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah. 14And David was the youngest.

The three oldest had followed Saul, 15but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

16For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening to take his stand.

17One day Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted graine and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18Take also these ten portions of cheese to the commander of their unit. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring back an assurance from them.f
19They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”

20So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He reached the camp as the army was marching out to its position and shouting the battle cry. 21And Israel and the Philistines arrayed in formation against each other.

22Then David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing. 23And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard.

24When all the men of Israel saw Goliath, they fled from him in great fear.

25Now the men of Israel had been saying, “Do you see this man who keeps coming out to defy Israel? To the man who kills him the king will give great riches. And he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s house from taxation in Israel.”

26David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

27The people told him about the offer, saying, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

28Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!”

29“What have I done now?” said David. “Was it not just a question?” 30Then he turned from him toward another and asked about the offer, and those people answered him just as the first ones had answered.

31Now David’s words were overheard and reported to Saul, who called for him.

32And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of this Philistine. Your servant will go and fight him!”

33But Saul replied, “You cannot go out against this Philistine to fight him. You are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

34David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. 36Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

37David added, “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

“Go,” said Saul, “and may the LORD be with you.”

David Slays Goliath

38Then Saul clothed David in his own tunic, put a bronze helmet on his head, and dressed him in armor. 39David strapped his sword over the tunic and tried to walk, but he was not accustomed to them.

“I cannot walk in these,” David said to Saul. “I am not accustomed to them.” So David took them off. 40And David took his staff in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag. And with his sling in hand, he approached the Philistine.

41Now the Philistine came closer and closer to David, with his shield-bearer before him. 42When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a boy, ruddy and handsome. 43“Am I a dog,” he said to David, “that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44“Come here,” he called to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

45But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

48As the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

50Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him; and he cut off his head with the sword.

When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gathg and to the gates of Ekron. And the bodies of the Philistines were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

53When the Israelites returned from their pursuit of the Philistines, they plundered their camps. 54David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent.

55As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?”

“As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.”

56“Find out whose son this young man is!” said the king.

57So when David returned from killing the Philistine, still holding his head in his hand, Abner took him and brought him before Saul.

58“Whose son are you, young man?” asked Saul.

“I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David replied.

Footnotes:

4 a Goliath was approximately 9 feet 9 inches or 297 centimeters tall; LXX, DSS, and Josephus four cubits and a span in height (approximately 6 feet 9 inches or 206 centimeters tall).

5 b 5,000 shekels is approximately 125.6 pounds or 57 kilograms.

7 c 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms.

12 d LXX and Syriac; Hebrew He had become advanced among men

17 e An ephah is approximately 20 dry quarts or 22 liters of roasted grain.

18 f Or some token from them or some pledge from them

52 g LXX; Hebrew of Gai; that is, of the valley

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 18   ▶   ▶

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Jonathan Befriends David

1After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

Saul Envies David

5So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

6As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.a
7And as the women danced, they sang out:

“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.”

8And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” 9And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

10The next day a spirit of distressb sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear, 11and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

12So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul. 13Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back, 14and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.

15When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.

David Marries Michal

17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

18And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?” 19So when it was timec to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him. 21“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”

22Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’ ”

23But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”

24And the servants told Saul what David had said.

25Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’ ” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

26When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, 27David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

28When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, 29he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy.

30Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.

Footnotes:

6 a Possibly three-stringed instruments or cymbals or lutes or lyres

10 b Or a harmful spirit

19 c Or But when it was time

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 19   ▶   ▶

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Saul Tries to Kill David
(Psalm 59:1–17)

1Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David.

But Jonathan delighted greatly in David, 2so he warned David, saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; find a secret place and hide there. 3I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, so I can ask about you. And if I find out anything, I will tell you.”

4Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you. 5He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”

6Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan and swore an oath: “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death.”

7So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these things. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul to serve him as he had before.

8When war broke out again, David went out and fought the Philistines and struck them with such a mighty blow that they fled before him.

9But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distressa from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp, 10Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But the spear struck the wall and David eluded him, ran away, and escaped that night.

11Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” 12So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped.

13Then Michal took a household idolb and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. 14When Saul sent the messengers to seize David, Michal said, “He is ill.”

15But Saul sent the messengers back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so I can kill him.” 16And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair on its head.

17And Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away and he has escaped!”

Michal replied, “He said to me, ‘Help me get away, or I will kill you!’ ”

18So David ran away and escaped. And he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.

19When Saul was told that David was at Naioth in Ramah, 20he sent messengers to capture him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy.

21When this was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they began to prophesy as well.

So Saul tried again and sent messengers a third time, and even they began to prophesy.

22Finally, Saul himself left for Ramah and came to the large cistern at Secu, where he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?”

“At Naioth in Ramah,” he was told.

23So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God came upon even Saul, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24Then Saul stripped off his robes and also prophesied before Samuel. And he collapsed and lay naked all that day and night. That is why it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Footnotes:

9 a Or a harmful spirit

13 b Or a household god; Hebrew teraphim; also in verse 16

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 20   ▶   ▶

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Jonathan Helps David

1Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? How have I sinned against your father, that he wants to take my life?”

2“Far from it!” Jonathan replied. “You will not die. Indeed, my father does nothing, great or small, without telling me. So why would he hide this matter from me? This cannot be true!”

3But David again vowed, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or he will be grieved.’ As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.”

4Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you desire, I will do for you.”

5So David told him, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon,a and I am supposed to dine with the king. Instead, let me go and hide in the field until the third evening from now. 6If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David urgently requested my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because there is an annual sacrifice for his whole clan.’ 7If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he is enraged, you will know he has evil intentions. 8Therefore deal faithfully with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”

9“Never!” Jonathan replied. “If I ever found out that my father had evil intentions against you, would I not tell you?”

Jonathan and David Renew Their Covenant

10Then David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

11“Come,” he replied, “let us go out to the field.”

So the two of them went out into the field, 12and Jonathan said, “By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you? 13But if my father intends to bring evil on you, then may the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if I do not tell you and send you on your way in safety. May the LORD be with you, just as He has been with my father. 14And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion,b that I may not die, 15and do not ever cut off your loving devotion from my household—not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.” 17And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.

18Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon, and you will be missed if your seat is empty. 19When you have stayed three days, hurry down to the place you hid on the day this trouble began, and remain beside the stone Ezel.c
20I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as if I were aiming at a target. 21Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them,’ then come, because as surely as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. 22But if I say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, for the LORD has sent you away. 23And as for the matter you and I have discussed, the LORD is a witness between you and me forever.”

24So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat. 25He sat in his usual place by the wall, opposite Jonathan and beside Abner,d but David’s place was empty. 26Saul said nothing that day because he thought, “Something has happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.”

27But on the day after the New Moon, the second day, David’s place was still empty, and Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal either yesterday or today?”

28Jonathan answered, “David urgently requested my permission to go to Bethlehem, 29saying, ‘Please let me go, because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me go and see my brothers.’ That is why he did not come to the king’s table.”

Saul Seeks to Kill Jonathan

30Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the disgrace of the mother who bore you? 31For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingship shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”

32“Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?”

33Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan to kill him; so Jonathan knew that his father was determined to kill David. 34Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger and did not eat any food that second day of the month, for he was grieved by his father’s shameful treatment of David.

35In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for the appointment with David, and a small boy was with him. 36He said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” And as the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

37When the boy reached the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called to him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?” 38Then Jonathan cried out, “Hurry! Make haste! Do not delay!” So the boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master.

39But the boy did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement. 40Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the boy and said, “Go, take it back to the city.”

41When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone,e fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.

42And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’ ” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.

Footnotes:

5 a That is, the New Moon feast; also in verses 18, 24, and 27

14 b Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

19 c Ezel means departure.

25 d LXX; Hebrew by the wall. Jonathan arose and Abner sat down by Saul’s side,

41 e Hebrew from the south side; LXX from beside the stone

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 21   ▶   ▶

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David Takes the Consecrated Bread
(Matthew 12:1–8; Mark 2:23–28; Luke 6:1–5)

1Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And when Ahimelech met David, he trembled and asked him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”

2“The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission or charge. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place. 3Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”

4“There is no common bread on hand,” the priest replied, “but there is some consecrated bread—provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.”

5David answered, “Women have indeed been kept from us, as is usual when I set out. And the equipment of the young men is holy, as it is even on common missions, and all the more at this time.”

6So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away.

7Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul.

David Flees to Gath
(Psalm 34:1–22; Psalm 56:1–13)

8Then David asked Ahimelech, “Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business was urgent.”

9The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want, you may take it. For there is no other but this one.”

And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

10That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. 11But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying:

‘Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands’?”

12Now David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13So he changed his behavior before them and feigned madness in their hands; he scratched on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard.

14Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you can see that the man is insane! Why have you brought him to me? 15Am I in need of madmen, that you have brought this man to rave in my presence? Must this man come into my house?”

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 22   ▶   ▶

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David Flees to Adullam and Mizpeh
(Psalm 57:1–11; Psalm 142:1–7)

1So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

3From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother staya with you until I learn what God will do for me.” 4So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.

5Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

Saul Slays the Priests of Nob
(Psalm 52:1–9)

6Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with his spear in hand and all his servants standing around him.

7Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds? 8Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”

9But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. 10Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king. 12“Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Saul.

“Here I am, my lord,” he replied.

13And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”

14Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard who is honored in your house? 15Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair—not in part or in whole.”

16But the king replied, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”

17Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.”

But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.

18So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!”

And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.

20But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David. 21And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.

22Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house. 23Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life is seeking mine as well. You will be safe with me.”

Footnotes:

3 a Syriac and Vulgate; Hebrew go forth

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 23   ▶   ▶

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David Delivers Keilah

1Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.”

2So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?”

And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

3But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”

4Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

5Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah.

6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

Saul Pursues David
(Psalm 54:1–7)

7When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”

8Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.

9When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”

10And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account. 11Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand?a Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.”

“He will,” said the LORD.

12So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?”

“They will,” said the LORD.

13Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.

14And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand.

15While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. 16And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God, 17saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”

18So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

19Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon? 20Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”

21“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me. 22Please go and prepare further. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning. 23Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”

24So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon, 25and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there.

26Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.

27Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!” 28So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.b
29And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi.

Footnotes:

11 a Some manuscripts omit this question.

28 b Sela-hammahlekoth means Rock of Escape.

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 24   ▶   ▶

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David Spares Saul

1After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” 2So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

3Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself.a And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave. 4So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’ ”

Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

5Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 6So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”

7With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.

8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!”

When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence 9and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? 10Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’

11See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.

12May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you. 13As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.

14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”

David’s Oath to Saul

16When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?”

Then Saul wept aloud 17and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. 18And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.

20Now I know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”

22So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Footnotes:

3 a Literally cover his feet, a euphemism for relieving oneself

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◀   ◀   1 Samuel 25   ▶   ▶

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The Death of Samuel

1When Samuel died, all Israel gathered to mourn for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah.

Then David set out and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.a

David, Nabal, and Abigail

2Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. He was a very wealthy man with a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. 3His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.

4While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. 5So David sent ten young men and instructed them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him in my name 6and say to him, ‘Long life to you, and peace to you and your house and to all that belongs to you. 7Now I hear that it is time for shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel. 8Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on the day of a feast. Please give whatever you can afford to your servants and to your son David.’ ”

9When David’s young men arrived, they relayed all these words to Nabal on behalf of David. Then they waited.

10But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters. 11Why should I take my bread and water and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give them to these men whose origin I do not know?”

12So David’s men turned around and went back, and they relayed to him all these words.

13And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men put on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.

14Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s young men informed Nabal’s wife Abigail, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he scolded them. 15Yet these men were very good to us. When we were in the field, we were not harassed, and nothing of ours went missing the whole time we lived among them. 16They were a wall around us, both day and night, the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. 17Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”

Abigail Intercedes for Nabal

18Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five seahs of roasted grain,b a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys 19and said to her young men, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

20As Abigail came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming down toward her, and she met them.

21Now David had just finished saying, “In vain I have protected all that belonged to this man in the wilderness. Nothing that belongs to him has gone missing, yet he has paid me back evil for good. 22May God punish David,c and ever so severely, if I let one of Nabal’s men survive until morning.”

23When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him. 24She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant. 25My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal,d for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.

26Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and avenging yourself with your own hand. May your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.

27Now let this gift your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow you. 28Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you live.

29And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling.e

30When the LORD has done for my lord all the good He promised, and when He has appointed you ruler over Israel, 31then my lord will have no remorse or guilt of conscience over needless bloodshed and revenge. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, may you remember your maidservant.”

32Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day! 33Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand. 34Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.”

35Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”

36When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.

37In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him and he became like a stone. 38About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal dead.

David Marries Abigail

39On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.”

Then David sent word to Abigail, asking for her in marriage. 40When his servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.”

41She arose, then bowed facedown and said, “Here is your maidservant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”

42So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife.

43David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So she and Abigail were both his wives. 44But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltif son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew and some LXX manuscripts; other LXX manuscripts Maon

18 b 5 seahs is approximately 33 dry quarts or 36.5 liters of roasted grain.

22 c Some LXX manuscripts; MT David’s enemies

25 d Nabal means fool.

29 e Literally fling away the souls of your enemies as from the pocket of a sling

44 f Palti is a variant of Paltiel; see 2 Samuel 3:15.

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David Again Spares Saul

1Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” 2So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.

3Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon, but David was living in the wilderness. When he realized that Saul had followed him there, 4David sent out spies to verify that Saul had arrived.

5Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the troops camped around him. 6And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?”

“I will go with you,” answered Abishai.

7That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him.

8Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!”

9But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” 10David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11But the LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”

12So David took the spear and water jug by Saul’s head, and they departed. No one saw them or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up; they all remained asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

David Reproves Abner

13Then David crossed to the other side and stood atop the mountain at a distance; there was a wide gulf between them. 14And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer me, Abner?”

“Who calls to the king?” Abner replied.

15So David said to Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you? And who in Israel is your equal? Why then did you not protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? 16This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”

17Then Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?”

“It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said.

18And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand? 19Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20So do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to look for a flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

Saul Acknowledges His Sin

21Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”

22“Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of the young men come over and get it. 23May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. For the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. 24As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”

25Saul said to him, “May you be blessed, David my son. You will accomplish great things and will surely prevail.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

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David and the Philistines

1David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”

2So David set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish son of Maoch,a the king of Gath. 3David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. 4And when Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.

5Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let me be assigned a place in one of the outlying towns, so I can live there. For why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”

6That day Achish gave him Ziklag, and to this day it still belongs to the kings of Judah. 7And the time that David lived in Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months.

8Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these people had inhabited the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) 9Whenever David attacked a territory, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but he took the flocks and herds, the donkeys, camels, and clothing.

Then he would return to Achish, 10who would ask him, “What have you raided today?”

And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.”

11David did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Otherwise they will report us, saying, ‘This is what David did.’ ” And this was David’s custom the whole time he lived in Philistine territory.

12So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.”

Footnotes:

2 a Maoch is a variant of Maacah; see 1 Kings 2:39.

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The Philistines Gather against Israel

1Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.”

2David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.”

“Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

3Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.

4The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. 5When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently. 6He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urima or prophets.

Saul and the Medium of Endor

7Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.”

“There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied.

8So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.”

9But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?”

10Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”

11“Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked.

“Bring up Samuel,” he replied.

12But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

13“Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?”

“I see a godb coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.

14“What does he look like?” asked Saul.

“An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.”

So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence.

15Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

“I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

16“Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? 17He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. 18Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today. 19Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”

20Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.

21When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me. 22Now please listen to your servant and let me set a morsel of bread before you so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”

23Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

24The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. 25She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. And that night they got up and left.

Footnotes:

6 a Literally Lights

13 b Or I see a spirit or I see a divine being

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The Philistines Reject David

1Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.

3Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?”

Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”

4But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men? 5Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances:

‘Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands’?”

6So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders. 7Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”

8“But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

9Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’ 10Now then, get up early in the morning, along with your master’s servants who came with you, and go as soon as it is light.”

11So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

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The Amalekites Raid Ziklag

1On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. 2They had taken captive the women and alla who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way.

3When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4So David and the troops with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep.

5David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken captive. 6And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

David Destroys the Amalekites

7Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.”

So Abiathar brought it to him, 8and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?”

“Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”

9So David and his six hundred men went to the Brook of Besor, where some stayed behind 10because two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the brook. But David and four hundred men continued in pursuit.

11Now his men found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David. They gave the man water to drink and food to eat— 12a piece of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins. So he ate and was revived, for he had not had any food or water for three days and three nights.

13Then David asked him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?”

“I am an Egyptian,” he replied, “the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me three days ago when I fell ill. 14We raided the Negev of the Cherethites, the territory of Judah, and the Negev of Caleb, and we burned down Ziklag.”

15“Will you lead me to these raiders?” David asked.

And the man replied, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hand of my master, and I will lead you to them.”

16So he led David down, and there were the Amalekites spread out over all the land, eating, drinking, and celebrating the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and the land of Judah. 17And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man escaped, except four hundred young men who fled, riding off on camels.

18So David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19Nothing was missing, young or old, son or daughter, or any of the plunder the Amalekites had taken. David brought everything back. 20And he recovered all the flocks and herds, which his men drove ahead of the other livestock, calling out, “This is David’s plunder!”

The Spoils Are Divided

21When David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him from the Brook of Besor, they came out to meet him and the troops with him. As David approached the men, he greeted them, 22but all the wicked and worthless men among those who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered, except for each man’s wife and children. They may take them and go.”

23But David said, “My brothers, you must not do this with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiders who came against us. 24Who will listen to your proposal? The share of the one who went to battle will match the share of the one who stayed with the supplies. They will share alike.”

25And so it has been from that day forward. David established this statute as an ordinance for Israel to this very day.

26When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.” 27He sent gifts to those in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir; 28to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa; 29to those in Racal and in the cities of the Jerahmeelites and Kenites; 30to those in Hormah, Bor-ashan, and Athach; 31and to those in Hebron and in all the places where David and his men had roamed.

Footnotes:

2 a LXX; Hebrew does not include and all.

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Saul’s Overthrow and Death
(2 Samuel 1:1–16; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)

1Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

2The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. 3When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.

4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run it through me, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!”

But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

5When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died with him.

6So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day.

The Philistines Possess the Towns
(1 Chronicles 10:7–10)

7When the Israelites along the valley and those on the other side of the Jordan saw that the army of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their cities and ran away. So the Philistines came and occupied their cities.

8The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9They cut off Saul’s head, stripped off his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temples of their idols and among their people. 10They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and hung his body on the wall of Beth-shan.

Jabesh-gilead’s Tribute to Saul
(1 Chronicles 10:11–14)

11When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan.

When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there. 13Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24)

Saul’s Death Reported to David
(1 Samuel 31:1–6; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)

1After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage.

3“Where have you come from?” David asked.

“I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he replied.

4“What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.”

“The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

5Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him. 7When he turned around and saw me, he called out and I answered, ‘Here I am!’

8‘Who are you?’ he asked.

So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’

10So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

11Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same. 12They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13And David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?”

“I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered. “I am an Amalekite.”

14So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” 15Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died. 16For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’ ”

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, 18and he ordered that the sons of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow.a It is written in the Book of Jashar:b

19“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights.

How the mighty have fallen!

20Tell it not in Gath;
proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

21O mountains of Gilboa,
may you have no dew or rain,
no fields yielding offerings of grain.c

For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

22From the blood of the slain,
from the fat of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan did not retreat,
and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

23Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life,
were not divided in death.

They were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions.

24O daughters of Israel,
weep for Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and luxury,
who decked your garments with ornaments of gold.

25How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle!

Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

26I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother.

You were delightful to me;
your love to me was extraordinary,
surpassing the love of women.

27How the mighty have fallen
and the weapons of war have perished!”

Footnotes:

18 a Or be taught the use of the bow; literally be taught the bow

18 b Or the Book of the Upright One, commonly cited as Jasher; note that the Song of the Bow that follows is not found in known manuscripts attributed to Jasher.

21 c Or no showers falling on your terraced fields; LXX no fields of firstfruits; Hebrew no fields of offerings

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David Anointed King of Judah

1Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?”

“Go up,” the LORD answered.

Then David asked, “Where should I go?”

“To Hebron,” replied the LORD.

2So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.

4Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”

5So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, “The LORD bless you, because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him. 6Now may the LORD show you loving devotiona and faithfulness, and I will also show you the same favor because you have done this. 7Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.”

Ish-bosheth Made King of Israel

8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth,b moved him to Mahanaim, 9and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.

10Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years.

The house of Judah, however, followed David. 11And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

The Battle of Gibeon

12One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13So Joab son of Zeruiah, along with the servants of David, marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two camps took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.

14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.”

“Let them get up,” Joab replied.

15So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 16Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim.c

17The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.

18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle, 19and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit. 20And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?”

“It is,” Asahel replied.

21So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.”

But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

22Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”

23But Asahel refused to turn away; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died. 24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

25The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill. 26Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”

27“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”

28So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight. 29And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning,d and arrived at Mahanaim.

30When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops.

In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing, 31but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner. 32Later, they took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

Footnotes:

6 a Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

8 b Ish-bosheth is also called Esh-baal; see 1 Chronicles 8:33.

16 c Helkath-hazzurim means the Field of Swords.

29 d See LXX; Hebrew marched all through Bithron

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The House of David Strengthened
(1 Chronicles 3:1–9)

1Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2And sons were born to David in Hebron:

His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

3his second was Chileab,a by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel;
his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;

4his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith;
his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;

5and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah.

These sons were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul. 7Meanwhile, Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

8Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! 9May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

11And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.

12Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”

13“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”

14Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

15So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltielb son of Laish. 16Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.

17Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. 18Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’ ”

19Abner also spoke to the Benjamites and went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin. 20When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.

21Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.”

So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

22Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had sent him on his way in peace. 23When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”

24So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away! 25Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”

26As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it.

27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

28Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”

30(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

David Mourns for Abner

31Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.

32When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. 33And the king sang this lament for Abner:

“Should Abner die
the death of a fool?

34Your hands were not bound,
your feet were not fettered.

As a man falls before the wicked,
so also you fell.”

And all the people wept over him even more.

35Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”

36All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. 37So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel? 39And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”

Footnotes:

3 a LXX Daluia; some translators Daniel; see 1 Chronicles 3:1.

15 b Paltiel is a variant of Palti; see 1 Samuel 25:44.

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The Murder of Ish-bosheth

1Now when Ish-bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was dismayed. 2Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding parties. One was named Baanah and the other Rechab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, 3because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have lived there as foreigners to this day.

4And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

5Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while the king was taking his midday nap. 6They entered the interior of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped away.

7They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed, and having stabbed and killed him, they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled all night by way of the Arabah. 8They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”

The Execution of Rechab and Baanah

9But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 10when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news! 11How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!”

12So David commanded his young men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron, but they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.

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David Anointed King of All Israel
(1 Chronicles 11:1–3)

1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. 2Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’ ”

3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.

4David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

David Conquers Jerusalem
(1 Chronicles 11:4–9)

6Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”

7Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). 8On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.a” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.”

9So David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built it up all the way around, from the supporting terracesb inward. 10And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him.

11Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

David’s Family Grows
(1 Chronicles 14:1–7)

12And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

13After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua,c Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

Two Victories over the Philistines
(1 Chronicles 14:8–17)

17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.

18Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

“Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

20So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim.d
21There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away.

22Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.e
24As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has marched out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

25So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeonf to Gezer.

Footnotes:

8 a Or who are enemies of David

9 b Hebrew the Millo

14 c Shammua is a variant of Shimea; see 1 Chronicles 3:5.

20 d Baal-Perazim means The Lord Bursts Out.

23 e Or aspen trees or poplar trees; also in verse 24

25 f LXX (see also 1 Chronicles 14:16); Hebrew Geba

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David Fetches the Ark
(1 Chronicles 13:1–7)

1David again assembled the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in all. 2And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judaha to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—b the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it.

3They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart, 4bringing with it the ark of God.c And Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

Uzzah Touches the Ark
(1 Chronicles 13:8–14)

5David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments,d harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.

6When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon,e Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. 7And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence,f and he died there beside the ark of God.

8Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah; so he named that place Perez-uzzah,g as it is called to this day.

9That day David feared the LORD and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?” 10So he was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household.

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
(1 Chronicles 15:1–28)

12Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.”

So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing. 13When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

14And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD, 15while he and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn.

Michal’s Contempt for David
(1 Chronicles 15:29–16:3)

16As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

17So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

18When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts. 19Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake,h and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each for his own home.

20As soon as David returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.”

21But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD, 22and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than this. Yet I will be honored by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.”

23And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Footnotes:

2 a That is, Kiriath-jearim; see 1 Chronicles 13:6.

2 b Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate do not include the Name—

4 c DSS and some LXX manuscripts; MT includes from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill.

5 d Literally before the LORD with all woods of cypress; LXX playing before the Lord on well-tuned instruments mightily, and with songs; some of the instruments in this verse are uncertain; see 1 Chronicles 13:8.

6 e Nacon is a variant of Chidon; see 1 Chronicles 13:9.

7 f MT; DSS for this

8 g Perez-uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah.

19 h Or a portion of meat

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God’s Covenant with David
(1 Chronicles 17:1–15)

1After the king had settled into his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

3And Nathan replied to the king, “Go and do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”

4But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5“Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build for Me a house to dwell in? 6For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt until this day, but I have moved about with a tent as My dwelling. 7In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leadersa I appointed to shepherd My people Israel, ‘Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’

8Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel. 9I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make for you a name like the greatest in the land.

10And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and be disturbed no more. No longer will the sons of wickedness oppress them as they did at the beginning 11and have done since the day I appointed judges over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies.

The LORD declares to you that He Himself will establish a house for you. 12And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14I will be his Father, and he will be My son.b When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.

15But My loving devotion will never be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I moved out of your way. 16Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me,c and your throne will be established forever.”

17So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire vision.

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
(1 Chronicles 17:16–27)

18Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 19And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, You have also spoken about the future of the house of Your servant. Is this Your custom with man, O Lord GOD?d
20What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD. 21For the sake of Your word and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished this great thing and revealed it to Your servant.

22How great You are, O Lord GOD! For there is none like You, and there is no God but You, according to everything we have heard with our own ears. 23And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself and to make a name for Himself? You performed great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt.e
24For You have established Your people Israel as Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.

25And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised, 26so that Your name will be magnified forever when it is said, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel.’ And the house of Your servant David will be established before You. 27For You, O LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant when You said, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore Your servant has found the courage to offer this prayer to You.

28And now, O Lord GOD, You are God! Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. 29Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with Your blessing the house of Your servant will be blessed forever.”

Footnotes:

7 a Or tribes

14 b Cited in Hebrews 1:5

16 c Some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX; most Hebrew manuscripts you

19 d Or And this is Your instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD.

23 e See LXX and 1 Chronicles 17:21; Hebrew You performed for Yourself great and awesome wonders for Your land, before Your people, whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods.

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David’s Triumphs
(1 Chronicles 18:1–13; Psalm 60:1–12)

1Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammaha from the hand of the Philistines.

2David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River.b
4David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers,c and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots.

5When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand men. 6Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

7And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8And from Betahd and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.

9When King Toie of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10he sent his son Joramf to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze, 11and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued— 12from Edomg and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomitesh in the Valley of Salt. 14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

David’s Officers
(1 Chronicles 18:14–17)

15Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:

16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army;

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests;

Seraiahi was the scribe;

18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;
and David’s sons were priestly leaders.j

Footnotes:

1 a Metheg-ammah means bridle of the mother city.

3 b LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate (see also 1 Chronicles 18:3); Hebrew along the River, or an alternate reading along the Euphrates

4 c LXX (see also DSS and 1 Chronicles 18:4); MT captured from him seventeen hundred charioteers

8 d Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Tebah; see 1 Chronicles 18:8.

9 e Toi is a variant of Tou; also in verse 10; see 1 Chronicles 18:9.

10 f Joram is a variant of Hadoram; see 1 Chronicles 18:10.

12 g Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac (see also verse 14 and 1 Chronicles 18:11); most Hebrew manuscripts Aram

13 h A few Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac (see also verse 14 and 1 Chronicles 18:12); most Hebrew manuscripts Arameans

17 i Seraiah is also called Sheva, Shisha, and Shavsha; see 2 Samuel 20:25, 1 Kings 4:3, and 1 Chronicles 18:16.

18 j Literally priests, or possibly chief officials; see LXX, Targum Yonaton, and 1 Chronicles 18:17.

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David and Mephibosheth

1Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”

2And there was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?”

“I am your servant,” he replied.

3So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family to whom I can show the kindness of God?”

Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.”

4“Where is he?” replied the king.

And Ziba said, “Indeed, he is in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.”

5So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. 6And when Mephiboshetha son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence.

Then David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“I am your servant,” he replied.

7“Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

8Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”

9Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.”

Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.”

So Mephibosheth ate at David’s tableb like one of the king’s own sons. 12And Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica,c and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was lame in both feet.

Footnotes:

6 a Mephibosheth is also called Merib-baal; see 1 Chronicles 8:34.

11 b LXX; Hebrew my table

12 c Mica is a variant of Micah; see 1 Chronicles 8:34.

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David’s Messengers Disgraced
(1 Chronicles 19:1–9)

1Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun. 2And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.”

So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites, 3the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?”

4So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

5When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

6When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob.

7On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men. 8The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.

David Defeats Ammon and Aram
(1 Chronicles 19:10–19)

9When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. 10And he placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

11“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue. 12Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

13So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him. 14When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

15When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped. 16Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates,a and they came to Helam with Shobachb the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

17When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought against him. 18But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers.c He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.

19When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

Footnotes:

16 a Hebrew the River

16 b Shobach is a variant of Shophach; see 1 Chronicles 19:16.

18 c Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 19:18); Hebrew horsemen

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 11   ▶   ▶

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David and Bathsheba

1In the spring,a at the time when kings march out to war, David sent out Joab and his servants with the whole army of Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.

2One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. 3So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliamb and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”

4Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home. 5And the woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

6At this, David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent him to David.

7When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing with the war. 8Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.”

So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him. 9But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house.

10And David was told, “Uriah did not go home.”

“Haven’t you just arrived from a journey?” David asked Uriah. “Why didn’t you go home?”

11Uriah answered, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents,c and my master Joab and his soldiers are camped in the open field. How can I go to my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing!”

12“Stay here one more day,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.

13Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and he got Uriah drunk. And in the evening Uriah went out to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.

David Arranges Uriah’s Death

14The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15In the letter he wrote: “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed.”

16So as Joab besieged the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he saw the strongest enemy soldiers. 17And when the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of David’s servants fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died.

18Joab sent to David a full account of the battle 19and instructed the messenger, “When you have finished giving the king all the details of the battle, 20if the king’s anger flares, he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Did you not realize they would shoot from atop the wall? 21Who was the one to strike Abimelech son of Jerubbeshethd? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’

If so, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’ ”

22So the messenger set out and reported to David all that Joab had sent him to say. 23The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate. 24Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s servants were killed. And your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.”

25Then David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Do not let this matter upset you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him with these words.”

David Marries Bathsheba

26When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27And when the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son.

But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally At the turn of the year

3 b Eliam is a variant of Ammiel; see 1 Chronicles 3:5.

11 c Or staying at Sukkoth

21 d Jerubbesheth is also known as Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon.

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 12   ▶   ▶

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Nathan Rebukes David
(Psalm 51:1–19)

1Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. 2The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle, 3but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and drank from his cup; it slept in his armsa and was like a daughter to him.

4Now a traveler came to the rich man, who refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.”

5David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”

7Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.

9Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own, for you have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

11This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight. 12You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ”

David’s Loss and Repentance

13Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”

“The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. 14Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD,b the son born to you will surely die.”

15After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackclothc on the ground. 17The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.

18On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.”

19When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he perceived that the child was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the child dead?”

“He is dead,” they replied.

20Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.

21“What is this you have done?” his servants asked. “While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate.”

22David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’ 23But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Solomon’s Birth

24Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. So she gave birth to a son, and theyd named him Solomon.

Now the LORD loved the child 25and sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah because the LORD loved him.e

The Capture of Rabbah
(1 Chronicles 20:1–3)

26Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress. 27Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city.f
28Now, therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city, and it will be named after me.”

29So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; and he fought against it and captured it. 30Then he took the crown from the head of their king.g It weighed a talent of goldh and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. And David took a great amount of plunder from the city.

31David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws,i iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns.j He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew in his bosom; also in verse 8

14 b DSS; MT you have brought utter contempt from the enemies of the LORD

16 c DSS and LXX; MT does not include in sackcloth.

24 d Or she or he

25 e Literally to name him Jedidiah because of the LORD; Jedidiah means beloved of the LORD

27 f Or and have captured the city of waters

30 g Or from the head of Milcom. Milcom, also called Molech, was god of the Ammonites; see Leviticus 18:21 and 1 Kings 11:7.

30 h A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.

31 i Literally put them under saws

31 j Literally and he made them pass through the brick kilns.

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 13   ▶   ▶

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Amnon and Tamar

1After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom. 2Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her.

3Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah.a Jonadab was a very shrewd man, 4so he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?”

Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

5Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare it in my sight so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.’ ”

6So Amnon lay down and feigned illness. When the king came to see him, Amnon said, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.”

7Then David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare a meal for him.”

8So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked them. 9Then she brought the pan and set it down before him, but he refused to eat. “Send everyone away!” said Amnon. And everyone went out.

10Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, so that I may eat it from your hand.”

Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon’s bedroom. 11And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said, “Come lie with me, my sister!”

12“No, my brother!” she cried. “Do not humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! 13Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”

14But Amnon refused to listen to her, and being stronger, he violated her and lay with her.

15Then Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that his hatred was greater than the love he previously had. “Get up!” he said to her. “Be gone!”

16“No,” she replied, “sending me away is worse than this great wrong you have already done to me!”

But he refused to listen to her. 17Instead, he called to his attendant and said, “Throw this woman out and bolt the door behind her!”

18So Amnon’s attendant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a robe of many colors,b because this is what the king’s virgin daughters wore. 19And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her robe. And putting her hand on her head, she went away crying bitterly.

20Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart.”

So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother Absalom.

21When King David heard all this, he was furious.c
22And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for disgracing his sister Tamar.

Absalom’s Revenge on Amnon

23Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king. 24And he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired shearers. Will the king and his servants please come with me?”

25“No, my son,” the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing.

26“If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.”

“Why should he go with you?” the king asked.

27But Absalom urged him, so the king sent Amnon and the rest of his sons.d

28Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”

29So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule.

30While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom has struck down all the sons of the king; not one of them is left!”

31Then the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

32But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar. 33So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the sons of the king are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

Absalom Flees to Geshur

34Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man standing watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road west of him,e along the side of the hill. And the watchman went and reported to the king, “I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill.”f

35So Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the sons of the king have arrived! It is just as your servant said.”

36And as he finished speaking, the sons of the king came in, wailing loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.

37Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But David mourned for his son every day.

38After Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, he stayed there three years. 39And King Davidg longed to go to Absalom,h for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.

Footnotes:

3 a Shimeah is a variant of Shammah, Shimea, and Shimei; see 1 Samuel 16:9, 1 Chronicles 2:13, and 2 Samuel 21:21.

18 b Or a robe with long sleeves; see also Genesis 37:3.

21 c DSS and LXX include But he would not punish his son Amnon, because he loved him, since he was his firstborn.

27 d LXX and Vulgate include And Absalom prepared a feast fit for a king.

34 e Or behind him

34 f LXX; Hebrew does not include And the watchman....

39 g MT; DSS and LXX And the spirit of the king

39 h Or ceased to go out after Absalom

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 14   ▶   ▶

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Absalom’s Return to Jerusalem

1Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart longed for Absalom. 2So Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Please pretend to be a mourner; put on clothes for mourning and do not anoint yourself with oil. Act like a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time. 3Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab put the words in her mouth.

4When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!”

5“What troubles you?” the king asked her.

“Indeed,” she said, “I am a widow, for my husband is dead. 6And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. 7Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”

8“Go home,” the king said to the woman, “and I will give orders on your behalf.”

9But the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord the king, may any blame be on me and on my father’s house, and may the king and his throne be guiltless.”

10“If anyone speaks to you,” said the king, “bring him to me, and he will not trouble you again!”

11“Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!”

“As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”

12Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?”

“Speak,” he replied.

13The woman asked, “Why have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, since he has not brought back his own banished son? 14For surely we will die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.

15Now therefore, I have come to present this matter to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king. Perhaps he will grant the request of his maidservant. 16For the king will hear and deliver his maidservant from the hand of the man who would cut off both me and my son from God’s inheritance.’

17And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angela of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’ ”

18Then the king said to the woman, “I am going to ask you something; do not conceal it from me!”

“Let my lord the king speak,” she replied.

19So the king asked, “Is the hand of Joab behind all this?”

The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king says. Yes, your servant Joab is the one who gave me orders; he told your maidservant exactly what to say. 20Joab your servant has done this to bring about this change of affairs, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that happens in the land.”

21Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

22Joab fell facedown in homage and blessed the king. “Today,” said Joab, “your servant knows that he has found favor with you, my lord the king, because the king has granted his request.”

23So Joab got up, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24But the king added, “He may return to his house, but he must not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but he did not see the king.

25Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw. 26And when he cut the hair of his head—he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy—he would weigh it out to be two hundred shekels,b according to the royal standard.

27Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman.

Absalom Reconciled to David

28Now Absalom lived in Jerusalem two years without seeing the face of the king. 29Then he sent for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him.

So Absalom sent a second time, but Joab still would not come.

30Then Absalom said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire!”

And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.c

31Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”

32“Look,” said Absalom, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king’s face, and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.”

33So Joab went and told the king, and David summoned Absalom, who came to him and bowed facedown before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.

Footnotes:

17 a Or Angel; also in verse 20

26 b 200 shekels is approximately 5 pounds or 2.3 kilograms of hair.

30 c LXX includes So the servants of Joab came to him with their clothes torn and said to him, “The servants of Absalom have set your field on fire.”

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 15   ▶   ▶

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Absalom’s Conspiracy

1Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him. 2He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate.

Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” 3Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.”

4And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”

5Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him. 6Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7After foura years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD. 8For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’b”

9“Go in peace,” said the king. So Absalom got up and went to Hebron.

10Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’ ”

11Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter. 12While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh.

So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.

David Flees Jerusalem
(Psalm 3:1–8)

13Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

14And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”

15The king’s servants replied, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.”

16Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

17So the king set out with all the people following him. He stopped at the last house, 18and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.

19Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland. 20In fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.c”

21But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”

22“March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

23Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. And as the king crossed the Kidron Valley, all the people also passed toward the way of the wilderness.

24Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrificesd until the people had passed out of the city.

25Then the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again. 26But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.”

27The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer?e Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.f
28See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”

29So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

David Weeps at the Mount of Olives
(Psalm 63:1–11)

30But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.

31Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.”

So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

32When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.

33David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. 34But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’

35Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report to them everything you hear from the king’s palace. 36Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.”

37So David’s friend Hushai arrived in Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.

Footnotes:

7 a Syriac and some LXX manuscripts; Hebrew forty

8 b Some LXX manuscripts; Hebrew does not include in Hebron.

20 c LXX; Hebrew May loving devotion and faithfulness be with you.

24 d Or Abiathar went up

27 e Hebrew; LXX Behold,

27 f Literally your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan son of Abiathar, your two sons with you

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 16   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

David and Ziba

1When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

2“Why do you have these?” asked the king.

Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

3“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king.

And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’ ”

4So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!”

“I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”

Shimei Curses David

5As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses. 6He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left.

7And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed! 8The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!”

9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”

10But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’ ”

11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so. 12Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”

13So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David. 14Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived,a exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

The Counsel of Ahithophel and Hushai

15Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”

18“Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by the people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19Furthermore, whom should I serve if not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”

20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”

21Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”

22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

Footnotes:

14 a Some LXX manuscripts arrived at the Jordan

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 17   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice

1Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 2I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king 3and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man;a then all the people will be at peace.”

4This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

5Then Absalom said, “Summon Hushai the Archite as well, and let us hear what he too has to say.”

6So Hushai came to Absalom, who told him, “Ahithophel has spoken this proposal. Should we carry it out? If not, what do you say?”

7Hushai replied, “This time the advice of Ahithophel is not sound.”

8He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops. 9Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location. If some of your troops fall first,b whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.

11Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle. 12Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain.

13If he retreats to a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be found.”

14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

Hushai’s Warning Saves David
(Psalm 55:1–23)

15So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have advised. 16Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’ ”

17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city. 18But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 19Then the man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well, scattering grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

20When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

“They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

21After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.”

22So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan.

23When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

24Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 25Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra,c the Ishmaelited who had married Abigail,e the daughter of Nahashf and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. 26So the Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim. 28They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,g
29honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Footnotes:

3 a LXX; see also DSS; MT and bring all the people back to you. When everyone returns except the man you seek,

9 b Or If he should attack your troops first

25 c Ithra is a variant of Jether; see 1 Kings 2:5.

25 d Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 2:17); MT and other LXX manuscripts Israelite

25 e Or Abigal, a variant of Abigail

25 f Or of Jesse; see DSS and 1 Chronicles 2:13–16

28 g Most LXX manuscripts and Syriac; Hebrew includes roasted seeds.

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 18   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Absalom Killed

1Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands. 2He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”

3But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us.a It is better for now if you support us from the city.”

4“I will do whatever seems best to you,” the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands.

5Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.

6So David’s army marched into the field to engage Israel in the battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7There the people of Israel were defeated by David’s servants, and the slaughter was great that day—twenty thousand men. 8The battle spread over the whole countryside, and that day the forest devoured more people than the sword.

9Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak,b Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair. 10When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”

11“You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silverc and a warrior’s belt!”

12The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silverd were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.e’ 13If I had jeopardized my own lifef—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me.”

14But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree. 15And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.

16Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab had restrained them. 17They took Absalom, cast him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled, each to his home.

18During his lifetime, Absalom had set up for himself a pillar in the King’s Valley, for he had said, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he gave the pillar his name, and to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.

David Mourns for Absalom

19Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”

20But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”

21So Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.

22Ahimaaz son of Zadok, however, persisted and said to Joab, “Regardless of whatever may happen, please let me also run behind the Cushite!”

“My son,” Joab replied, “why do you want to run, since you will not receive a reward?”

23“No matter what, I want to run!” he replied.

“Then run!” Joab told him.

So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plaing and outran the Cushite.

24Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone. 25So he called out and told the king.

“If he is alone,” the king replied, “he bears good news.”

As the first runner drew near, 26the watchman saw another man running, and he called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!”

“This one also brings good news,” said the king.

27The watchman said, “The first man appears to me to be running like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.”

“This is a good man,” said the king. “He comes with good news.”

28Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well!” And he bowed facedown before the king.

He continued, “Blessed be the LORD your God! He has delivered up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.”

29The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom all right?”

And Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.”

30“Move aside,” said the king, “and stand here.”

So he stepped aside.

31Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!”

32The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?”

And the Cushite replied, “May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you to harm you.”

33The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Footnotes:

3 a Two Hebrew manuscripts, some LXX manuscripts, and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts care; for now there are ten thousand like us

9 b Or large terebinth or very great tree; similarly in verses 10 and 14

11 c 10 shekels is approximately 4 ounces or 114 grams of silver.

12 d 1,000 shekels is approximately 25.1 pounds or 11.4 kilograms of silver.

12 e A few Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts Whoever you may be, protect the young man Absalom. or Let no one touch the young man Absalom.

13 f Or If I had dealt treacherously against his life

23 g That is, the plain of the Jordan

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 19   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Joab Reproves David

1Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.” 2And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.”

3So they returned to the city quietly that day, as people steal away in humiliation after fleeing a battle. 4But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

5Then Joab went into the house and said to the king, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, of your wives, and of your concubines. 6You love those who hate you and hate those who love you! For you have made it clear today that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would have pleased you!

7Now therefore get up! Go out and speak comfort to your servants, for I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the adversity that has befallen you from your youth until now!”

David Restored as King

8So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king.

Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled, each man to his home. 9And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom. 10But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”

11Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters? 12You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?’ 13And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from this time you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’ ”

14So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants.”

15So the king returned, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the Jordan.

Shimei Pardoned

16Then Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David, 17along with a thousand men of Benjamin, as well as Ziba the steward of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants.

They rushed down to the Jordan before the king 18and crossed at the ford to carry over the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight.

When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king 19and said, “My lord, do not hold me guilty, and do not remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart. 20For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”

21But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”

22And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”

23So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him.

Mephibosheth Excused

24Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely. 25And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”

26“My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddleda so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me, 27and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king.

Yet my lord the king is like the angelb of God, so do what is good in your eyes. 28For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”

29The king replied, “Why say any more? I hereby declare that you and Ziba are to divide the land.”

30And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has safely come to his own house, let Ziba take it all!”

David’s Kindness to Barzillai

31Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there. 32Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.

33The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.”

34But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? 35I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

36Your servant could go with the king only a short distance past the Jordan; why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.”

38The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good in your sight, and I will do for you whatever you desire of me.”

39So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned home.

40Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham crossed over with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king.

Contention over the King

41Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?”

42And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?”

43“We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?”

But the men of Judah pressed even harder than the men of Israel.

Footnotes:

26 a LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate Saddle a donkey for me; Hebrew I will saddle a donkey for myself

27 b Or Angel

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 20   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Sheba’s Rebellion

1Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted:

“We have no share in David,
no inheritance in Jesse’s son.

Every man to his tent,

O Israel!”

2So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

3When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.

4Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.”

5So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him.

6And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.a”

7So Joab’s men, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, marched out of Jerusalem in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri. 8And while they were at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa joined them.

Now Joab was dressed in military attire, with a dagger strapped to his belt. And as he stepped forward, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.b
9“Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.

10Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

11One of Joab’s young men stood near Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” 12But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the road, and when the man saw that all the troops were stopping there, he dragged the body off the road into a field and threw a garment over it. 13As soon as Amasa’s body was removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

14Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacahc and through the entire region of the Berites,d who gathered together and followed him.

15And Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel-beth-maacah and built a siege ramp against the outer rampart of the city.

As all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to topple it, 16a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”

17When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?”

“I am,” he replied.

“Listen to the words of your servant,” she said.

“I am listening,” he answered.

18Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled. 19I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

20“Far be it!” Joab declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! 21That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.”

“Look,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

22Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

23Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; 24Adorame was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; 25Shevaf was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 26and Ira the Jairiteg was David’s priest.

Footnotes:

6 a Or and snatch away our eyes or and do us serious harm

8 b Literally Now Joab was dressed in military attire, and over it was a belt around his waist with a dagger in its sheath. And as he stepped forward, it fell out.

14 c Hebrew to Abel and Beth-maacah; see verse 15.

14 d Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate Bicrites

24 e Adoram is a variant of Adoniram and Hadoram; see 1 Kings 4:6 and 2 Chronicles 10:18.

25 f Sheva is also called Seraiah, Shisha, and Shavsha; see 2 Samuel 8:17, 1 Kings 4:3, and 1 Chronicles 18:16.

26 g Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts and Syriac Ithrite; see 2 Samuel 23:38.

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 21   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

David Avenges the Gibeonites

1During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD.

And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

2At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.)

3So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”

4The Gibeonites said to him, “We need no silver or gold from Saul or his house, nor should you put to death anyone in Israel for us.”

“Whatever you ask, I will do for you,” he replied.

5And they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us to exterminate us from existing within any border of Israel, 6let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang thema before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.”

“I will give them to you,” said the king.

7Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, as well as the five sons whom Merabb daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.

10And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain from heaven poured down on the bodies, she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

11When David was told what Saul’s concubine Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, had done, 12he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan where the Philistines had hung the bodies after they had struck down Saul at Gilboa.

13So David had the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan brought from there, along with the bones of those who had been hanged. 14And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in Zela in the land of Benjamin, in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish.

After they had done everything the king had commanded, God answered their prayers for the land.

Four Battles against the Philistines
(1 Chronicles 20:4–8)

15Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines; but David became exhausted.

16Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha,c whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekelsd and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David. 17But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him.

Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”

18Some time later at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph,e one of the descendants of Rapha.

19Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jairf the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliathg the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

20And there was still another battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, 21and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimeih killed him.

22So these four descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.

Footnotes:

6 a Or expose them or execute them; similarly in verse 9

8 b Two Hebrew manuscripts, some LXX manuscripts, and Syriac (see also 1 Samuel 18:19); most Hebrew and LXX manuscripts Michal

16 c Or the giant; also in verses 18, 20, and 22

16 d 300 shekels is approximately 7.5 pounds or 3.4 kilograms.

18 e Saph is a variant of Sippai; see 1 Chronicles 20:4.

19 f See 1 Chronicles 20:5; Hebrew Jaare-oregim

19 g See 1 Chronicles 20:5; Hebrew does not include the brother of.

21 h Shimei is a variant of Shammah, Shimeah, and Shimea; see 1 Samuel 16:9, 2 Samuel 13:3, and 1 Chronicles 2:13.

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 22   ▶   ▶

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David’s Song of Deliverance
(Psalm 18:1–50)

1And David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2He said:

“The LORD is my rock,
my fortress, and my deliverer.

3My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation.

My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior,

You save me from violence.

4I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
so shall I be saved from my enemies.

5For the waves of death engulfed me;
the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.

6The cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.

7In my distress I called upon the LORD;

I cried out to my God.

And from His temple He heard my voice,
and my cry for help reached His ears.

8Then the earth shook and quaked;
the foundations of the heavensa trembled;
they were shaken because He burned with anger.

9Smoke rose from His nostrils,
and consuming fire came from His mouth;
glowing coals blazed forth.

10He parted the heavens and came down
with dark clouds beneath His feet.

11He mounted a cherub and flew;

He soaredb on the wings of the wind.

12He made darkness a canopy around Him,
a gathering of water and thick clouds.

13From the brightness of His presence
coals of firec blazed forth.

14The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.

15He shot His arrows and scattered the foes;

He hurled lightning and routed them.

16The channels of the sea appeared,
and the foundations of the world were exposed
at the rebuke of the LORD,
at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

17He reached down from on high and took hold of me;

He drew me out of deep waters.

18He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from foes too mighty for me.

19They confronted me in my day of calamity,
but the LORD was my support.

20He brought me out into the open;

He rescued me because He delighted in me.

21The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness;

He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.

22For I have kept the ways of the LORD
and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23For all His ordinances are before me;

I have not disregarded His statutes.

24And I have been blameless before Him
and kept myself from iniquity.

25So the LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness in His sight.d

26To the faithful You show Yourself faithful,
to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;

27to the pure You show Yourself pure,
but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.

28You save an afflicted people,
but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

29For You, O LORD, are my lamp;
the LORD lights up my darkness.

30For in You I can charge an army;
with my God I can scale a wall.

31As for God, His way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.

He is a shield to all
who take refuge in Him.

32For who is God besides the LORD?

And who is the Rock except our God?

33God is my strong fortress
and He makes my way clear.

34He makes my feet like those of a deer
and stations me upon the heights.

35He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36You have given me Your shield of salvation,
and Your gentleness exalts me.e

37You broaden the path beneath me
so that my ankles do not give way.

38I pursued my enemies and destroyed them;

I did not turn back until they were consumed.

39I devoured and crushed them so they could not rise;
they have fallen under my feet.

40You have armed me with strength for battle;

You have subdued my foes beneath me.

41You have made my enemies retreat before me;

I put an end to those who hated me.

42They looked, but there was no one to save them—
to the LORD, but He did not answer.

43I ground them as the dust of the earth;

I crushed and trampled them like mud in the streets.

44You have delivered me from the strife of my people;

You have preserved me as the head of nations;
a people I had not known shall serve me.

45Foreigners cower before me;
when they hear me, they obey me.

46Foreigners lose heart
and come tremblingf from their strongholds.

47The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock!

And may God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted—

48the God who avenges me
and brings down nations beneath me,

49who frees me from my enemies.

You exalt me above my foes;

You rescue me from violent men.

50Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations;

I will sing praises to Your name.g

51Great salvation He brings to His king.

He shows loving devotion to His anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.”

Footnotes:

8 a Most Hebrew sources; Vulgate, Syriac, and two Hebrew manuscripts (see also Psalm 18:7) mountains

11 b Many Hebrew manuscripts (see also Psalm 18:10); most Hebrew manuscripts He was seen

13 c Or bolts of lightning

25 d Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:24) according to the cleanness of my hands

36 e Or and Your help exalts me or and You stoop down to make me great

46 f Some LXX manuscripts and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:45); MT and arm themselves

50 g Cited in Romans 15:9

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 23   ▶   ▶

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David’s Last Song

1These are the last words of David:

“The oracle of David son of Jesse,
the oracle of the man raised on high,
the one anointed by the God of Jacob,
and the sweet psalmist of Israel:a

2The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me;

His word was on my tongue.

3The God of Israel spoke;
the Rock of Israel said to me,

‘He who rules the people with justice,
who rules in the fear of God,

4is like the light of the morning
at sunrise of a cloudless dawn,
the glistening after the rain
on the sprouting grass of the earth.’

5Is not my house right with God?

For He has established with me
an everlasting covenant,
ordered and secured in every part.

Will He not bring about my full salvation
and my every desire?

6But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside,
for they can never be gathered by hand.

7The man who touches them must be armed with iron
or with the shaft of a spear.

The fire burns them to ashes
in the place where they lie.”

David’s Mighty Men
(1 Chronicles 11:10–47)

8These are the names of David’s mighty men:

Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemoniteb was chief of the Three.c He wielded his spear againstd eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time.

9Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodoe the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, 10but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead.

11And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.

13At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. 15David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

16So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD, 17saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

18Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three,f and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. 19Was he not more honored than the Three?g And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.

20And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valorh from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two championsi of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. 21He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. 22These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name alongside the three mighty men. 23He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.

24Now these were members of the Thirty:j

Asahel the brother of Joab,

Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25Shammah the Harodite,

Elika the Harodite,

26Helez the Paltite,

Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27Abiezer the Anathothite,

Mebunnaik the Hushathite,

28Zalmon the Ahohite,

Maharai the Netophathite,

29Heledl son of Baanah the Netophathite,

Ittaim son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,

30Benaiah the Pirathonite,

Hiddain from the brookso of Gaash,

31Abi-albon the Arbathite,

Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
the sons of Jashen,p

Jonathan 33son of Shammahq the Hararite,

Ahiam son of Shararr the Hararite,

34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite,

Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

35Hezro the Carmelite,

Paarai the Arbite,

36Igal son of Nathan of Zobah,

Bani the Gadite,

37Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

38Ira the Ithrite,

Gareb the Ithrite,

39and Uriah the Hittite.

There were thirty-seven in all.

Footnotes:

1 a Or the hero of the songs of Israel or the favorite of the Strong One of Israel

8 b Tahchemonite is probably a variant of Hachmonite; see 1 Chronicles 11:11.

8 c Or chief among the captains

8 d Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 11:11); Hebrew He was called Adino the Eznite because of

9 e Dodo is a variant of Dodai; see 1 Chronicles 27:4.

18 f Most Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 11:20); two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac the Thirty

19 g Hebrew; Syriac the Thirty

20 h Or Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the son of Ishhai

20 i Or two sons of Ariel

24 j Literally In the Thirty (were):

27 k Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Sibbecai; see 2 Samuel 21:18 and 1 Chronicles 11:29.

29 l Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also 1 Chronicles 11:30); most MT manuscripts Heleb

29 m Ittai is a variant of Ithai; see 1 Chronicles 11:31.

30 n Hiddai is a variant of Hurai; see 1 Chronicles 11:32.

30 o Or from the ravines

32 p Jashen is a variant of Hashem; see 1 Chronicles 11:34.

33 q Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 11:34); Hebrew Jonathan, 33Shammah

33 r Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Sachar; see 1 Chronicles 11:35.

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◀   ◀   2 Samuel 24   ▶   ▶

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David’s Military Census
(Exodus 30:11–16; 1 Chronicles 21:1–6)

1Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

2So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him,a “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.”

3But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

4Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army departed from the presence of the king to count the troops of Israel.

5They crossed the Jordan and camped near Aroer, south of the town in the middle of the valley, and proceeded toward Gad and Jazer. 6Then they went to Gilead and the land of Tahtim-hodshi,b and on to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon. 7They went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to the Negev of Judah,c to Beersheba.

8At the end of nine months and twenty days, having gone through the whole land, they returned to Jerusalem. 9And Joab reported to the king the total number of the troops. In Israel there were 800,000 men of valor who drew the sword, and in Judah there were 500,000.

Judgment for David’s Sin
(1 Chronicles 21:7–13)

10After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

11When David got up in the morning, a revelation from the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: 12“Go and tell David that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’ ”

13So Gad went and said to David, “Do you choose to endure threed years of famine in your land, three months of fleeing the pursuit of your enemies, or three days of plague upon your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”

14David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

A Plague on Israel
(1 Chronicles 21:14–17)

15So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.e

16But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunahf the Jebusite.

17When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd,g have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”

David Builds an Altar
(1 Chronicles 21:18–30)

18And that day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19So David went up at the word of Gad, just as the LORD had commanded.

20When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king. 21“Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” Araunah said.

“To buy your threshing floor,” David replied, “that I may build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague upon the people may be halted.”

22Araunah said to David, “My lord the king may take whatever seems good and offer it up. Here are the oxen for a burnt offering and the threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. 23O king, Araunah gives all these to the king.” He also said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.”

24“No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.h
25And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land, and the plague upon Israel was halted.

Footnotes:

2 a LXX to Joab and the army commanders with him

6 b Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts to Gilead and to the land of the Hittites

7 c Or to the south of Judah

13 d LXX (see also 1 Chronicles 21:12); Hebrew seven

15 e Literally and of the people from Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand men died

16 f Araunah is a variant of Ornan; see 1 Chronicles 21:15 and 2 Chronicles 3:1.

17 g DSS and LXX; MT does not include the shepherd.

24 h 50 shekels is approximately 1.26 pounds or 569.8 grams of silver.

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◀   ◀   1 Kings 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22)

Abishag Cares for David

1Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. 2So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”

3Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. 4The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.

Adonijah Usurps the Kingdom

5At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.

6(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)

7So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him. 8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.

9And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth,a which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king. 10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.

Nathan and Bathsheba before David

11Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it? 12Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

15So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him. 16And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

17“My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ 18But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, did not know it. 19And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon. 20And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”

22And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.

24“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’? 25For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commandersb of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26But me your servant he did not invite, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. 27Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?”

David Renews His Oath to Bathsheba

28Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

29And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 30I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

31Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

Solomon Anointed King
(1 Chronicles 29:21–25)

32Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.

33“Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. 34There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35Then you shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

36“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. 37Just as the LORD was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David.”

38Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. 39Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”

40All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.

Adonijah Learns of Solomon’s Kingship

41Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab.

42As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”

43“Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the king’s mule. 45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.

46Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.

47The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’

And the king has bowed in worship on his bed, 48saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has provided onec to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’ ”

49At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered. 50But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

51It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’ ”

52And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”

53So King Solomon summoned Adonijah down from the altar, and he came and bowed down before King Solomon, who said to him, “Go to your home.”

Footnotes:

9 a Or the Serpent’s Stone

25 b Hebrew; LXX Joab the commander

48 c LXX one of my offspring

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◀   ◀   1 Kings 2   ▶   ▶

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David Instructs Solomon
(Psalm 37:1–40)

1As the time drew near for David to die, he charged his son Solomon, 2“I am about to go the way of all the earth. So be strong and prove yourself a man. 3And keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commandments, ordinances, and decrees, as is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you turn, 4and so that the LORD may fulfill His promise to me: ‘If your descendants take heed to walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

5Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether,a the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.b
6So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

7But show loving devotionc to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

8Keep an eye on Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who is with you. He called down bitter curses against me on the day I went to Mahanaim, but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will never put you to the sword.’ 9Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”

David’s Reign and Death
(1 Chronicles 29:26–30)

10Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. 11The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

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

The Execution of Adonijah

13Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and she asked, “Do you come in peace?”

“Yes, in peace,” he replied. 14Then he said, “I have something to tell you.”

“Say it,” she answered.

15“You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD. 16So now I have just one request of you; do not deny me.”

“State your request,” she told him.

17Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”

18“Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will speak to the king for you.”

19So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand.

20“I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.”

“Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”

21So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”

22King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

23Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life. 24And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!”

25So King Solomon sent the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who struck down Adonijah, and he died.

26Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered through all that my father suffered.” 27So Solomon banished Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD and thus fulfilled the word that the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli.

The Execution of Joab

28When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.

29It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.”

So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!”

30And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’ ”

But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.”

So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.”

31And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed. 32The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. 33Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”

34So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness. 35And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

The Execution of Shimei

36Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. 37On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”

38“The sentence is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.

39After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah,d king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”

40So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.

41When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, 42the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD and warn you, ‘On the day you leave and go elsewhere, know for sure that you will die’? And you told me, ‘The sentence is fair; I will comply.’ 43So why have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the command that I gave you?”

44The king also said, “You know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David. Therefore the LORD will bring your evil back upon your head. 45But King Solomon will be blessed and David’s throne will remain secure before the LORD forever.”

46Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon.

Footnotes:

5 a Jether is a variant of Ithra; also in verse 32; see 2 Samuel 17:25.

5 b Hebrew; LXX He stained with innocent blood the belt around my waist and the sandals on my feet.

7 c Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

39 d Maacah is a variant of Maoch; see 1 Samuel 27:2.

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Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
(2 Chronicles 1:1–13; Psalm 45:1–17; Psalm 72:1–20)

1Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem.

2The people, however, were still sacrificing on the high places because a house for the Name of the LORD had not yet been built. 3And Solomon loved the LORD and walked in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

4Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there.

5One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”

6Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

7And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. 8Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.

9Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

10Now it pleased the Lorda that Solomon had made this request. 11So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice— 12behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been nor will ever be another like you.

13Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal. 14So if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments, just as your father David did, I will prolong your days.”

15Then Solomon awoke, and indeed it had been a dream. So he returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he held a feast for all his servants.

Solomon Judges Wisely

16At that time two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.

17One woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth while she was in the house. 18On the third day after I gave birth, this woman also had a baby. We were alone, with no one in the house but the two of us. 19During the night this woman’s son died because she rolled over on him. 20So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I was asleep. She laid him in her bosom and put her dead son at my bosom. 21The next morning, when I got up to nurse my son, I discovered he was dead. But when I examined him, I realized that he was not the son I had borne.”

22“No,” said the other woman, “the living one is my son and the dead one is your son.”

But the first woman insisted, “No, the dead one is yours and the living one is mine.” So they argued before the king.

23Then the king replied, “This woman says, ‘My son is alive and yours is dead,’ but that woman says, ‘No, your son is dead and mine is alive.’ ”

24The king continued, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought him a sword, 25and the king declared, “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

26Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him!”

But the other woman said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!”

27Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. By no means should you kill him; she is his mother.”

28When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.

Footnotes:

10 a Hebrew Adonai; also in verse 15

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Solomon’s Princes

1So King Solomon ruled over Israel, 2and these were his chief officials:

Azariah son of Zadok was the priest;

3Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha,a were secretaries;

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

4Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army;

Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

5Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors;

Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king;

6Ahishar was in charge of the palace;
and Adoniramb son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.

Solomon’s Twelve Officers

7Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year, 8and these were their names:

Ben-hur in the hill country of Ephraim;

9Ben-deker in Makaz, in Shaalbim, in Beth-shemesh, and in Elon-beth-hanan;

10Ben-hesed in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher belonged to him);

11Ben-abinadab in Naphath-dorc (Taphath, a daughter of Solomon, was his wife);

12Baana son of Ahilud in Taanach, in Megiddo, and in all of Beth-shean next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah and on past Jokmeam;

13Ben-geber in Ramoth-gilead (the villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead belonged to him, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan with its sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars);

14Ahinadab son of Iddo in Mahanaim;

15Ahimaaz in Naphtali (he had married Basemath, a daughter of Solomon);

16Baana son of Hushai in Asher and in Aloth;

17Jehoshaphat son of Paruah in Issachar;

18Shimei son of Ela in Benjamin;

19Geber son of Uri in the land of Gilead, including the territories of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan.

There was also one governor in the land of Judah.d

Solomon’s Prosperity

20The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing. 21And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphratese to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

22Solomon’s provisions for a single day were thirty cors of fine flour,f sixty cors of meal,g
23ten fat oxen, twenty range oxen, and a hundred sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened poultry. 24For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphratesh —over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides. 25Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.

26Solomon had 4,000i stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses.j
27Each month the governors in turn provided food for King Solomon and all who came to his table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. 28Each one also brought to the required place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and other horses.

Solomon’s Wisdom

29And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore. 30Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31He was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations.

32Solomon composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five. 33He spoke of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing in the wall, and he taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

34So men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

Footnotes:

3 a Shisha is also called Seraiah, Sheva, and Shavsha; see 2 Samuel 8:17, 2 Samuel 20:25, and 1 Chronicles 18:16.

6 b Adoniram is a variant of Adoram and Hadoram; see 2 Samuel 20:24 and 2 Chronicles 10:18.

11 c Or in all the heights of Dor; Naphath-dor is a variant of Naphoth-dor; see Joshua 11:2.

19 d Some LXX manuscripts; Hebrew And he was the one governor in the land.

21 e Hebrew the River; also in verse 24

22 f 30 cors is approximately 187 bushels or 6,600 liters (probably about 5.5 tons or 5 metric tons of flour).

22 g 60 cors is approximately 375 bushels or 13,200 liters (probably about 11 tons or 10 metric tons of meal).

24 h Or beyond the River

26 i Some LXX manuscripts (see also 2 Chronicles 9:25); Hebrew 40,000

26 j Or horsemen or charioteers

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Preparations for the Temple
(2 Chronicles 2:1–10)

1Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David.

2And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram:

3“As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet. 4But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis.

5So behold, I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, according to what the LORD said to my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the house for My Name.’

6Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.”

Hiram’s Reply to Solomon
(2 Chronicles 2:11–18)

7When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! He has given David a wise son over this great people!” 8Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying:

“I have received your message; I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypressa timber. 9My servants will haul the logs from Lebanon to the Sea,b and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate the logs, and you can take them away. And in exchange, you can meet my needs by providing my household with food.”

10So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted, 11and year after year Solomon would provide Hiram with 20,000 cors of wheatc as food for his household, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil.d

12And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.e

Solomon’s Labor Force

13Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. 14He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.

15Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, 16not including his 3,300f foremen who supervised the workers.

17And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. 18So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.

Footnotes:

8 a Or pine or juniper or fir; also in verse 10

9 b That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea

11 c 20,000 cors is approximately 124,800 bushels or 4.4 million liters (probably about 3,800 tons or 3,400 metric tons of wheat).

11 d LXX (see also 2 Chronicles 2:10); 20,000 baths is approximately 116,000 gallons or 440,000 liters of olive oil; Hebrew twenty cors of pure oil or twenty cors of pressed oil

12 e Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant.

16 f Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts 3,600; see 2 Chronicles 2:18.

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Temple Construction Begins
(2 Chronicles 3:1–2)

1In the four hundred and eightietha year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, in the month of Ziv,b the second month of the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, he began to build the house of the LORD.

2The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high.c
3The portico at the front of the main hall of the temple was twenty cubitsd long, extending across the width of the temple and projecting out ten cubitse in front of the temple.

4He also had narrow windows framed high in the temple.

The Chambers

5Against the walls of the temple and the inner sanctuary, Solomon built a chambered structure around the temple, in which he constructed the side rooms. 6The bottom floor was five cubits wide,f the middle floor six cubits,g and the third floor seven cubits.h He also placed offset ledges around the outside of the temple, so that nothing would be inserted into its walls.

7The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.

8The entrance to the bottomi floor was on the south side of the temple. A stairway led up to the middle level, and from there to the third floor.

9So Solomon built the temple and finished it, roofing it with beams and planks of cedar. 10He built chambers all along the temple, each five cubits high and attached to the temple with beams of cedar.

God’s Promise to Solomon

11Then the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying: 12“As for this temple you are building, if you walk in My statutes, carry out My ordinances, and keep all My commandments by walking in them, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David. 13And I will dwell among the Israelites and will not abandon My people Israel.”

The Temple’s Interior
(2 Chronicles 3:5–9)

14So Solomon built the temple and finished it. 15He lined the interior walls with cedar paneling from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and he covered the floor with cypressj boards.

16He partitioned off the twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.k
17And the main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long.l

18The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen.

19Solomon also prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there. 20The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.m

21So Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chainsn across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. 22So he overlaid with gold the whole interior of the temple, until everything was completely finished. He also overlaid with gold the entire altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary.

The Cherubim
(2 Chronicles 3:10–13)

23In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood. 24One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing was five cubits long as well. So the full wingspan was ten cubits. 25The second cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same size and shape, 26and the height of each cherub was ten cubits.

27And he placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple. Since their wings were spread out, the wing of the first cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the second cherub touched the other wall, and in the middle of the room their wingtips touched. 28He also overlaid the cherubim with gold.

29Then he carved the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. 30And he overlaid the temple floor with gold in both the inner and outer sanctuaries.

The Doors

31For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, Solomon constructed doors of olive wood with five-sided doorposts. 32The double doors were made of olive wood, and he carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold.

33In the same way he made four-sided doorposts of olive wood for the sanctuary entrance. 34The two doors were made of cypress wood, and each had two folding panels. 35He carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold, hammered evenly over the carvings.

The Courtyard

36Solomon built the inner courtyard with three rows of dressed stone and one row of trimmed cedar beams.

37The foundation of the house of the LORD was laid in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, in the month of Ziv. 38In his eleventh year and eighth month, the month of Bul,o the temple was finished in every detail and according to every specification. So he built the temple in seven years.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew; LXX four hundred and fortieth

1 b Ziv was the second month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of April and May; also in verse 37.

2 c The house was approximately 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high (27.4 meters long, 9.1 meters wide, and 13.7 meters high).

3 d 20 cubits is approximately 30 feet or 9.1 meters; also in verses 16 and 20.

3 e 10 cubits is approximately 15 feet or 4.6 meters; also in verses 23–26.

6 f 5 cubits is approximately 7.5 feet or 2.3 meters; also in verses 10 and 24.

6 g 6 cubits is approximately 9 feet or 2.7 meters.

6 h 7 cubits is approximately 10.5 feet or 3.2 meters.

8 i LXX and Targum; Hebrew middle

15 j Or pine or juniper or fir; also in verse 34

16 k Or the Holy of Holies

17 l 40 cubits is approximately 60 feet or 18.3 meters.

20 m Or with cedar

21 n Or made gold chains to draw (the curtains)

38 o Bul was the eighth month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of October and November.

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Solomon’s Palace Complex

1Solomon, however, took thirteen years to complete the construction of his entire palace.

2He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high,a with four rows of cedar pillars supporting the cedar beams.

3The house was roofed with cedar above the beams that rested on the pillars—forty-five beams, fifteen per row. 4There were three rows of high windows facing one another in three tiers. 5All the doorwaysb had rectangular frames, with the openings facing one another in three tiers.

6Solomon made his colonnade fifty cubits long and thirty cubits wide,c with a portico in front of it and a canopy with pillars in front of the portico.

7In addition, he built a hall for the throne, the Hall of Justice, where he was to judge. It was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling.d

8And the palace where Solomon would live, set further back, was of similar construction. He also made a palace like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married.

9All these buildings were constructed with costly stones, cut to size and trimmed with saws inside and out from the foundation to the eaves, and from the outside to the great courtyard. 10The foundations were laid with large, costly stones, some ten cubits longe and some eight cubits long.f
11Above these were high-grade stones, cut to size, and cedar beams.

12The great courtyard was surrounded by three rows of dressed stone and a row of trimmed cedar beams, as were the inner courtyard and portico of the house of the LORD.

The Pillars and Capitals
(2 Chronicles 3:14–17)

13Now King Solomon sent to bring Huramg from Tyre. 14He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.

15He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.h
16He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on top of the pillars, each capital five cubits high.i
17For the capitals on top of the pillars he made a network of lattice, with wreaths of chainwork, seven for each capital.j

18Likewise, he made the pillars with two rows of pomegranates around each grating to cover each capital atop the pillars. 19And the capitals atop the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, four cubits high.k
20On the capitals of both pillars, just above the rounded projection next to the network, were the two hundred pomegranates in rows encircling each capital.

21Thus he set up the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jachin,l and the pillar to the north he named Boaz.m
22And the tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. So the work of the pillars was completed.

The Molten Sea
(2 Chronicles 4:1–5)

23He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference.n
24Below the rim, ornamental buds encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea.

25The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center. 26It was a handbreadth thick,o and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths.p

The Ten Bronze Stands

27In addition, he made ten movable stands of bronze, each four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high.q

28This was the design of the stands: They had side panels attached to uprights, 29and on the panels between the uprights were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the uprights was a pedestal above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of beveled work.

30Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles and a basin resting on four supports, with wreaths at each side. 31The opening to each stand inside the crown at the top was one cubit deep,r with a round opening like the design of a pedestal, a cubit and a half wide.s And around its opening were engravings, but the panels of the stands were square, not round.

32There were four wheels under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the stand; each wheel was a cubit and a half in diameter. 33The wheels were made like chariot wheels; their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of cast metal.

34Each stand had four handles, one for each corner, projecting from the stand. 35At the top of each stand was a circular band half a cubit high.t The supports and panels were cast as a unit with the top of the stand.

36He engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and panels, wherever each had space, with wreaths all around. 37In this way he made the ten stands, each with the same casting, dimensions, and shape.

The Ten Bronze Basins
(2 Chronicles 4:6–8)

38He also made ten bronze basins, each holding forty bathsu and measuring four cubits across, one basin for each of the ten stands.

39He set five stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north, and he put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner of the temple.

Completion of the Bronze Works
(2 Chronicles 4:11–18)

40Additionally, Huram made the pots,v shovels, and sprinkling bowls.

So Huram finished all the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of the LORD:

41the two pillars;
the two bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars;
the two sets of network covering both bowls of the capitals atop the pillars;

42the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network covering both the bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars);

43the ten stands;
the ten basins on the stands;

44the Sea;
the twelve oxen underneath the Sea;

45and the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls.

All the articles that Huram made for King Solomon in the house of the LORD were made of burnished bronze. 46The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan.w
47Solomon left all these articles unweighed, because there were so many. The weight of the bronze could not be determined.

Completion of the Gold Furnishings
(2 Chronicles 4:19–22)

48Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of the LORD:

the golden altar;
the golden table on which was placed the Bread of the Presence;

49the lampstands of pure gold in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right side and five on the left;
the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs;

50the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers;
and the gold hinges for the doors of the inner temple (that is, the Most Holy Placex) as well as for the doors of the main hall of the temple.

51So all the work that King Solomon had performed for the house of the LORD was completed.

Then Solomon brought in the items his father David had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD.

Footnotes:

2 a The house was approximately 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high (45.7 meters long, 22.9 meters wide, and 13.7 meters high).

5 b Literally doorways and doorposts

6 c The colonnade was approximately 75 feet long and 45 feet wide (22.9 meters long and 13.7 meters wide).

7 d Syriac and Vulgate; Hebrew from floor to floor

10 e 10 cubits is approximately 15 feet or 4.6 meters.

10 f 8 cubits is approximately 12 feet or 3.7 meters.

13 g Hebrew Hiram, a variant of Huram; also in verses 40 and 45; see 2 Chronicles 4:11. Note that this is not Hiram king of Tyre mentioned in 1 Kings 5:1.

15 h Each pillar was approximately 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference (8.2 meters high and 5.5 meters in circumference).

16 i 5 cubits is approximately 7.5 feet or 2.3 meters.

17 j Hebrew; LXX one for each capital

19 k 4 cubits is approximately 6 feet or 1.8 meters; also in verse 38.

21 l Jachin probably means He establishes.

21 m Boaz probably means in Him is strength.

23 n The Sea was approximately 15 feet from rim to rim, 7.5 feet in height, and 45 feet in circumference (4.6 meters from rim to rim, 2.3 meters in height, and 13.7 meters in circumference).

26 o A handbreadth is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters.

26 p 2,000 baths is approximately 11,600 gallons or 44,000 liters; LXX does not include this sentence.

27 q The stands were approximately 6 feet in length and width, and 4.5 feet high (1.8 meters in length and width, and 1.4 meters high).

31 r One cubit is approximately 18 inches or 45.7 centimeters.

31 s A cubit and a half is approximately 2.25 feet or 68.6 centimeters wide; similarly in verse 32.

35 t Half a cubit is approximately 9 inches or 22.9 centimeters high.

38 u 40 baths is approximately 232 gallons or 880 liters.

40 v Many Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate (see also verse 45 and 2 Chronicles 4:11); many other Hebrew manuscripts basins

46 w Zarethan is a variant of Zeredah; see 2 Chronicles 4:17.

50 x Or the Holy of Holies

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The Ark Enters the Temple
(2 Chronicles 5:1–14)

1At that time Solomon assembled before him in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David. 2And all the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the feast in the seventh month,a the month of Ethanim.b

3When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark, 4and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting with all its sacred furnishings. So the priests and Levites carried them up.

5There, before the ark, King Solomon and the whole congregation of Israel who had assembled with him sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.

6Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place,c beneath the wings of the cherubim. 7For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles.

8The poles extended far enough that their ends were visible from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place;d and they are there to this day.

9There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb,e where the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites after they had come out of the land of Egypt.

10And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD 11so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

Solomon Blesses the LORD
(2 Chronicles 6:1–11)

12Then Solomon declared:

“The LORDf has said that He would dwell
in the thick cloud.

13I have indeed built You an exalted house,
a place for You to dwell forever.”

14And as the whole assembly of Israel stood there, the king turned around and blessed them all 15and said:

“Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His own hand what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying, 16‘Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there. But I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’

17Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 18But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart. 19Nevertheless, you are not the one to build it; but your son, your own offspring, will build the house for My Name.’

20Now the LORD has fulfilled the word that He spoke. I have succeeded my father David, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built the house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 21And there I have provided a place for the ark, which contains the covenant of the LORD that He made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
(2 Chronicles 6:12–42)

22Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, 23and said:

“O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. 24You have kept Your promise to Your servant, my father David. What You spoke with Your mouth You have fulfilled with Your hand this day.

25Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk before Me as you have done.’ 26And now, O God of Israel, please confirm what You promised to Your servant, my father David.

27But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built. 28Yet regard the prayer and plea of Your servant, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You today.

29May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. 30Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.

31When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple, 32then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

33When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading with You in this temple, 34then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel. May You restore them to the land You gave to their fathers.

35When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them, 36then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, so that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk. May You send rain on the land that You gave Your people as an inheritance.

37When famine or plague comes upon the land, or blight or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemy besieges them in their cities, whatever plague or sickness may come, 38then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple— 39be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men— 40so that they may fear You all the days they live in the land that You gave to our fathers.

41And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name— 42for they will hear of Your great name and mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, 43then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name.

44When Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the LORD in the direction of the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your Name, 45then may You hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and may You uphold their cause.

46When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near, 47and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’ 48and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray to You in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, 49then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition, and may You uphold their cause. 50May You forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions they have committed against You, and may You grant them compassion in the eyes of their captors to show them mercy.

51For they are Your people and Your inheritance; You brought them out of Egypt, out of the furnace for iron. 52May Your eyes be open to the pleas of Your servant and of Your people Israel, and may You listen to them whenever they call to You. 53For You, O Lord GOD, as Your inheritance, have set them apart from all the peoples of the earth, as You spoke through Your servant Moses when You brought our fathers out of Egypt.”

Solomon’s Benediction

54Now when Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the LORD, he got up before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. 55And he stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:

56“Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel according to all that He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He made through His servant Moses.

57May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He never leave us nor forsake us. 58May He incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep the commandments and statutes and ordinances He commanded our fathers.

59And may these words with which I have made my petition before the LORD be near to the LORD our God day and night, so that He may uphold the cause of His servant and of His people Israel as each day requires, 60so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God. There is no other!

61So let your heart be fully devoted to the LORD our God, as it is this day, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments.”

Sacrifices of Dedication
(2 Chronicles 7:4–10)

62Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the LORD. 63And Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house of the LORD.

64On that same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of the LORD, and there he offered the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, since the bronze altar before the LORD was too small to contain all these offerings.

65So at that time Solomon and all Israel with him—a great assembly of people from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt—kept the feast before the LORD our God for seven days and seven more days—fourteen days in all.

66On the fifteenth dayg Solomon sent the people away. So they blessed the king and went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things that the LORD had done for His servant David and for His people Israel.

Footnotes:

2 a That is, the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths or Shelters); similarly in verse 65; see Leviticus 23:33–36.

2 b Ethanim was the seventh month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of September and October.

6 c Or the Holy of Holies

8 d Literally not from outside

9 e That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

12 f Some LXX Manuscripts The Lord has set the sun in the heavens, but

66 g Hebrew On the eighth day, probably referring to the day following the seven-day feast; see 2 Chronicles 7:9–10.

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The LORD’s Response to Solomon
(2 Chronicles 7:11–22)

1Now when Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and had achieved all that he had desired to do, 2the LORD appeared to him a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3And the LORD said to him:

“I have heard your prayer and petition before Me. I have consecrated this temple you have built by putting My Name there forever; My eyes and My heart will be there for all time.

4And as for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, with a heart of integrity and uprightness, doing all I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and ordinances, 5then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised your father David when I said, ‘You will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

6But if indeed you or your sons turn away from following Me and do not keep the commandments and statutes I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods, 7then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples.

8And when this temple has become a heap of rubble,a all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 9And others will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—because of this, the LORD has brought all this disaster upon them.’ ”

Solomon’s Additional Achievements
(2 Chronicles 8:1–18)

10Now at the end of the twenty years during which Solomon built these two houses, the house of the LORD and the royal palace, 11King Solomon gave twenty towns in the land of Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre, who had supplied him with cedar and cypressb logs and gold for his every desire. 12So Hiram went out from Tyre to inspect the towns that Solomon had given him, but he was not pleased with them.

13“What are these towns you have given me, my brother?” asked Hiram, and he called them the Land of Cabul,c as they are called to this day.

14And Hiram had sent the king 120 talents of gold.d

15This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces,e and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

16Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. 17So Solomon rebuilt Gezer, Lower Beth-horon, 18Baalath, and Tamarf in the Wilderness of Judah,g
19as well as all the store cities that Solomon had for his chariots and horsesh —whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout the land of his dominion.

20As for all the people who remained of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (the people who were not Israelites)— 21their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destructioni—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

22But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slavery, because they were his men of war, his servants, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and cavalry. 23They were also the chief officers over Solomon’s projects: 550 supervisors over the people who did the work.

24As soon as Pharaoh’s daughter had come up from the City of David to the palace that Solomon had built for her, he built the supporting terraces.

25Three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar he had built for the LORD, burning incense with them before the LORD. So he completed the temple.

26King Solomon also assembled a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Elothj in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.k
27And Hiram sent his servants, men who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s servants. 28They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there—420 talentsl—and delivered it to Solomon.

Footnotes:

8 a Some LXX manuscripts, Syriac, and Arabic; Hebrew And though this temple is now exalted; see also 2 Chronicles 7:21.

11 b Or pine or juniper or fir

13 c Cabul sounds like the Hebrew for good-for-nothing.

14 d 120 talents is approximately 4.52 tons or 4.1 metric tons of gold.

15 e Hebrew the Millo; also in verse 24

18 f Alternate MT reading; the other alternate reads Tadmor

18 g Hebrew in the wilderness in the land

19 h Or horsemen or charioteers

21 i Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

26 j Eloth is a variant of Elath; see LXX, 2 Kings 14:22, and 2 Kings 16:6.

26 k Or the Sea of Reeds

28 l 420 talents is approximately 15.8 tons or 14.4 metric tons of gold.

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The Queen of Sheba
(2 Chronicles 9:1–12)

1Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. 2She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones.

So she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind. 3And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain.

4When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built, 5the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants and cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.

6She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and wisdom is true. 7But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told to me. Your wisdom and prosperity have far exceeded the report I heard. 8How blessed are your men!a How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! 9Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, He has made you king to carry out justice and righteousness.”

10Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold,b a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again was such an abundance of spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

11(The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir a great cargo of almugc wood and precious stones. 12The king made the almug wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had such almug wood been brought in, nor has such been seen to this day.)

13King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants.

Solomon’s Wealth and Splendor
(2 Chronicles 1:14–17; 2 Chronicles 9:13–28)

14The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents,d
15not including the revenue from the merchants, traders, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land.

16King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of golde went into each shield. 17He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; three minas of goldf went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

18Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. 19The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest. 20Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.

21All King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, because it was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon. 22For the king had the ships of Tarshishg at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.h

23So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 24The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart. 25Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.

26Solomon accumulatedi 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses,j which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.k

28Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue;l the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. 29A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver,m and a horse for a hundred and fifty.n Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.

Footnotes:

8 a LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate your wives

10 b 120 talents is approximately 4.52 tons or 4.1 metric tons of gold.

11 c Almug is probably a variant of algum; also in verse 12; see 2 Chronicles 2:8.

14 d 666 talents is approximately 25.1 tons or 22.8 metric tons of gold.

16 e 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of gold.

17 f 3 minas is approximately 3.77 pounds or 1.71 kilograms of gold; possibly a reference to double minas, that is, approximately 7.54 pounds or 3.42 kilograms.

22 g Or a fleet of trading ships; twice in this verse

22 h Or baboons

26 i Literally Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had

26 j Or horsemen or charioteers

27 k Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

28 l Probably an area in Cilicia, a province in the southeast of Asia Minor

29 m 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of silver.

29 n 150 shekels is approximately 3.8 pounds or 1.7 kilograms of silver.

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Solomon’s Foreign Wives

1King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. 2These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. 3He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away.

4For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been. 5Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcoma the abomination of the Ammonites. 6So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely.

7At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites. 8He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

God’s Anger against Solomon

9Now the LORD grew angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10Although He had warned Solomon explicitly not to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command.

11Then the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. 12Nevertheless, for the sake of your father David, I will not do it during your lifetime; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”

Hadad’s Return

14Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.

15Earlier, when David was in Edom, Joab the commander of the army had gone to bury the dead and had struck down every male in Edom. 16Joab and all Israel had stayed there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom. 17But Hadad, still just a young boy, had fled to Egypt, along with some Edomites who were servants of his father.

18Hadad and his men set out from Midian and went to Paran. They took men from Paran with them and went to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave Hadad a house and land and provided him with food.

19There Hadad found such great favor in the sight of Pharaoh that he gave to him in marriage the sister of Queen Tahpenes, his own wife. 20And the sister of Tahpenes bore Hadad a son named Genubath. Tahpenes herself weaned him in Pharaoh’s palace, and Genubath lived there among the sons of Pharaoh.

21When Hadad heard in Egypt that David had rested with his fathers and that Joab, the commander of the army, was dead, he said to Pharaoh, “Let me go, that I may return to my own country.”

22But Pharaoh asked him, “What have you lacked here with me that you suddenly want to go back to your own country?”

“Nothing,” Hadad replied, “but please let me go.”

Rezon’s Hostility

23And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah, 24and had gathered men to himself. When David killed the Zobaites, Rezon captained a band of raiders and went to Damascus, where they settled and gained control.

25Rezon was Israel’s enemy throughout the days of Solomon, adding to the trouble caused by Hadad. So Rezon ruled over Aram with hostility toward Israel.

Jeroboam’s Rebellion

26Now Jeroboam son of Nebat was an Ephraimite from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah. Jeroboam was a servant of Solomon, but he rebelled against the king, 27and this is the account of his rebellion against the king.

Solomon had built the supporting terracesb and repaired the gap in the wall of the city of his father David. 28Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.

29During that time, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met Jeroboam on the road as he was going out of Jerusalem. Now Ahijah had wrapped himself in a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the open field.

30And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces, 31and said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you ten tribes. 32But one tribe will remain for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.

33For they havec forsaken Me to worship Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites. They have not walked in My ways, nor done what is right in My eyes, nor kept My statutes and judgments, as Solomon’s father David did.

34Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand, because I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David My servant, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and statutes. 35But I will take ten tribes of the kingdom from the hand of his son and give them to you. 36I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name. 37But as for you, I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your heart desires, and you will be king over Israel.

38If you listen to all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight in order to keep My statutes and commandments as My servant David did, then I will be with you. I will build you a lasting dynasty just as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. 39Because of this, I will humble David’s descendants—but not forever.’ ”

40Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, where he remained until the death of Solomon.

The Death of Solomon
(2 Chronicles 9:29–31)

41As for the rest of the acts of Solomon—all that he did, as well as his wisdom—are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon? 42Thus the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

43And Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

5 a Milcom is a variant of Molech; also in verse 33; see verse 7 and Leviticus 18:21.

27 b Hebrew the Millo

33 c Hebrew; LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate he has; twice in this verse

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Rebellion against Rehoboam
(2 Chronicles 10:1–15)

1Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. 2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he was stilla in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since. 3So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam and said, 4“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then return to me.” So the people departed.

6Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.

7They replied, “If you will be a servant to these people and serve them this day, and if you will respond by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

8But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him. 9He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you should make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’ ”

12After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.” 13And the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders 14and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

15So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word He had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

The Kingdom Divided
(2 Chronicles 10:16–19)

16When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What portion do we have in David,
and what inheritance in the son of Jesse?

To your tents, O Israel!

Look now to your own house, O David!”

So the Israelites went home, 17but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.

18Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram,b who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem. 19So to this day Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David.

Shemaiah’s Prophecy
(2 Chronicles 11:1–4)

20When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah followed the house of David.

21And when Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the whole house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against the house of Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.

22But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: 23“Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the rest of the people 24that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you must return home, for this word is from Me.’ ”

So they listened to the word of the LORD and turned back according to the word of the LORD.

Jeroboam’s Idolatry

25Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And from there he went out and built Penuel.c

26Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom might revert to the house of David. 27If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, their hearts will return to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah; then they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”

28After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people,d “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

29One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 30And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.e

31Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites. 32And Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month,f like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar; he made this offering in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had set up, and he installed priests in Bethel for the high places he had set up.

33On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar he had set up in Bethel. So he ordained a feast for the Israelites, offered sacrifices on the altar, and burned incense.

Footnotes:

2 a Or he remained

18 b Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts and Syriac Adoniram; see 1 Kings 4:6 and 1 Kings 5:14.

25 c Penuel is a variant of Peniel; see Genesis 32:30.

28 d Hebrew to them

30 e Likely reading of the original Hebrew text; MT the people walked to the one as far as Dan; LXX the people went to the one at Bethel and to the other as far as Dan

32 f This feast was exactly one month after the annual Feast of Tabernacles in Judah; see Leviticus 23:34.

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Jeroboam’s Hand Withers
(2 Kings 23:4–20; 2 Chronicles 34:3–7)

1Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD. 2And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, “O altar, O altar, this is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David, and upon you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense upon you, and human bones will be burned upon you.’ ”a

3That day the man of God gave a sign, saying, “The LORD has spoken this sign: ‘Surely the altar will be split apart, and the ashes upon it will be poured out.’ ”

4Now when King Jeroboam, who was at the altar in Bethel, heard the word that the man of God had cried out against it, he stretched out his hand and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward him withered, so that he could not pull it back. 5And the altar was split apart, and the ashes poured out, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.

6Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray that my hand may be restored.”

So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before.

7Then the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.”

8But the man of God replied, “If you were to give me half your possessions, I still would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. 9For this is what I was commanded by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’ ”

10So the man of God went another way and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel.

The Old Prophet and the Man of God

11Now a certain old prophet was living in Bethel, and his sonsb came and told him all the deeds that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words that the man had spoken to the king.

12“Which way did he go?” their father asked.

And his sons showed himc the way taken by the man of God, who had come from Judah. 13So the prophet said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.”

Then they saddled the donkey for him, and he mounted it 14and went after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak treed and asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?”

“I am,” he replied.

15So the prophet said to the man of God, “Come home with me and eat some bread.”

16But the man replied, “I cannot return with you or eat bread or drink water with you in this place. 17For I have been told by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’ ”

18Then the prophet replied, “I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ”

The old prophet was lying to him, 19but the man of God went back with him, ate bread in his house, and drank water.

20While they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back, 21and the prophet cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the commandment that the LORD your God gave you, 22but you went back and ate bread and drank water in the place where He told you not to do so, your body shall never reach the tomb of your fathers.’ ”

23And after the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the old prophet who had brought him back saddled the donkey for him. 24As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it.

25And there were men passing by who saw the body lying in the road with the lion standing beside it, and they went and reported this in the city where the old prophet lived.

26When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard this, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the command of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, and it has mauled him and killed him, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to him.”

27Then the old prophet instructed his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled it, 28and he went and found the body lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. The lion had not eaten the body or mauled the donkey. 29So the old prophet lifted up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back to his own city to mourn for him and bury him. 30Then he laid the body in his own tomb, and they lamented over him, “Oh, my brother!”

31After he had buried him, the prophet said to his sons, “When I die, you must bury me in the tomb where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones, 32for the message that he cried out by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel and against all the shrines on the high places in the cities of Samaria will surely come to pass.”

33Even after these events, Jeroboam did not repent of his evil ways, but again he appointed priests for the high places from every class of people. He ordained anyone who desired to be a priest of the high places. 34And this was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its extermination and destruction from the face of the earth.

Footnotes:

2 a See 2 Kings 23:16.

11 b LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew son

12 c LXX; Hebrew had seen

14 d Or a terebinth or a great tree

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Ahijah’s Prophecy against Jeroboam

1At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill, 2and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Now get up, disguise yourself so they will not recognize you as my wife, and go to Shiloh. For Ahijah the prophet is there; it was he who spoke about my kingship over this people. 3Take with you ten loaves of bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will become of the boy.”

4Jeroboam’s wife did as instructed; she arose and went to Shiloh and arrived at Ahijah’s house. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. 5But the LORD had said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to ask you about her son, for he is ill. You are to say such and such to her, because when she arrives, she will be disguised.”

6So when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet entering the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam! Why are you disguised? For I have been sent to you with bad news. 7Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler over My people Israel. 8I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you. But you were not like My servant David, who kept My commandments and followed Me with all his heart, doing only what was right in My eyes.

9You have done more evil than all who came before you. You have proceeded to make for yourself other gods and molten images to provoke Me, and you have flung Me behind your back. 10Because of all this, behold, I am bringing disaster on the house of Jeroboam:

I will cut off from Jeroboam every male,a
both slave and free,
in Israel;

I will burn up the house of Jeroboam
as one burns up dung until it is gone!

11Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city
will be eaten by dogs,
and anyone who dies in the field
will be eaten by the birds of the air.’

For the LORD has spoken.

12As for you, get up and go home. When your feet enter the city, the child will die. 13All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. For this is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will receive a proper burial,b because only in him has the LORD, the God of Israel, found any good in the house of Jeroboam.

14Moreover, the LORD will raise up for Himself a king over Israel who will cut off the house of Jeroboam. This is the day—yes, even today! 15For the LORD will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that He gave their fathers, and He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates,c because they have made their Asherah poles, provoking the LORD to anger. 16So He will give Israel over on account of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”

17Then Jeroboam’s wife got up and departed for Tirzah, and as soon as she stepped over the threshold of the house, the boy died. 18And they buried him, and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servant Ahijah the prophet.

Nadab Succeeds Jeroboam

19As for the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he waged war and how he reigned, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

20And the length of Jeroboam’s reign was twenty-two years, and he rested with his fathers, and his son Nadab reigned in his place.

Rehoboam Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 12:13–14)

21Meanwhile, Rehoboam son of Solomon reigned in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to put His Name. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.

22And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and by the sins they committed they provoked Him to jealous anger more than all their fathers had done. 23They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. 24There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land. They imitated all the abominations of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

Shishak Raids Jerusalem
(2 Chronicles 12:1–12)

25In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem. 26He seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields that Solomon had made.

27Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place and committed them to the care of the captains of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. 28And whenever the king entered the house of the LORD, the guards would bear the shields, and later they would return them to the guardroom.

29As for the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, along with all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

30There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their days. 31And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David; his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite. And his son Abijamd reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

10 a Literally (all) those who urinate against a wall

13 b Literally who will come to the grave

15 c Hebrew the River

31 d Abijam is a variant of Abijah; some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX Abijah; see 2 Chronicles 12:16.

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Abijam Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 13:1–3)

1In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijama became king of Judah, 2and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.b

3And Abijam walked in all the sins that his father before him had committed, and his heart was not as fully devoted to the LORD his God as the heart of David his forefather had been. 4Nevertheless, for the sake of David, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and to make Jerusalem strong. 5For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not turned aside from anything the LORD commanded all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

6And there was war between the houses of Rehoboamc and Jeroboam all the days of Abijam’s life.d

7As for the rest of the acts of Abijam, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

8And Abijam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David, and his son Asa reigned in his place.

Asa Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 14:1–15; 2 Chronicles 15:8–19)

9In the twentieth year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Asa became king of Judah, 10and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother’se name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.

11And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done. 12He banished the male shrine prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

14The high places were not removed, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days. 15And he brought into the house of the LORD the silver and gold and other articles that he and his father had dedicated.

War between Asa and Baasha
(2 Chronicles 16:1–6)

16Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their days. 17Baasha king of Israel went to war against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.

18So Asa withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace. He entrusted it to his servants and sent them with this message to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus: 19“Let there be a treatyf between me and you, between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

20And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and the whole land of Naphtali, including the region of Chinnereth.

21When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah. 22Then King Asa summoned all the men of Judah,g with no exceptions, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin, as well as Mizpah.

Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa
(2 Chronicles 17:1–19)

23Now the rest of the acts of Asa, along with all his might, all his accomplishments, and the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? In his old age, however, he became diseased in his feet.

24And Asa rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his father David, and his son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place.

Nadab Reigns in Israel

25In the second year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned two years. 26And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.

27Then Baasha son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against Nadab, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon of the Philistines while Nadab and all Israel were besieging the city. 28In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha killed Nadab and reigned in his place.

29As soon as Baasha became king, he struck down the entire household of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone that breathed, but destroyed them all according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, 30because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he had provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger.

31As for the rest of the acts of Nadab, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 32And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their days.

Baasha Reigns in Israel

33In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah twenty-four years.

34And Baasha did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.

Footnotes:

1 a Abijam is a variant of Abijah; some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX Abijah; also in verses 3, 6, 7, and 8; see 2 Chronicles 12:16.

2 b Abishalom is a variant of Absalom; also in verse 10; see 2 Chronicles 11:20.

6 c Literally war between Rehoboam (most Hebrew manuscripts); some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac war between Abijam (that is, Abijah); most LXX texts do not contain this verse.

6 d Literally of his life

10 e Or The queen mother’s; Hebrew His mother’s; see verses 2 and 13.

19 f Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant; twice in this verse.

22 g Or Then King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah

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Jehu’s Prophecy against Baasha

1Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu son of Hanani against Baasha, saying: 2“Even though I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over My people Israel, you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have caused My people Israel to sin and to provoke Me to anger by their sins. 3So now I will consume Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat:

4Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city
will be eaten by dogs,
and anyone who dies in the field
will be eaten by the birds of the air.”

5As for the rest of the acts of Baasha, along with his accomplishments and might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 6And Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah, and his son Elah reigned in his place.

7Moreover, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands and becoming like the house of Jeroboam, and also because Baasha had struck down the house of Jeroboam.

Elah Reigns in Israel

8In the twenty-sixth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years.

9However, while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk in the house of Arza the steward of his household there, Elah’s servant Zimri, the commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. 10So in the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Zimri went in, struck Elah down, and killed him. And Zimri reigned in his place.

11As soon as Zimri began to reign and was seated on the throne, he struck down the entire household of Baasha. He did not leave a single male, whether a kinsman or friend. 12So Zimri destroyed the entire household of Baasha, according to the word that the LORD had spoken against Baasha through Jehu the prophet. 13This happened because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed and had caused Israel to commit, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger with their worthless idols.

14As for the rest of the acts of Elah, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

Zimri Reigns in Israel

15In the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah for seven days. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon of the Philistines, 16and the people in the camp heard that Zimri had not only conspired but had also struck down the king. So there in the camp that very day, all Israel proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel.

17Then Omri and all the Israelites marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah. 18When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down upon himself. So he died 19because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the sight of the LORD and following the example of Jeroboam and the sin he had committed and had caused Israel to commit.

20As for the rest of the acts of Zimri and the treason he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

Omri Reigns in Israel

21At that time the people of Israel were divided: Half of the people supported Tibni son of Ginath as king, and half supported Omri. 22But the followers of Omri proved stronger than those of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.

23In the thirty-first year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. 24He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silvera and built a city there, calling it Samaria after the name of Shemer, who had owned the hill.

25But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him. 26For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins, which he caused Israel to commit, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger with their worthless idols.

27As for the rest of the acts of Omri, along with his accomplishments and the might he exercised, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

28And Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and his son Ahab reigned in his place.

Ahab Reigns in Israel, Marries Jezebel

29In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty-two years.

30However, Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. 31And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.

32First, Ahab set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria. 33Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.

34In Ahab’s days, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest he set up its gates, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.b

Footnotes:

24 a 2 talents is approximately 151 pounds or 68.4 kilograms of silver.

34 b See Joshua 6:26.

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The Ravens Feed Elijah

1Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead,a said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD lives—the God of Israel before whom I stand—there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”

2Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah: 3“Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan.b
4And you are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

5So Elijah did what the LORD had told him, and he went and lived by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan. 6The ravens would bring him bread and meat in the morning and evening, and he would drink from the brook. 7Some time later, however, the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.

The Widow of Zarephath

8Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 9“Get up and go to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”

10So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, so that I may drink.” 11And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread.”

12But she replied, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.”

13“Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. “Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have, and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son, 14for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’ ”

15So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and there was food every day for Elijah and the woman and her household. 16The jar of flour was not exhausted and the jug of oil did not run dry, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through Elijah.

Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son

17Later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill, and his sickness grew worse and worse, until no breath remained in him. 18“O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”

19But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.”

So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?” 21Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!”

22And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the child’s life returned to him, and he lived. 23Then Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. “Look, your son is alive,” Elijah declared.

24Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is truth.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or who was from Tishbe in Gilead

3 b Or the Cherith Ravine, near the Jordan; also in verse 5

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◀   ◀   1 Kings 18   ▶   ▶

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Elijah’s Message to Ahab

1After a long time, in the third year of the drought,a the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.”

2So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria, 3and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace.

(Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD, 4for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)

5Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring and every valley. Perhaps we will find grass to keep the horses and mules alive so that we will not have to destroy any livestock.”

6So they divided the land to explore. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.

7Now as Obadiah went on his way, Elijah suddenly met him. When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”

8“It is I,” he answered. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here!’ ”

9But Obadiah replied, “How have I sinned, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death? 10As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you. 11And now you say, ‘Go tell your master that Elijah is here!’

12I do not know where the Spirit of the LORD may carry you off when I leave you. Then when I go and tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth. 13Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD, fifty men per cave, and I provided them with food and water. 14And now you say, ‘Go tell your lord that Elijah is here!’ He will kill me!”

15Then Elijah said, “As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will present myself to Ahab today.”

Elijah on Mount Carmel

16So Obadiah went to inform Ahab, who went to meet Elijah. 17When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”

18“I have not troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals. 19Now summon all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people did not answer a word.

22Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23Get two bulls for us. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. And I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. 24Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.”

And all the people answered, “What you say is good.”

25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”

26And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!”

But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made.

27At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”

28So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them.

29Midday passed, and they kept on raving until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no response; no one answered, no one paid attention.

30Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been torn down.

31And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.” 32And with the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.b

33Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, placed it on the wood, 34and said, “Fill four waterpots and pour the water on the offering and on the wood.”c

“Do it a second time,” he said, and they did it a second time.

“Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time.

35So the water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

Elijah’s Prayer

36At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. 37Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.”

38Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.

39When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”

40Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.

The LORD Sends Rain

41And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”

42So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the summit of Carmel, bent down on the ground, and put his face between his knees. 43“Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant.

So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.”

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

44On the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.”

And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

45Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

46And the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his beltd and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally And the days were many, and in the third year,

32 b 2 seahs is approximately 13.2 dry quarts or 14.6 liters (probably about 25.4 pounds or 11.5 kilograms of seed).

34 c Some texts break verse 33 and begin verse 34 at this point.

46 d Hebrew he girded up his loins

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◀   ◀   1 Kings 19   ▶   ▶

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Elijah Flees from Jezebel

1Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the lives of those you killed!”

3And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4while he himself traveled on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

5Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep.

Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”

6And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.

7A second time the angel of the LORD returned and touched him, saying, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”

8So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb,a the mountain of God.

The LORD Speaks to Elijah at Horeb

9There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”b

11Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.”

And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

12After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a still, small voice. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”

15Then the LORD said to him, “Go back by the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16You are also to anoint Jehu sonc of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah to succeed you as prophet.

17Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

18Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baald and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

The Call of Elisha

19So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him.

20So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.”

“Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?”

21So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. With the oxen’s equipment, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah.

Footnotes:

8 a That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

10 b Cited in Romans 11:3; here and in verse 14

16 c Or grandson; see 2 Kings 9:14.

18 d Cited in Romans 11:4

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◀   ◀   1 Kings 20   ▶   ▶

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Ben-hadad Attacks Samaria

1Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it. 2Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, 3saying, “This is what Ben-hadad says:a ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and your best wives and children are mine!’ ”

4And the king of Israel replied, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”

5The messengers came back and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have sent to you to demand your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children. 6But about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to search your palace and the houses of your servants. They will seize and carry away all that is precious to you.’ ”

7Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, “Please take note and see that this man is looking for trouble, for when he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, I did not deny him.”

8And the elders and the people all said, “Do not listen to him or consent to his terms.”

9So Ahab answered the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you demanded of your servant the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’ ”

So the messengers departed and relayed the message to Ben-hadad.

10Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.”

11And the king of Israel replied, “Tell him: ‘The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.’ ”

12Ben-hadad received this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents,b and he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they stationed themselves against the city.

Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad

13Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’ ”

14“By whom?” Ahab asked.

And the prophet replied, “This is what the LORD says: ‘By the young officers of the district governors.’ ”

“Who will start the battle?” asked Ahab.

“You will,” answered the prophet.

15So Ahab assembled the young officers of the district governors, and there were 232 men. And after them, he assembled the rest of the Israelite troops, 7,000 in all.

16They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk. 17And the young officers of the district governors marched out first.

Now Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, who reported to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”

18“If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.”

19Meanwhile, these young officers of the district governors marched out of the city, with the army behind them, 20and each one struck down his opponent. So the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with the cavalry.

21Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the horses and chariots, inflicting a great slaughter on the Arameans.

22Afterward, the prophet approached the king of Israel and said, “Go and strengthen your position, and take note what you must do, for in the springc the king of Aram will come up against you.”

23Meanwhile, the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they prevailed over us. Instead, we should fight them on the plains; surely then we will prevail. 24So do this: Dismiss all the kings from their positions and replace them with other officers. 25And you must raise an army like the one you have lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight the Israelites on the plain, where we will surely prevail.”

And the king approved their plan and acted accordingly.

Another War with Ben-hadad

26In the spring, Ben-hadad mobilized the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. 27The Israelites also mobilized, gathered supplies, and marched out to meet them.

The Israelites camped before them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside.

28Then the man of God approached the king of Israel and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not of the valleys, I will deliver all this great army into your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ ”

29For seven days the armies camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle ensued, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—a hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day.

30The rest of them fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid in an inner room.

Ahab Spares Ben-hadad

31Then the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful. Let us go out to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

32So with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’ ”

And the king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, and they quickly grasped at this word and replied, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.”

“Go and get him!” said the king.

Then Ben-hadad came out, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot.

34Ben-hadad said to him, “I will restore the cities my father took from your father; you may set up your own marketplaces in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.”

“By this treatyd I release you,” Ahab replied. So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.

A Prophet Reproves Ahab

35Meanwhile, by the word of the LORD, one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me, please!”

But the man refused to strike him.

36Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, as soon as you depart from me a lion will kill you.”

And when he left, a lion found him and killed him.

37Then the prophet found another man and said, “Strike me, please!”

So the man struck him and wounded him, 38and the prophet went and waited on the road for the king, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes.

39As the king passed by, he cried out to the king: “Your servant had marched out into the middle of the battle, when suddenly a man came over with a captive and told me, ‘Guard this man! If he goes missing for any reason, your life will be exchanged for his life, or you will weigh out a talent of silver.e’ 40But while your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”

And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you have pronounced it on yourself.”

41Then the prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.

42And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction,f your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’ ”

43Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went home to Samaria.

Footnotes:

3 a Some texts break verse 2 and begin verse 3 at this point.

12 b Or in Succoth; also in verse 16

22 c Literally at the turn of the year; similarly in verse 26

34 d Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant; twice in this verse.

39 e A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of silver.

42 f Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

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◀   ◀   1 Kings 21   ▶   ▶

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Naboth’s Vineyard

1Some time later, Naboth the Jezreelite happened to own a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2So Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to use as a vegetable garden, since it is next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place—or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.”

3But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”

4So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat.

5Soon his wife Jezebel came in and asked, “Why are you so sullen that you refuse to eat?”

6Ahab answered, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and told him, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ And he replied, ‘I will not give you my vineyard!’ ”

7But his wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you not reign over Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful, for I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

Jezebel’s Plot

8Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9In the letters she wrote:

“Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people. 10But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

11So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel had instructed in the letters she had written to them. 12They proclaimed a fast and gave Naboth a seat of honor among the people.

13And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!”

So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. 14Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

15When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, who refused to give it to you for silver. For Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.”

16And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

Elijah Denounces Ahab and Jezebel

17Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18“Get up and go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria. See, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, of which he has gone to take possession.

19Tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’

Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’a”

20When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.”

He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD. 21This is what the LORD says:b

‘I will bring calamity on you
and consume your descendants;

I will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel,
both slave and free.

22I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat
and like that of Baasha son of Ahijah,
because you have provoked My anger
and caused Israel to sin.’

23And the LORD also speaks concerning Jezebel:

‘The dogs will devour Jezebel
by the wall of Jezreel.’c

24Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city
will be eaten by dogs,
and anyone who dies in the field
will be eaten by the birds of the air.”

Ahab’s Repentance

25(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel. 26He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.)

27When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.

28Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: 29“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”

Footnotes:

19 a See 1 Kings 22:38

21 b See LXX; the source of the quotation is clarified in verses 17 and 23; Hebrew Behold.

23 c Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 9:36) ‘The dogs will devour Jezebel at the plot of ground at Jezreel.’

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Ahab and the False Prophets
(2 Chronicles 18:1–11)

1Then three years passed without war between Aram and Israel.

2However, in the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel, 3who said to his servants, “Do you not know that Ramoth-gilead is ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?”

4So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth-gilead?”

Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel, “I am like you, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.”

5But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”

6So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?”

“Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

7But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here of whom we can inquire?”

8The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man who can ask the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.

9So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

10Dressed in royal attire, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.

11Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.’ ”

12And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab
(2 Chronicles 18:12–27)

13Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

14But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”

15When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?”

“Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.”

16But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?”

17So Micaiah declared:

“I saw all Israel scattered on the hills
like sheep without a shepherd.

And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master;
let each one return home in peace.’ ”

18Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good for me, but only bad?”

19Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.

20And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’

And one suggested this, and another that.

21Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’a

‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.

22And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’

‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’

23So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”

24Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?”

25Micaiah replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.”

26And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, 27and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’ ”

28But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”

Ahab’s Defeat and Death
(2 Chronicles 18:28–34)

29So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

31Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

32When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely this is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. 33And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

34However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn aroundb and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

35The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. And the blood from his wound ran out onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died. 36As the sun was setting, the cry rang out in the army:

“Every man to his own city,
and every man to his own land!”

37So the king died and was brought to Samaria, where they buried him. 38And the chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria where the prostitutes bathed,c and the dogs licked up Ahab’s blood, according to the word that the LORD had spoken.d

39As for the rest of the acts of Ahab, along with all his accomplishments and the ivory palace and all the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

40And Ahab rested with his fathers, and his son Ahaziah reigned in his place.

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 20:31–34)

41In the fourth year of Ahab’s reign over Israel, Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah. 42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

43And Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.

The high places, however, were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 44Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.

45As for the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, along with the might he exercised and how he waged war, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 46He banished from the land the male shrine prostitutes who remained from the days of his father Asa. 47And there was no king in Edom; a deputy served as king.

48Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshishe to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail, because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber. 49At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants sail with your servants,” but Jehoshaphat refused.

50And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his father David. And his son Jehoram reigned in his place.

Ahaziah Reigns in Israel
(2 Kings 1:1–16)

51In the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria two years. 52And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.

53Ahaziah served and worshiped Baal, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.

Footnotes:

21 a Some texts break verse 21 and begin verse 22 at this point.

34 b Literally Turn your hand

38 c Or the pool of Samaria, where they cleaned the weapons

38 d See 1 Kings 21:19.

48 e Or a fleet of trading ships

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25)

Elijah Denounces Ahaziah
(1 Kings 22:51–53)

1After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel.

2Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers and instructed them: “Go inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this injury.”

3But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are on your way to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 4Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘You will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.’ ”

So Elijah departed.

5When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you returned?”

6They replied, “A man came up to meet us and said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and tell him that this is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending these men to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.’ ”

7The king asked them, “What sort of man came up to meet you and spoke these words to you?”

8“He was a hairy man,a” they answered, “with a leather belt around his waist.”

“It was Elijah the Tishbite,” said the king.

9Then King Ahaziah sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. So the captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down!’ ”

10Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.”

And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.

11So the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. And the captain said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down at once!’ ”

12Again Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.”

And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.

13So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. And the third captain went up, fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, “Man of God, may my life and the lives of these fifty servants please be precious in your sight. 14Behold, fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty, with all their men. But now may my life be precious in your sight.”

15Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him.”

So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.

16And Elijah said to King Ahaziah, “This is what the LORD says: Is there really no God in Israel for you to inquire of His word? Is that why you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.”

Jehoram Succeeds Ahaziah

17So Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. And since he had no son, Jehoramb succeeded him in the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat over Judah.

18As for the rest of the acts of Ahaziah, along with his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

Footnotes:

8 a Or He had a garment of hair

17 b Jehoram is a variant spelling of Joram.

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Elijah Taken Up to Heaven

1Shortly before the LORD took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal, 2and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.”

But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”

So they went down to Bethel.

3Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.”

4And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.”

But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”

So they went to Jericho.

5Then the sons of the prophets at Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.”

6And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”

But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”

So the two of them went on.

7Then a company of fifty of the sons of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing Elijah and Elisha as the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and to the left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken away from you?”

“Please, let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

10“You have requested a difficult thing,” said Elijah. “Nevertheless, if you see me as I am taken from you, it will be yours. But if not, then it will not be so.”

11As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind.

12As Elisha watched, he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And he saw Elijah no more. So taking hold of his own clothes, he tore them in two.

13Elisha also picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah, and he went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked.

And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over.

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

15When the sons of the prophets who were facing him from Jericho saw what had happened, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.

16“Look now,” they said to Elisha, “we your servants have fifty valiant men. Please let them go and search for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and put him on one of the mountains or in one of the valleys.”

“Do not send them,” Elisha replied.

17But when they pressed him to the point of embarrassment, he said, “Send them.”

And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find Elijah.

18When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

Elisha Heals the Waters of Jericho

19Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please note, our lord, that the city’s location is good, as you can see. But the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.”

20“Bring me a new bowl,” he replied, “and put some salt in it.”

So they brought it to him, 21and Elisha went out to the spring, cast the salt into it, and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will it cause death or unfruitfulness.a’ ”

22And the waters there have been healthy to this day, according to the word spoken by Elisha.

Elisha Mocked

23From there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking up the road, a group of boysb came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”

24Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD.

Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

25And Elisha went on to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

Footnotes:

21 a Or barrenness

23 b Or some small youths or some insignificant young men; similarly in verse 24

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Moab’s Rebellion

1In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Jehorama son of Ahab became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twelve years. 2And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as his father and mother had done. He removed the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.

3Nevertheless, he clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.

4Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder,b and he would render to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams. 5But after the death of Ahab, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6So at that time King Jehoram set out from Samaria and mobilized all Israel. 7And he sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”

“I will go,” replied Jehoshaphat. “I am like you, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.” 8Then he asked, “Which way shall we go up?”

“By way of the Desert of Edom,” replied Joram.

9So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals.

10“Alas,” said the king of Israel, “for the LORD has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab!”

11But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here? Let us inquire of the LORD through him.”

And one of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.c”

12Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

13Elisha, however, said to the king of Israel, “What have we to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and of your mother!”

“No,” replied the king of Israel, “for it is the LORD who has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”

14Then Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not for my regard for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or acknowledge you. 15But now, bring me a harpist.d”

And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha 16and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’ 17For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ 18This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. 19And you shall attack every fortified city and every city of importance. You shall cut down every good tree, stop up every spring, and ruin every good field with stones.”

20The next morning, at the time of the morning sacrifice, water suddenly flowed from the direction of Edom and filled the land.

21Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. So all who could bear arms, young and old, were summoned and stationed at the border. 22When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water, and it looked as red as blood to the Moabites across the way.

23“This is blood!” they exclaimed. “The kings have clashed swords and slaughtered one another. Now to the plunder, Moab!”

24But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and attacked them, and they fled before them. So the Israelites invaded their land and struck down the Moabites. 25They destroyed the cities, and each man threw stones on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up every spring and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-haraseth was left with stones in place, but men with slings surrounded it and attacked it as well.

26When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not prevail. 27So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall.

And there was great fury against the Israelites,e so they withdrew and returned to their own land.

Footnotes:

1 a Jehoram is a variant spelling of Joram; also in verse 6.

4 b Or sheepherder

11 c Or He was Elijah’s personal assistant

15 d Or a musician; twice in this verse

27 e Or And Israel’s fury was great

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The Widow’s Oil

1Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”

2“How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?”

She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”

3“Go,” said Elisha, “borrow jars, even empty ones, from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few. 4Then go inside, shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these jars, setting the full ones aside.”

5So she left him, and after she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing jars to her, and she kept pouring. 6When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another.”

But he replied, “There are no more jars.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

7She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt. Then you and your sons can live on the remainder.”

The Shunammite Woman
(Matthew 10:40–42)

8One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat.

9Then the woman said to her husband, “Behold, now I know that the one who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.”

11One day Elisha came to visit and went to his upper room to lie down. 12And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call the Shunammite woman.”

And when he had called her, she stood before him, 13and Elisha said to Gehazi, “Now tell her, ‘Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’ ”

“I have a home among my own people,” she replied.

14So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?”

“Well, she has no son,” Gehazi replied, “and her husband is old.”

15“Call her,” said Elisha.

So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.”

“No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.”

17But the woman did conceive, and at that time the next year she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.

Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son
(Acts 20:7–12)

18And the child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the harvesters.

19“My head! My head!” he complained to his father.

So his father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”

20After the servant had picked him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. 21And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God. Then she shut the door and went out.

22And the woman called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may go quickly to the man of God and return.”

23“Why would you go to him today?” he replied. “It is not a New Moon or a Sabbath.”

“Everything is all right,” she said.

24Then she saddled the donkey and told her servant, “Drive onward; do not slow the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25So she set out and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, there is the Shunammite woman. 26Please run out now to meet her and ask, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’ ”

And she answered, “Everything is all right.”

27When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.”

28Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’ ”

29So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment,a take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.”

30And the mother of the boy said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.

31Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”

32When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed. 33So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD.

34Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm. 35Elisha turned away and paced back and forth across the room. Then he got on the bed and stretched himself out over the boy again, and the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

36Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” So he called her and she came.

Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.”

37She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

Elisha Purifies the Poisonous Stew

38When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet, he said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and boil some stew for the sons of the prophets.”

39One of them went out to the field to gather herbs, and he found a wild vine from which he gathered as many wild gourds as his garment could hold. Then he came back and cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were.

40And they poured it out for the men to eat, but when they tasted the stew they cried out, “There is death in the pot, O man of God!” And they could not eat it.

41Then Elisha said, “Get some flour.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Pour it out for the people to eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot.

Feeding a Hundred Men
(Matthew 15:29–39; Mark 8:1–10)

42Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain.

“Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha.

43But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?”

“Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’ ”

44So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

Footnotes:

29 a Literally Gird up your loins

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Naaman Cured of Leprosy
(Luke 17:11–19)

1Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.a

2At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. 3She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”

4And Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.

5“Go now,” said the king of Aram, “and I will send you with a letter to the king of Israel.”

So Naaman departed, taking with him ten talents of silver,b six thousand shekels of gold,c and ten sets of clothing.

6And the letter that he took to the king of Israel stated: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman, so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a leper? Surely you can see that he is seeking a quarrel with me!”

8Now when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Please let the man come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

9So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.

10Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.”

11But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the spot to cure my leprosy. 12Are not the Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not have washed in them and been cleansed?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

13Naaman’s servants, however, approached him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’?”

14So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean.

Gehazi’s Greed and Leprosy

15Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

16But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused.

17“If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry. For your servant will never again make a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the LORD. 18Yet may the LORD forgive your servant this one thing: When my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my arm, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant in this matter.”

19“Go in peace,” said Elisha.

But after Naaman had traveled a short distance, 20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, while not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

21So Gehazi pursued Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right?”

22“Everything is all right,” Gehazi replied. “My master has sent me to say, ‘I have just now discovered that two young men from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silverd and two sets of clothing.’ ”

23But Naaman insisted, “Please, take two talents.” And he urged Gehazi to accept them. Then he tied up two talents of silver in two bags along with two sets of clothing and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them ahead of Gehazi.

24When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the gifts from the servants and stored them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they departed.

25When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Gehazi, where have you been?”

“Your servant did not go anywhere,” he replied.

26But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants? 27Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!”

And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.

Footnotes:

1 a A leper, or one with leprosy, was one afflicted with a skin disease; here and throughout this chapter; see Leviticus 13.

5 b 10 talents is approximately 754 pounds or 342 kilograms of silver.

5 c 6,000 shekels is approximately 150.8 pounds or 68.4 kilograms of gold.

22 d A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of silver.

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The Axe Head Floats

1Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Please take note that the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2Please let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a log so we can build ourselves a place to live there.”

“Go,” said Elisha.

3Then one of them said, “Please come with your servants.”

“I will come,” he replied.

4So Elisha went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they began to cut down some trees. 5As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water. “Oh, my master,” he cried out, “it was borrowed!”

6“Where did it fall?” asked the man of God.

And when he showed him the place, the man of God cut a stick, threw it there, and made the iron float.

7“Lift it out,” he said, and the man reached out his hand and took it.

Elisha Captures the Blinded Arameans

8Now the king of Aram was at war against Israel. After consulting with his servants, he said, “My camp will be in such and such a place.”

9Then the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.”

10So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had pointed out. Time and againa Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. 11For this reason the king of Aram became enraged and called his servants to demand of them, “Tell me, which one of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”

12But one of his servants replied, “No one, my lord the king. For Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

13So the king said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send men to capture him.”

On receiving the report, “Elisha is in Dothan,” 14the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, and a great army. They went there by night and surrounded the city.

15When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?”

16“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.”

And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

18As the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Please strike these people with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha.

19And Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.

20When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men that they may see.”

Then the LORD opened their eyes, and they looked around and discovered that they were in Samaria.

21And when the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”

22“Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.”

23So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.

The Siege and Famine of Samaria

24Some time later, Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army and marched up to besiege Samaria.

25So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver,b and a quarter cab of dove’s dungc sold for five shekels of silver.d

26As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help me, my lord the king!”

27He answered, “If the LORD does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress?” 28Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?”

And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son.’ 29So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.”

30When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. And as he passed by on the wall, the people saw the sackcloth under his clothes next to his skin. 31He announced, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders through this day!”

32Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?”

33While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him. And the king said, “This calamity is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”

Footnotes:

10 a Literally Not once and not twice

25 b 80 shekels is approximately 2 pounds or 907.2 grams of silver.

25 c Or a quarter cab of seed pods; that is, approximately 0.28 dry quarts or 0.31 liters

25 d 5 shekels is approximately 2 ounces or 57 grams of silver.

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Elisha’s Prophecy of Plenty

1Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: ‘About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, a seah of fine floura will sell for a shekel,b and two seahs of barleyc will sell for a shekel.’ ”

2But the officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?”

“You will see it with your own eyes,” replied Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it.”

The Syrians Flee

3Now there were four men with leprosyd at the entrance of the city gate, and they said to one another, “Why just sit here until we die? 4If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.”

5So they arose at twilight and went to the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the outskirts of the camp, there was not a man to be found. 6For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us.”

7Thus the Arameans had arisen and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents and horses and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had run for their lives.

8When the lepers reached the edge of the camp, they went into a tent to eat and drink. Then they carried off the silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid them. On returning, they entered another tent, carried off some items from there, and hid them.

9Finally, they said to one another, “We are not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our sin will overtake us. Now, therefore, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

10So they went and called out to the gatekeepers of the city, saying, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a trace—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.”

11The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported to the king’s household.

12So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’ ”

13But one of his servants replied, “Please, have scouts take five of the horses that remain in the city. Their plight will be no worse than all the Israelites who are left here. You can see that all the Israelites here are doomed. So let us send them and find out.”

14Then the scouts took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.” 15And they tracked them as far as the Jordan, and indeed, the whole way was littered with the clothing and equipment the Arameans had thrown off in haste. So the scouts returned and told the king.

Elisha’s Prophecy Fulfilled

16Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. It was then that a seah of fine flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.

17Now the king had appointed the officer on whose arm he leaned to be in charge of the gate, but the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died, just as the man of God had foretold when the king had come to him. 18It happened just as the man of God had told the king: “About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel.”

19And the officer had answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?”

So Elisha had replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!”

20And that is just what happened to him. The people trampled him in the gateway, and he died.

Footnotes:

1 a A seah is approximately 6.6 dry quarts or 7.3 liters (probably about 8.2 pounds or 3.7 kilograms of flour); here and in verses 16 and 18.

1 b A shekel is approximately 0.4 ounces or 11.4 grams, probably of silver; here and in verses 16 and 18.

1 c 2 seahs is approximately 13.2 dry quarts or 14.6 liters (probably about 19.3 pounds or 8.8 kilograms of barley); here and in verses 16 and 18.

3 d Leprosy was a term used for various skin diseases; here and in verse 8; see Leviticus 13.

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The Shunammite’s Land Restored

1Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed a seven-year famine, and it has already come to the land.”

2So the woman had proceeded to do as the man of God had instructed. And she and her household lived as foreigners for seven years in the land of the Philistines.

3At the end of seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to the king to appeal for her house and her land.

4Now the king had been speaking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Please relate to me all the great things Elisha has done.”

5And Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought the dead back to life. Just then the woman whose son Elisha had revived came to appeal to the king for her house and her land. So Gehazi said, “My lord the king, this is the woman, and this is the son Elisha restored to life.”

6When the king asked the woman, she confirmed it. So the king appointed for her an officer, saying, “Restore all that was hers, along with all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the country until now.”

Hazael Murders Ben-hadad

7Then Elisha came to Damascus while Ben-hadad king of Aram was sick, and the king was told, “The man of God has come here.”

8So the king said to Hazael, “Take a gift in your hand, go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’ ”

9So Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him a gift of forty camel loads of every good thing from Damascus. And he went in and stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’ ”

10Elisha answered, “Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But the LORDa has shown me that in fact he will die.”

11Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the man of God began to weep.

12“Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael.

“Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”

13“But how could your servant, a mere dog, do such a monstrous thing?” said Hazael.

And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”

14So Hazael left Elisha and went to his master, who asked him, “What did Elisha say to you?”

And he replied, “He told me that you would surely recover.” 15But the next day Hazael took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over the king’s face.

So Ben-hadad died, and Hazael reigned in his place.

Jehoram Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 21:1–7)

16In the fifth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab over Israel, Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat succeeded his father as king of Judah. 17Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.

18And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.

19Yet for the sake of His servant David, the LORD was unwilling to destroy Judah, since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.

Edom and Libnah Rebel
(2 Chronicles 21:8–11)

20In the days of Jehoram,b Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king. 21So Jehoramc crossed over to Zair with all his chariots. When the Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, he rose up and attacked by night. His troops, however, fled to their homes.

22So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled at the same time.

23As for the rest of the acts of Jehoram, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

24And Jehoram rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And his son Ahaziah reigned in his place.

Ahaziah Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 22:1–7)

25In the twelfth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab over Israel, Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah. 26Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.

27And Ahaziah walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for he was a son-in-law of the house of Ahab.

28Then Ahaziah went with Joram son of Ahab to fight against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead, and the Arameans wounded Joram. 29So King Joram returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramahd when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded.

Footnotes:

10 a Or ‘You will surely not recover.’ And the LORD

20 b Literally In his days

21 c Hebrew Joram, a variant of Jehoram (the son of Jehoshaphat), as in verse 16; also in verses 23, and 24

29 d Ramah is a variant of Ramoth; see verse 28.

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Jehu Anointed King of Israel

1Now Elisha the prophet summoned one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak under your belt,a take this flask of oil, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2When you arrive, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go in, get him away from his companions, and take him to an inner room. 3Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and declare, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run. Do not delay!”

4So the young prophet went to Ramoth-gilead, 5and when he arrived, the army commanders were sitting there. “I have a message for you, commander,” he said.

“For which of us?” asked Jehu.

“For you, commander,” he replied.

6So Jehu got up and went into the house, where the young prophet poured the oil on his head and declared, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the LORD’s people Israel. 7And you are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD shed by the hand of Jezebel. 8The whole house of Ahab will perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male,b both slave and free, in Israel. 9I will make the house of Ahab like the houses of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. 10And on the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour Jezebel, and there will be no one to bury her.’ ”

Then the young prophet opened the door and ran.

11When Jehu went out to the servants of his master, they asked, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?”

“You know his kind and their babble,” he replied.

12“That is a lie!” they said. “Tell us now!”

So Jehu answered, “He talked to me about this and that, and he said, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ ”

13Quickly, each man took his garment and put it under Jehu on the bare steps. Then they blew the ram’s horn and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”

Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah
(2 Chronicles 22:8–9)

14Thus Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram.

(Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram, 15but King Joramc had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he had suffered at the hands of the Arameans in the battle against Hazael their king.)

So Jehu said, “If you commanders wish to make me king, then do not let anyone escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel.”

16Then Jehu got into his chariot and went to Jezreel, because Joram was laid up there and Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.

17Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!”

“Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’ ”

18So a horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’ ”

“What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.”

And the watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.”

19So the king sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’ ”

“What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.”

20Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the charioteer is driving like Jehu son of Nimshid—he is driving like a madman!”

21“Harness!” Joram shouted, and they harnessed his chariot.

Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, each in his own chariot, and met Jehu on the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.

22When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?”

“How can there be peace,” he replied, “as long as the idolatrye and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”

23Joram turned aroundf and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, “Treachery, Ahaziah!”

24Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot.

25And Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, “Pick him up and throw him into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember that when you and I were riding together behind his father Ahab, the LORD lifted up this burden against him: 26‘As surely as I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday, declares the LORD, so will I repay you on this plot of ground, declares the LORD.’ Now then, according to the word of the LORD, pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground.”

27When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan.

And Jehu pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too!”

So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot on the Ascent of Gur,g near Ibleam, and he fled to Megiddo and died there. 28Then his servants carried him by chariot to Jerusalem and buried him with his fathers in his tomb in the City of David.

29(In the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab, Ahaziah had become king over Judah.)

Jezebel’s Violent Death

30Now when Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. So she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from a window. 31And as Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, O Zimri, murderer of your master?”h

32He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?”

And two or three eunuchs looked down at him.

33“Throw her down!” yelled Jehu.

So they threw her down, and her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses as they trampled her underfoot.

34Then Jehu went in and ate and drank. “Take care of this cursed woman,” he said, “and bury her, for she was the daughter of a king.”

35But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing but her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands.

36So they went back and told Jehu, who replied, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour the flesh of Jezebel. 37And Jezebel’s body will lie like dung in the field on the plot of ground at Jezreel, so that no one can say: This is Jezebel.’i”

Footnotes:

1 a Literally Gird up your loins

8 b Literally (all) those who urinate against a wall

15 c Or Jehoram, a variant of Joram; also in verses 17, 21, 22, 23, and 24

20 d Or grandson of Nimshi; see verse 14.

22 e Hebrew adultery or prostitution, here a metaphor for idolatry

23 f Literally turned his hands

27 g See Syriac, Vulgate, and LXX; Hebrew “Shoot him, too, in his chariot!” (They did this) on the Ascent of Gur,

31 h Or “Is there peace for Zimri, the murderer of his master?” See 1 Kings 16:10.

37 i See verse 10 and 1 Kings 21:23.

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Ahab’s Seventy Sons Killed

1Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel,a to the elders, and to the guardians of the sonsb of Ahab, saying: 2“When this letter arrives, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weaponry, 3select the best and most worthy son of your master, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”

4But they were terrified and reasoned, “If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?”

5So the palace administrator, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you say. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your sight.”

6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter and said: “If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, then bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.”

Now the sons of the king, seventy in all, were being brought up by the leading men of the city. 7And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.

8When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the sons of the king.”

And Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

9The next morning, Jehu went out and stood before all the people and said, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these? 10Know, then, that not a word the LORD has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail, for the LORD has done what He promised through His servant Elijah.”

11So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.

12Then Jehu set out toward Samaria. At Beth-eked of the Shepherds, 13Jehu met some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, “Who are you?”

“We are relatives of Ahaziah,” they answered, “and we have come down to greet the sons of the king and of the queen mother.”

14Then Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” So his men took them alive, then slaughtered them at the well of Beth-eked—forty-two men. He spared none of them.

15When he left there, he found Jehonadab son of Rechab, who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Is your heart as true to mine as my heart is to yours?”

“It is!” Jehonadab replied.

“If it is,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.”

So he gave him his hand, and Jehu helped him into his chariot, 16saying, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD!” So he had him ridec in his chariot.

17When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down everyone belonging to Ahab who remained there, until he had destroyed them, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to Elijah.

Jehu Kills the Priests of Baal

18Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot. 19Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. See that no one is missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.”

But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.

20And Jehu commanded, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they announced it.

21Then Jehu sent word throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; there was not a man who failed to show. They entered the temple of Baal, and it was filled from end to end.

22And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out garments for them.

23Next, Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look around to see that there are no servants of the LORD here among you—only servants of Baal.”

24And they went ind to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and warned them, “If anyone allows one of the men I am delivering into your hands to escape, he will forfeit his life for theirs.”

25When he had finished making the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Do not let anyone out.”

So the guards and officers put them to the sword, threw the bodies out, and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal.

26They brought out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it. 27They also demolished the sacred pillar of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it into a latrine, which it is to this day.

Jehu Repeats Jeroboam’s Sins

28Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel, 29but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.

30Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”

31Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

32In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory 33from the Jordan eastward through all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh), and from Aroer by the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.

Jehoahaz Succeeds Jehu in Israel

34As for the rest of the acts of Jehu, along with all his accomplishments and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

35And Jehu rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and his son Jehoahaz reigned in his place. 36So the duration of Jehu’s reign over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate officials of the city

1 b Hebrew does not include of the sons.

16 c LXX, Syriac, and Targum Yonaton; Hebrew they had him ride

24 d LXX he went in; see also verse 25.

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Athaliah and Joash
(2 Chronicles 22:10–12)

1When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. 2But Jehoshebaa daughter of King Joram,b the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.

3And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

Joash Anointed King of Judah
(2 Chronicles 23:1–11)

4Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites,c and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath.

He showed them the king’s son 5and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace, 6a third shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns guarding the temple— 7the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king. 8You must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who approaches the ranks must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

9So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10Then the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields of King David from the house of the LORD. 11And the guards stood with weapons in hand surrounding the king by the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

12Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!”

The Death of Athaliah
(2 Chronicles 23:12–15)

13When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people in the house of the LORD. 14And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.

Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”

15And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks,d and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”

16So they seized Athaliah as she reached the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.

Jehoiada Restores the Worship of the LORD
(2 Chronicles 23:16–21)

17Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.

18So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

And Jehoiada the priest posted guards for the house of the LORD. 19He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace by way of the Gate of the Guards.

Then Joash took his seat on the royal throne, 20and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace.

21Joashe was seven years old when he became king.

Footnotes:

2 a Jehosheba is a variant of Jehoshabeath; see 2 Chronicles 22:11.

2 b Joram is a variant spelling of Jehoram.

4 c Or the mercenaries or the executioners; also in verse 19

15 d Or out from the precincts

21 e Hebrew Jehoash, a variant of Joash (son of Ahaziah) as in verse 2

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Joash Repairs the Temple
(2 Chronicles 24:1–14)

1In the seventh year of Jehu, Joasha became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 2And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days he was instructed by Jehoiada the priest.

3Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.

4Then Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money brought as sacred gifts into the house of the LORD—the census money, the money from vows, and the money brought voluntarily into the house of the LORD. 5Let every priest receive it from his constituency, and let it be used to repair any damage found in the temple.”

6By the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash, however, the priests had not yet repaired the damage to the temple. 7So King Joash called Jehoiada and the other priests and said, “Why have you not repaired the damage to the temple? Now, therefore, take no more money from your constituency, but hand it over for the repair of the temple.”

8So the priests agreed that they would not receive money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves.

9Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters the house of the LORD. There the priests who guarded the threshold put all the money brought into the house of the LORD.

10Whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money in the chest, the royal scribe and the high priest would go up, count the money brought into the house of the LORD, and tie it up in bags. 11Then they would put the counted money into the hands of those who supervised the work on the house of the LORD, who in turn would pay those doing the work—the carpenters, builders, 12masons, and stonecutters. They also purchased timber and dressed stone to repair the damage to the house of the LORD, and they paid the other expenses of the temple repairs.

13However, the money brought into the house of the LORD was not used for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets, or any articles of gold or silver for the house of the LORD. 14Instead, it was paid to those doing the work, and with it they repaired the house of the LORD.

15No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay the workmen, because they acted with integrity. 16The money from the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.

The Death of Joash
(2 Chronicles 24:23–27)

17At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem. 18So King Joash of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his fathers—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—along with his own consecrated items and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram. So Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.

19As for the rest of the acts of Joash, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

20And the servants of Joash rose up and formed a conspiracy and killed him at Beth-millo, on the road down to Silla. 21His servants Jozabadb son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomerc struck him down, and he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the City of David, and his son Amaziah reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew Jehoash, a variant of Joash (son of Ahaziah); also in verses 2, 4, 6, 7, and 18; see 2 Kings 11:2.

21 b Hebrew; LXX and Syriac Jozacar

21 c Shomer is a variant of Shimrith; see 2 Chronicles 24:26.

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Jehoahaz Reigns in Israel

1In the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash son of Ahaziah over Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria seventeen years. 2And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them. 3So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them continually into the hands of Hazael king of Aram and his son Ben-hadad.

4Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him because He saw the oppression that the king of Aram had inflicted on Israel. 5So the LORD gave Israel a deliverer, and they escaped the power of the Arameans. Then the people of Israel lived in their own homes as they had before.

6Nevertheless, they did not turn away from the sins that the house of Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit, but they continued to walk in them.a The Asherah pole even remained standing in Samaria.

7Jehoahaz had no army left, except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, because the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing.

8As for the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, along with all his accomplishments and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

9And Jehoahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And his son Jehoashb reigned in his place.

Jehoash Reigns in Israel

10In the thirty-seventh year of the reign of Joash over Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. 11And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit, but he walked in them.

12As for the rest of the acts of Jehoash, along with all his accomplishments and his might, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

13And Jehoash rested with his fathers, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Elisha’s Final Prophecy

14When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”

15Elisha told him, “Take a bow and some arrows.”

So Jehoash took a bow and some arrows.

16Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.”

So the king put his hand on the bow, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.

17“Open the east window,” said Elisha.

So he opened it and Elisha said, “Shoot!” So he shot.

And Elisha declared:

“This is the LORD’s arrow of victory,
the arrow of victory over Aram,
for you shall strike the Arameans in Aphek
until you have put an end to them.”

18Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!”

So he took them, and Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!”

So he struck the ground three times and stopped.

19But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”

20And Elisha died and was buried.

Now the Moabite raiders used to come into the land every spring.c
21Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders, so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. And as soon as his body touched the bones of Elisha, the man was revived and stood up on his feet.

22And Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 23But the LORD was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, and He turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day, the LORD has been unwilling to destroy them or cast them from His presence.

24When Hazael king of Aram died, his son Ben-hadad reigned in his place. 25Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times, and so recovered the cities of Israel.

Footnotes:

6 a LXX, Syriac, Targum Yonaton, and Vulgate; Hebrew he continued to walk in them

9 b Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash; also in verses 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 25

20 c Literally into the land at the coming in of the year

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Amaziah Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 25:1–4)

1In the second year of the reign of Jehoasha son of Jehoahaz over Israel, Amaziah son of Joash became king of Judah. 2He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. 3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. He did everything as his father Joash had done.

4Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

5As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah executed the servants who had murdered his father the king. 6Yet he did not put the sons of the murderers to death, but acted according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the LORD commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.”b

7Amaziah struck down 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He took Sela in battle and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this very day.

Jehoash Defeats Amaziah
(2 Chronicles 25:17–24)

8Then Amaziah sent messengers to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.

9But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. 10You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

11But Amaziah would not listen, and Jehoash king of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh in Judah. 12And Judah was routed before Israel, and every man fled to his home.

13There at Beth-shemesh, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah.

Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section of four hundred cubits.c
14He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace, as well as some hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.

Jeroboam II Succeeds Jehoash in Israel

15As for the rest of the acts of Jehoash, along with his accomplishments, his might, and how he waged war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

16And Jehoash rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And his son Jeroboam reigned in his place.

The Death of Amaziah
(2 Chronicles 25:25–28)

17Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 18As for the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

19And conspirators plotted against Amaziah in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But men were sent after him to Lachish, and they killed him there. 20They carried him back on horses and buried him in Jerusalem with his fathers in the City of David.

Azariah Succeeds Amaziah in Judah
(2 Chronicles 26:1–2)

21Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,d who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22Azariah was the one who rebuilt Elathe and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah rested with his fathers.

Jeroboam II Reigns in Israel

23In the fifteenth year of the reign of Amaziah son of Joash over Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria forty-one years. 24And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

25This Jeroboam restored the boundary of Israel from Lebo-hamath to the Sea of the Arabah,f according to the word that the LORD, the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher. 26For the LORD saw that the affliction of the Israelites, both slave and free, was very bitter. There was no one to help Israel, 27and since the LORD had said that He would not blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

28As for the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, along with all his accomplishments and might, and how he waged war and recovered both Damascus and Hamath for Israel from Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

29And Jeroboam rested with his fathers,g the kings of Israel. And his son Zechariah reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash; also in verses 13, 23, and 27

6 b Deuteronomy 24:16

13 c 400 cubits is approximately 600 feet or 182.9 meters.

21 d Azariah is also called Uzziah; see 2 Chronicles 26:1.

22 e Elath is a variant of Eloth; see 1 Kings 9:26.

25 f That is, the Dead Sea

29 g Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts include and he was buried in Samaria with

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Azariah Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 26:3–23)

1In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Azariaha son of Amaziah became king of Judah. 2He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.

4Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.

5And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosyb until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

6As for the rest of the acts of Azariah, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

7And Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near themc in the City of David. And his son Jotham reigned in his place.

Zechariah Reigns in Israel

8In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria six months. 9And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

10Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, struck him down and killed him in front of the people,d and reigned in his place.

11As for the rest of the acts of Zechariah, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 12So the word of the LORD spoken to Jehu was fulfilled: “Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”

Shallum Reigns in Israel

13In the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah’se reign over Judah, Shallum son of Jabesh became king, and he reigned in Samaria one full month.

14Then Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria, struck down and killed Shallum son of Jabesh, and reigned in his place.

15As for the rest of the acts of Shallum, along with the conspiracy he led, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

16At that time Menahem, starting from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in its vicinity, because they would not open their gates. So he attacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.

Menahem Reigns in Israel

17In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years. 18And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and throughout his reign he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

19Then Pulf king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silverg in order to gain his support and strengthen his own grip on the kingdom. 20Menahem exacted this money from each of the wealthy men of Israel—fifty shekels of silverh from each man—to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not remain in the land.

21As for the rest of the acts of Menahem, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

22And Menahem rested with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah reigned in his place.

Pekahiah Reigns in Israel

23In the fiftieth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel and reigned in Samaria two years. 24And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

25Then his officer, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him along with Argob, Arieh, and fifty men of Gilead. And at the citadel of the king’s palace in Samaria, Pekah struck down and killed Pekahiah and reigned in his place.

26As for the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, along with all his accomplishments, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Pekah Reigns in Israel

27In the fifty-second year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty years. 28And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.

30Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. In the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah, Hoshea attacked Pekah, killed him, and reigned in his place.

31As for the rest of the acts of Pekah, along with all his accomplishments, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Jotham Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 27:1–9)

32In the second year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah over Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah. 33He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerushai daughter of Zadok. 34And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done.

35Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.

Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD.

36As for the rest of the acts of Jotham, along with his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

37(In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.)

38And Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David his father. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

1 a Azariah is also called Uzziah; also in verses 6, 7, 8, 17, 23, and 27; see 2 Chronicles 26:1.

5 b Leprosy was a term used for various skin diseases; see Leviticus 13.

7 c Literally with his fathers; see 2 Chronicles 26:23.

10 d Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts in Ibleam

13 e Uzziah is also called Azariah; also in verses 32 and 34; see verse 1.

19 f Pul is another name for Tiglath-pileser; see verse 29.

19 g 1,000 talents is approximately 37.7 tons or 34.2 metric tons of silver.

20 h 50 shekels is approximately 1.26 pounds or 569.8 grams of silver.

33 i Jerusha is a variant of Jerushah; see 2 Chronicles 27:1.

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Ahaz Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 28:1–4)

1In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham became king of Judah. 2Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God. 3Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire,a according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 4And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

5Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to wage war against Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz but could not overcome him.

6At that time Rezin king of Aram recovered Elathb for Aram,c drove out the men of Judah, and sent the Edomites into Elath, where they live to this day.

7So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hands of the kings of Aram and Israel, who are rising up against me.”

8Ahaz also took the silver and gold found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and he sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. 9So the king of Assyria responded to him, marched up to Damascus, and captured it. He took its people to Kir as captives and put Rezin to death.

The Idolatry of Ahaz
(2 Chronicles 28:16–27)

10Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria. On seeing the altar in Damascus, King Ahaz sent Uriah the priest a model of the altar and complete plans for its construction. 11And Uriah the priest built the altar according to all the instructions King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, and he completed it by the time King Ahaz had returned.

12When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings on it. 13He offered his burnt offering and his grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings on the altar. 14He also took the bronze altar that stood before the LORD from the front of the temple (between the new altar and the house of the LORD) and he put it on the north side of the new altar.

15Then King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, “Offer on the great altar the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering and grain offering, as well as the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings of all the people of the land. Sprinkle on the altar all the blood of the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar to seek guidance.”

16So Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had commanded.

17King Ahaz also cut off the frames of the movable stands and removed the bronze basin from each of them. He took down the Sea from the bronze oxen that were under it and put it on a stone base. 18And on account of the king of Assyria, he removed the Sabbath canopyd they had built in the temple and closed the royal entryway outside the house of the LORD.

19As for the rest of the acts of Ahaz, along with his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

20And Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David, and his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

3 a Literally made his son pass through the fire

6 b Elath is a variant of Eloth; see 1 Kings 9:26.

6 c Or Syria

18 d Or the base of his throne; see also LXX.

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Hoshea the Last King of Israel

1In the twelfth year of the reign of Ahaz over Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria nine years. 2And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.

3Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. 4But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea had conspired to send envoys to King Soa of Egypt, and that he had not paid tribute to the king of Assyria as in previous years. Therefore the king of Assyria arrested Hoshea and put him in prison.

Israel Carried Captive to Assyria

5Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land, marched up to Samaria, and besieged it for three years.

6In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried away the Israelites to Assyria, where he settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.

7All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods 8and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel.

9The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities. 10They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. 11They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger. 12They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You shall not do this thing.”b

13Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.”

14But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God. 15They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and themselves became worthless, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.

16They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal. 17They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the firec and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

18So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained, 19and even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced. 20So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence.

21When the LORD had torn Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin. 22The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam had committed and did not turn away from them. 23Finally, the LORD removed Israel from His presence, as He had declared through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their homeland into Assyria, where they are to this day.

Samaria Resettled

24Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.

25Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them. 26So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.”

27Then the king of Assyria commanded: “Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria, and have him go back to live there and teach the requirements of the God of the land.”

28Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD.

29Nevertheless, the people of each nation continued to make their own gods in the cities where they had settled, and they set them up in the shrines that the people of Samaria had made on the high places. 30The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.

32So the new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts to serve in the shrines of the high places. 33They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away.

34To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel.

35For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them. 36Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him. 37And you must always be careful to observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments He wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38Do not forget the covenant I have made with you. Do not worship other gods, 39but worship the LORD your God, and He will deliver you from the hands of all your enemies.”

40But they would not listen, and they persisted in their former customs. 41So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

Footnotes:

4 a So is likely an abbreviation for Osorkon.

12 b Exodus 20:4–6; Deuteronomy 5:8–10

17 c Literally made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire

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Hezekiah Destroys Idolatry in Judah
(2 Chronicles 29:1–2)

1In the third year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah. 2He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abi,a the daughter of Zechariah. 3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. 4He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtanb that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it.

5Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. No king of Judah was like him, either before him or after him. 6He remained faithful to the LORD and did not turn from following Him; he kept the commandments that the LORD had given Moses.

7And the LORD was with Hezekiah, and he prospered wherever he went. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to serve him. 8He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders, from watchtower to fortified city.

9In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it. 10And at the end of three years, the Assyrians captured it.

So Samaria was captured in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. 11The king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes. 12This happened because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD their God, but violated His covenant—all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded—and would neither listen nor obey.

Sennacherib Invades Judah
(2 Chronicles 32:1–8; Psalm 46:1–11)

13In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked and captured all the fortified cities of Judah. 14So Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand from me.”

And the king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silverc and thirty talents of gold.d
15Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace.

16At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold with which he had plated the doors and doorposts of the temple of the LORD, and he gave it to the king of Assyria.

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
(2 Chronicles 32:9–19; Isaiah 36:1–22)

17Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent the Tartan,e the Rabsaris,f and the Rabshakeh,g along with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They advanced up to Jerusalem and stationed themselves by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. 18Then they called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebnah the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, went out to them.

19The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours? 20You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?

21Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 22But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is He not the One whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem: ‘You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?

23Now, therefore, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them! 24For how can you repel a single officer among the least of my master’s servants when you depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 25So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’ ”

26Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak with us in Hebrewh in the hearing of the people on the wall.”

27But the Rabshakeh replied, “Has my master sent me to speak these words only to you and your master, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are destined with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?”

28Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you; he cannot deliver you from my hand. 30Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, ‘The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’

31Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with mei and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and drink water from his own cistern, 32until I come and take you away to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey—so that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah, for he misleads you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’

33Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 34Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 35Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

36But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

37Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.

Footnotes:

2 a Abi is a variant of Abijah; see 2 Chronicles 29:1.

4 b Nehushtan sounds like the Hebrew for bronze and also for snake.

14 c 300 talents is approximately 11.3 tons or 10.3 metric tons of silver.

14 d 30 talents is approximately 1.13 tons or 1.03 metric tons of gold.

17 e Hebrew Tartan is the title of a field marshal, general, or commander in the Assyrian military.

17 f Hebrew Rabsaris is the title of the chief eunuch in the Assyrian military.

17 g Hebrew Rabshakeh is the title of a high-ranking Assyrian military officer; here and throughout chapters 18 and 19, as well as Isaiah 36 and 37.

26 h Or in the dialect of Judah; also in verse 28

31 i Or Make a blessing with me

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Isaiah’s Message of Deliverance
(Isaiah 37:1–7)

1On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD. 2And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz 3to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them. 4Perhaps the LORD your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to defy the living God, and He will rebuke him for the words that the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up a prayer for the remnant that still survives.”

5So the servants of King Hezekiah went to Isaiah, 6who replied, “Tell your master that this is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid of the words you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. 7Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’ ”

Sennacherib’s Blasphemous Letter
(Isaiah 37:8–13)

8When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

9Now Sennacherib had been warned about Tirhakah king of Cush:a “Look, he has set out to fight against you.”

So Sennacherib again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10“Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah:

‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries, devoting them to destruction.b Will you then be spared? 12Did the gods of the nations destroyed by my fathers rescue those nations—the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and of the people of Eden in Telassar? 13Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’ ”

Hezekiah’s Prayer
(Isaiah 37:14–20)

14So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD:

“O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. 16Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.

17Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste these nations and their lands. 18They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.

19And now, O LORD our God, please save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”

Sennacherib’s Fall Prophesied
(Isaiah 37:21–35)

20Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. 21This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him:

‘The Virgin Daughter of Zion
despises you and mocks you;
the Daughter of Jerusalem
shakes her head behind you.

22Whom have you taunted and blasphemed?

Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes in pride?

Against the Holy One of Israel!

23Through your servants you have taunted the Lord,
and you have said:

“With my many chariots

I have ascended
to the heights of the mountains,
to the remote peaks of Lebanon.

I have cut down its tallest cedars,
the finest of its cypresses.c

I have reached its farthest outposts,
the densest of its forests.

24I have dug wells
and drunk foreign waters.

With the soles of my feet

I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.”

25Have you not heard?

Long ago I ordained it;
in days of old I planned it.

Now I have brought it to pass,
that you should crush fortified cities
into piles of rubble.

26Therefore their inhabitants, devoid of power,
are dismayed and ashamed.

They are like plants in the field,
tender green shoots,
grass on the rooftops,
scorched before it is grown.

27But I know your sitting down,
your going out and coming in,
and your raging against Me.

28Because your rage and arrogance against Me
have reached My ears,

I will put My hook in your nose
and My bit in your mouth;

I will send you back
the way you came.’

29And this will be a sign to you, O Hezekiah:

This year you will eat
what grows on its own,
and in the second year
what springs from the same.

But in the third year you will sow and reap;
you will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

30And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah
will again take root below
and bear fruit above.

31For a remnant will go forth from Jerusalem,
and survivors from Mount Zion.

The zeal of the LORD of Hostsd
will accomplish this.

32So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria:

‘He will not enter this city
or shoot an arrow into it.

He will not come before it with a shield
or build up a siege ramp against it.

33He will go back the way he came,
and he will not enter this city,’

declares the LORD.

34‘I will defend this city
and save it
for My own sake
and for the sake of My servant David.’ ”

Jerusalem Delivered from the Assyrians
(2 Chronicles 32:20–23; Isaiah 37:36–38)

35And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! 36So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.

37One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezere put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

9 a That is, the upper Nile region

11 b Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

23 c Or pines or junipers or firs

31 d LXX, many Hebrew manuscripts, and an alternate MT reading; the other alternate reads The zeal of the LORD.

37 e LXX and an alternate MT reading (see also Isaiah 37:38); MT lacks his sons.

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Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery
(2 Chronicles 32:24–31; Isaiah 38:1–8)

1In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’ ”

2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, 3“Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4Before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard,a the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 5“Go back and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. I will surely heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the house of the LORD. 6I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.’ ”

7Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” So they brought it and applied it to the boil, and Hezekiah recovered.

8Now Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?”

9And Isaiah had replied, “This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?”

10“It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps,” answered Hezekiah, “but not for it to go back ten steps.”

11So Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz.

Hezekiah Shows His Treasures
(Isaiah 39:1–8)

12At that time Merodach-baladanb son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness. 13And Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his armory—all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.

14Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked, “Where did those men come from, and what did they say to you?”

“They came from a distant land,” Hezekiah replied, “from Babylon.”

15“What have they seen in your palace?” Isaiah asked.

“They have seen everything in my palace,” answered Hezekiah. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”

16Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: 17The time will surely come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. 18And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

19But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Will there not at least be peace and security in my lifetime?”

Manasseh Succeeds Hezekiah

20As for the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, along with all his might and how he constructed the pool and the tunnelc to bring water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

21And Hezekiah rested with his fathers, and his son Manasseh reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

4 a LXX and an alternate MT reading; the other alternate reads the middle of the city

12 b Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac (see also Isaiah 39:1); MT Berodach-baladan

20 c Or watercourse or conduit

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Manasseh Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 33:1–9)

1Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 3For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

4Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My Name.” 5In both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the host of heaven. 6He sacrificed his own son in the fire,a practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

7Manasseh even took the carved Asherah pole he had made and set it up in the temple, of which the LORD had said to David and his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My Name forever. 8I will never again cause the feet of the Israelites to wander from the land that I gave to their fathers, if only they are careful to do all I have commanded them—the whole Law that My servant Moses commanded them.”

9But the people did not listen and Manasseh led them astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.

Manasseh’s Idolatries Rebuked
(2 Chronicles 33:10–20)

10And the LORD spoke through His servants the prophets, saying, 11“Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed all these abominations, acting more wickedly than the Amorites who preceded him, and with his idols has caused Judah to sin, 12this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I am bringing such calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah that the news will reverberate in the ears of all who hear it.

13I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab, and I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes out a bowl—wiping it and turning it upside down. 14So I will forsake the remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hands of their enemies. And they will become plunder and spoil to all their enemies, 15because they have done evil in My sight and have provoked Me to anger from the day their fathers came out of Egypt until this day.’ ”

16Moreover, Manasseh shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end, in addition to the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, doing evil in the sight of the LORD.

17As for the rest of the acts of Manasseh, along with all his accomplishments and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

18And Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzza. And his son Amon reigned in his place.

Amon Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 33:21–25)

19Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah. 20And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done. 21He walked in all the ways of his father, and he served and worshiped the idols his father had served. 22He abandoned the LORD, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the LORD.

23Then the servants of Amon conspired against him and killed the king in his palace. 24But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.

25As for the rest of the acts of Amon, along with his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 26And he was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and his son Josiah reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

6 a Literally made his son pass through the fire

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Josiah Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 34:1–2)

1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. 2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Funding the Temple Repairs
(2 Chronicles 34:8–13)

3Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the scribe, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD, saying, 4“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money that has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. 5And let them deliver it into the hands of the supervisors of those doing the work on the house of the LORD, who in turn are to give it to the workmen repairing the damages to the house of the LORD— 6to the carpenters, builders, and masons—to buy timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. 7But they need not account for the money put into their hands, since they work with integrity.”

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law
(2 Chronicles 34:14–21)

8Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan, who read it.

9And Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, “Your servants have paid out the money that was found in the temple and have put it into the hands of the workers and supervisors of the house of the LORD.”

10Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.

11When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes 12and commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbora son of Micaiah,b Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king: 13“Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words in this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book by doing all that is written about us.”

Huldah’s Prophecy
(2 Chronicles 34:22–28)

14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went and spoke to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah,c the son of Harhas,d the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.e

15And Huldah said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Tell the man who sent you 16that this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring calamity on this place and on its people, according to all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read, 17because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. My wrath will be kindled against this place and will not be quenched.’

18But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for the words that you heard, 19because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its people, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD.

20‘Therefore I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place.’ ”

So they brought her answer back to the king.

Footnotes:

12 a Achbor is another name for Abdon; see 2 Chronicles 34:20.

12 b Micaiah is a variant of Micah; see 2 Chronicles 34:20.

14 c Tikvah is a variant of Tokhath; see 2 Chronicles 34:22.

14 d Harhas is a variant of Hasrah; see 2 Chronicles 34:22.

14 e Or the Second Quarter, a newer section of Jerusalem; Hebrew the Mishneh

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Josiah Renews the Covenant
(2 Chronicles 34:29–33)

1Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the prophets—all the people small and great—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.

3So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.

Josiah Destroys Idolatry
(1 Kings 13:1–10; 2 Chronicles 34:3–7)

4Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests second in rank, and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel.

5Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.

6He brought the Asherah pole from the house of the LORD to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem, and there he burned it, ground it to powder, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people. 7He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the house of the LORD, where the women had woven tapestries for Asherah.

8Then Josiah brought all the priests from the cities of Judah and desecrated the high places, from Geba to Beersheba, where the priests had burned incense. He tore down the high places of the gates at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which was to the left of the city gate. 9Although the priests of the high places did not come up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, they ate unleavened bread with their fellow priests.

10He also desecrated Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnoma so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fireb to Molech. 11And he removed from the entrance to the house of the LORD the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun. They were in the courtc near the chamber of an official named Nathan-melech. And Josiah burned up the chariots of the sun.

12He pulled down the altars that the kings of Judah had set up on the roof near the upper chamber of Ahaz, and the altars that Manasseh had set up in the two courtyards of the house of the LORD. The king pulverized them thered and threw their dust into the Kidron Valley.

13The king also desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, which King Solomon of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcome the abomination of the Ammonites. 14He smashed the sacred pillars to pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and covered the sites with human bones.

15He even pulled down the altar at Bethel, the high place set up by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. Then he burnedf the high place, ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole. 16And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside, and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things.g

17Then the king asked, “What is this monument I see?”

And the men of the city replied, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and pronounced these things that you have done to the altar of Bethel.”

18“Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.”

So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

19Just as Josiah had done at Bethel, so also in the cities of Samaria he removed all the shrines of the high places set up by the kings of Israel who had provoked the LORD to anger. 20On the altars he slaughtered all the priests of the high places, and he burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Josiah Restores the Passover
(2 Chronicles 35:1–19)

21The king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover of the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”

22No such Passover had been observed from the days of the judges who had governed Israel through all the days of the kings of Israel and Judah. 23But in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, this Passover was observed to the LORD in Jerusalem.

24Furthermore, Josiah removed the mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this to carry out the words of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of the LORD.

25Neither before nor after Josiah was there any king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses.

26Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the fury of His burning anger, which was kindled against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke Him to anger. 27For the LORD had said, “I will remove Judah from My sight, just as I removed Israel. I will reject this city Jerusalem, which I chose, and the temple of which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’ ”

The Death of Josiah
(2 Chronicles 35:20–24)

28As for the rest of the acts of Josiah, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

29At the end of Josiah’s reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to help the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went out to confront him, but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo.

30From Megiddo his servants carried his body in a chariot, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.

Jehoahaz Succeeds Josiah
(2 Chronicles 36:1–4)

31Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 32And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his fathers had done.

33And Pharaoh Neco imprisoned Jehoahaz at Riblah in the land of Hamath so that he could not reign in Jerusalem, and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silverh and a talent of gold.i
34Then Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, where he died.

35So Jehoiakim paid the silver and gold to Pharaoh Neco, but to meet Pharaoh’s demand he taxed the land and exacted the silver and the gold from the people, each according to his wealth.

Jehoiakim Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 36:5–8)

36Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah; she was from Rumah. 37And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his fathers had done.

Footnotes:

10 a Or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom

10 b Literally could pass his son or daughter through the fire

11 c Hebrew parbarim

12 d Or quickly removed them from there

13 e Milcom is a variant of Molech; see Leviticus 18:21 and 1 Kings 11:7.

15 f Hebrew; LXX broke into pieces

16 g See 1 Kings 13:2; Hebrew; LXX includes when Jeroboam stood by the altar at the feast. And he turned and lifted his eyes to the tomb of the man of God.

33 h 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver.

33 i A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.

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Babylon Controls Jehoiakim

1During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded. So Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, until he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.

2And the LORD sent Chaldean,a Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim in order to destroy Judah, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servants the prophets. 3Surely this happened to Judah at the LORD’s command, to remove them from His presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all that he had done, 4and also for the innocent blood he had shed. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was unwilling to forgive.

5As for the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

Jehoiachin Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 36:9–10)

6And Jehoiakim rested with his fathers, and his son Jehoiachin reigned in his place.

7Now the king of Egypt did not march out of his land again, because the king of Babylon had taken all his territory, from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. 9And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his father had done.

The Captivity of Jerusalem
(Lamentations 1:1–22)

10At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. 11And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it. 12Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials all surrendered to the king of Babylon.

So in the eighth year of his reign, the king of Babylon took him captive. 13As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar also carried off all the treasures from the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he cut into pieces all the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD. 14He carried into exile all Jerusalem—all the commanders and mighty men of valor, all the craftsmen and metalsmiths—ten thousand captives in all. Only the poorest people of the land remained.

15Nebuchadnezzar carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, as well as the king’s mother, his wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land. He took them into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16The king of Babylon also brought into exile to Babylon all seven thousand men of valor and a thousand craftsmen and metalsmiths—all strong and fit for battle.

17Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.

Zedekiah Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 36:11–14; Jeremiah 52:1–3)

18Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah.

19And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done. 20For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence.

And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Footnotes:

2 a Or Babylonian

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Nebuchadnezzar Besieges Jerusalem
(2 Chronicles 36:15–21; Jeremiah 39:1–10)

1So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and builta a siege wall all around it. 2And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.

3By the ninth day of the fourth month,b the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. 4Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeansc had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden.

They headed toward the Arabah,d
5but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was separated from him. 6The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment on him. 7And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

The Temple Destroyed
(Jeremiah 52:12–23)

8On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. 9He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. 10And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.

11Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the population. 12But the captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields.

13Moreover, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars and stands and the bronze Sea in the house of the LORD, and they carried the bronze to Babylon. 14They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes, and all the articles of bronze used in the temple service. 15The captain of the guard also took away the censers and sprinkling bowls—anything made of pure gold or fine silver.

16As for the two pillars, the Sea, and the movable stands that Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the weight of the bronze from all these articles was beyond measure. 17Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall.e The bronze capital atop one pillar was three cubits high,f with a network of bronze pomegranates all around. The second pillar, with its network, was similar.

Captives Carried to Babylon
(Jeremiah 52:24–30)

18The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers. 19Of those still in the city, he took a court official who had been appointed over the men of war, as well as five royal advisors. He also took the scribe of the captain of the army, who had enlisted the people of the land, and sixty men who were found in the city.

20Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 21There at Riblah in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death. So Judah was taken into exile, away from its own land.

Gedaliah Governs in Judah
(Jeremiah 40:1–16)

22Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over the people he had left behind in the land of Judah.

23When all the commanders of the armies and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniahg son of the Maacathite, as well as their men. 24And Gedaliah took an oath before them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.”

The Murder of Gedaliah
(Jeremiah 41:1–10)

25In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down and killed Gedaliah, along with the Judeans and Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. 26Then all the people small and great, together with the commanders of the army, arose and fled to Egypt for fear of the Chaldeans.

Jehoiachin Released from Prison
(Jeremiah 52:31–34)

27On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Judah’s King Jehoiachin, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he releasedh King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 28And he spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and set his throne above the thrones of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.

29So Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table for the rest of his life. 30And the king provided Jehoiachin a daily portion for the rest of his life.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally He encamped outside it and they built

3 b Probable reading (see Jeremiah 52:6); MT does not include fourth.

4 c That is, the Babylonians; also in verses 5, 6, 10, 13, 24, 25, and 26

4 d Or the Jordan Valley

17 e 18 cubits is approximately 27 feet or 8.2 meters.

17 f 3 cubits is approximately 4.5 feet or 1.4 meters.

23 g Jaazaniah is a variant of Jezaniah; see Jeremiah 40:8.

27 h Literally lifted up the head of

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29)

From Adam to Abraham
(Genesis 5:1–32; Genesis 10:1–32; Genesis 11:10–26)

1Adam, Seth, Enosh,

2Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

3Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech.

4The sons of Noah:a

Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

5The sons of Japheth:

Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

6The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath,b and Togarmah.

7And the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.

8The sons of Ham:

Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

9The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta,c Raamah, and Sabteca.

The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.

10Cush was the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty oned on the earth.

11Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, the Anamites, the Lehabites, the Naphtuhites, 12the Pathrusites, the Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and the Caphtorites.e

13And Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn,f and of the Hittites,g
14the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 15the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 16the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.

17The sons of Shem:

Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

The sons of Aram:h Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.i

18Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber.

19Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg,j because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan.

20And Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22Obal,k Abimael, Sheba, 23Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.

24So from Shem came Arphaxad, Shelah,l
25Eber, Peleg, Reu, 26Serug, Nahor, Terah, 27and Abram (that is, Abraham).

The Descendants of Abraham
(Genesis 25:12–18)

28The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael. 29These are their genealogies:

Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.

32The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine:

Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

The sons of Jokshan:

Sheba and Dedan.

33The sons of Midian:

Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah.

All of these were Keturah’s sons.

34Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac:

Esau and Israel.

The Descendants of Esau
(Genesis 36:1–19)

35The sons of Esau:

Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

36The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho,m Gatam, and Kenaz; and by Timna, Amalek.

37The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

The Descendants of Seir
(Genesis 36:20–30)

38The sons of Seir:

Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.

39The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam.n Timna was Lotan’s sister.

40The sons of Shobal: Alvan,o Manahath, Ebal, Shepho,p and Onam.

The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.

41The sonq of Anah: Dishon.

The sons of Dishon: Hemdan,r Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.

42The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.s

The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

The Kings of Edom
(Genesis 36:31–43)

43These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:t

Bela son of Beor. His city was named Dinhabah.

44When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah reigned in his place.

45When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.

46When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith.

47When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah reigned in his place.

48When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphratesu reigned in his place.

49When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned in his place.

50When Baal-hanan died, Hadad reigned in his place. His city was named Pau,v and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab.

51Then Hadad died.

Now the chiefs of Edom were Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 52Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 53Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 54Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.

Footnotes:

4 a Hebrew does not include The sons of; LXX Noah: the sons of Noah; see Genesis 5:32.

6 b Many Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also LXX and Genesis 10:3); most Hebrew manuscripts Diphath

9 c Sabta is a variant of Sabtah; see Genesis 10:7.

10 d Or who established himself as a mighty warrior

12 e Some translators adjust the Hebrew word order to the Casluhites, and the Caphtorites (from whom the Philistines came); see also Jeremiah 47:4 and Amos 9:7.

13 f Or of the Sidonians, the foremost

13 g Hebrew and of Heth

17 h One Hebrew manuscript and some LXX manuscripts (see also Genesis 10:23); most Hebrew manuscripts do not include The sons of Aram.

17 i Meshech is a variant of Mash; see Genesis 10:23.

19 j Peleg means division.

22 k LXX and Syriac (see also Genesis 10:28); Hebrew Ebal

24 l Literally Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah; some LXX manuscripts Shem, Arphaxad, Cainan, Shelah; see also Genesis 10:24 LXX and Luke 3:35–36.

36 m Many Hebrew manuscripts, some LXX manuscripts, and Syriac (see also Genesis 36:11); most Hebrew manuscripts Zephi

39 n Homam is a variant of Hemam; see Genesis 36:22.

40 o LXX (see also Genesis 36:23); Hebrew Alian

40 p LXX (see also Genesis 36:23); Hebrew Shephi

41 q Hebrew sons

41 r LXX (see also Genesis 36:26); Hebrew Hamran

42 s LXX (see also Genesis 36:27); Hebrew Jaakan

43 t Or before an Israelite king ruled over them

48 u Hebrew the River

50 v Many MT manuscripts, some LXX manuscripts, Vulgate, and Syriac (see also Genesis 36:39); most MT manuscripts Pai

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The Sons of Israel
(Genesis 35:21–26; Genesis 38:1–30)

1These were the sons of Israel:

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

3The sons of Judah:

Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, who put him to death.

4Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.

5The sons of Perez:

Hezron and Hamul.

6The sons of Zerah:

Zimri,a Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Darab—five in all.

7The sonc of Carmi:

Achar,d who brought trouble upon Israel by violating the ban on devoted things.

8The son of Ethan:

Azariah.

9The sons who were born to Hezron:

Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb.e

10Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, a leader of the descendants of Judah.

11Nahshon was the father of Salmon,f and Salmon was the father of Boaz.

12Boaz was the father of Obed, and Obed was the father of Jesse.

13Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimeag third, 14Nethanel fourth, Raddai fifth, 15Ozem sixth, and David seventh. 16Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel. 17Abigail was the mother of Amasa, whose father was Jetherh the Ishmaelite.

18Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah and by Jerioth. These were the sons of Azubah: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. 19When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath,i who bore to him Hur. 20Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri was the father of Bezalel.

21Later, Hezron slept with the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead. He had married her when he was sixty years old, and she bore to him Segub. 22Segub was the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. 23But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth-jair,j along with Kenath and its sixty surrounding villages. All these were descendants of Machir the father of Gilead.

24After Hezron died in Caleb-ephrathah, his wife Abijah borek to him Ashhur the fatherl of Tekoa.

25The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron:

Ram his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. 26Jerahmeel had another wife named Atarah, who was the mother of Onam.

27The sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel:

Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.

28The sons of Onam:

Shammai and Jada.

The sons of Shammai:

Nadab and Abishur. 29Abishur’s wife was named Abihail, and she bore to him Ahban and Molid.

30The sons of Nadab:

Seled and Appaim. Seled died without children.

31The sonm of Appaim:

Ishi.

The son of Ishi:

Sheshan.

The son of Sheshan:

Ahlai.

32The sons of Jada the brother of Shammai:

Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children.

33The sons of Jonathan:

Peleth and Zaza.

These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.

34Sheshan had no sons, but only daughters; but he did have an Egyptian servant named Jarha. 35Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his servant Jarha, and she bore to him Attai.

36Attai was the father of Nathan, Nathan was the father of Zabad, 37Zabad was the father of Ephlal, Ephlal was the father of Obed, 38Obed was the father of Jehu, Jehu was the father of Azariah, 39Azariah was the father of Helez, Helez was the father of Elasah, 40Elasah was the father of Sismai, Sismai was the father of Shallum, 41Shallum was the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah was the father of Elishama.

42The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel:

Meshan his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and Mareshah his second son, who was the father of Hebron.

43The sons of Hebron:

Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema. 44Shema was the father of Raham the father of Jorkeam, and Rekem was the father of Shammai. 45The son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Beth-zur.

46Caleb’s concubine Ephah was the mother of Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez.

47The sons of Jahdai:

Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.

48Caleb’s concubine Maacah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah. 49She was also the mother of Shaaph father of Madmannah, and of Sheva father of Machbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Acsah. 50These were the descendants of Caleb.

The sonso of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah:p

Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim, 51Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth-gader.

52These were the descendants of Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim:

Haroeh, half the Manahathites, 53and the clans of Kiriath-jearim—the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites. From these descended the Zorathites and Eshtaolites.

54The descendants of Salma:

Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites, 55and the clans of the scribesq who lived at Jabez—the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.r

Footnotes:

6 a Zimri is a variant of Zabdi; see Joshua 7:1.

6 b Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, some LXX manuscripts, and Syriac (see also 1 Kings 4:31) Darda

7 c Hebrew sons

7 d Achar means troubler; also called Achan in Joshua 7 and Joshua 22.

9 e Hebrew Chelubai, a variant of Caleb; see verse 18.

11 f LXX (see also Ruth 4:20–21); Hebrew Salma; twice in this verse

13 g Shimea is a variant of Shammah, Shimeah, and Shimei; see 1 Samuel 16:9, 2 Samuel 13:3, and 2 Samuel 21:21.

17 h Jether is a variant of Ithra; see 2 Samuel 17:25.

19 i Ephrath is a variant of Ephrathah; see verse 50.

23 j Or the villages of Jair

24 k Or After Hezron died, Caleb had relations with Ephrathah, the wife of Hezron his father, and she bore; see also LXX.

24 l Or the founder; also in verses 42, 45, 49, and possibly elsewhere

31 m Hebrew sons; three times in this verse

42 n Hebrew; LXX Mareshah

50 o LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew son

50 p Ephrathah is a variant of Ephrath; see verse 19.

55 q Or of the Sopherites

55 r Or the father of Beth-Rekab or the founder of the house of Rechab

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The Descendants of David
(2 Samuel 3:1–5)

1These were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron:

The firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
the second was Daniel by Abigail of Carmel;

2the third was Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;
the fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith;

3the fifth was Shephatiah by Abital;
and the sixth was Ithream by his wife Eglah.

4These six sons were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months.

And David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years, 5and these sons were born to him in Jerusalem:

Shimea,a Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. These four were born to him by Bathshebab daughter of Ammiel.c

6David’s other sons were Ibhar,d Elishua,e Eliphelet, 7Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 8Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet—nine in all.

9These were all the sons of David, besides the sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.

The Descendants of Solomon

10Solomon’s son was Rehoboam:

Abijah was his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 11Joramf his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 12Amaziah his son, Azariahg his son, Jotham his son, 13Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, 14Amon his son, and Josiah his son.

15The sons of Josiah:

Johanan was the firstborn, Jehoiakim the second, Zedekiah the third, and Shallumh the fourth.

16The successors of Jehoiakim:

Jeconiahi his son, and Zedekiah.

The Royal Line After the Exile

17The descendants of Jeconiah the captive:

Shealtiel his son, 18Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

19The sons of Pedaiah:

Zerubbabel and Shimei.

The children of Zerubbabel:

Meshullam and Hananiah, their sister Shelomith, 20and five others: Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed.

21The descendants of Hananiah:

Pelatiah, Jeshaiah, and the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah, and of Shecaniah.

22The six descendants of Shecaniah were Shemaiah and his sons:

Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat.

23The sons of Neariah:

Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam—three in all.

24The sons of Elioenai:

Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani—seven in all.

Footnotes:

5 a Shimea is a variant of Shammua; see 2 Samuel 5:14 and 1 Chronicles 14:4.

5 b One Hebrew manuscript and Vulgate (see also LXX and 2 Samuel 11:3); most Hebrew manuscripts Bath-shua

5 c Ammiel is a variant of Eliam; see 2 Samuel 11:3.

6 d Hebrew does not include David’s other sons were.

6 e Two Hebrew manuscripts (see also 2 Samuel 5:15 and 1 Chronicles 14:5); most Hebrew manuscripts Elishama

11 f Joram is a variant spelling of Jehoram.

12 g Azariah is also called Uzziah; see 2 Chronicles 26:1.

15 h Shallum is another name for Jehoahaz.

16 i Jeconiah is a variant of Jehoiachin; also in verse 17; see 2 Kings 24:6.

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The Descendants of Judah

1The descendants of Judah:

Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.

2Reaiah son of Shobal was the father of Jahath, and Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites.

3These were the sonsa of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash. And their sister was named Hazzelelponi. 4Penuel was the fatherb of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah.

These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and the father of Bethlehem.

5Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.

6Naarah bore to him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the descendants of Naarah.

7The sons of Helah were Zereth, Zohar,c Ethnan, 8and Koz, who was the father of Anub and Zobebah and of the clans of Aharhel son of Harum.

The Prayer of Jabez

9Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez,d saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”

10And Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only You would bless me and enlarge my territory! May Your hand be with me and keep me from harm, so that I will be free from pain.”

And God granted the request of Jabez.

More Descendants of Judah

11Chelub the brother of Shuhah was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. 12Eshton was the father of Beth-rapha, of Paseah, and of Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash. These were the men of Recah.

13The sons of Kenaz:

Othniel and Seraiah.

The sons of Othniel:

Hathath and Meonothai.e

14Meonothai was the father of Ophrah, and Seraiah was the father of Joab, the father of those living in Ge-harashim, which was given this name because its people were craftsmen.f

15The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh:

Iru, Elah, and Naam.

The song of Elah:

Kenaz.

16The sons of Jehallelel:

Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.

17The sons of Ezrah:

Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon.

And Mered’s wife Bithiah gave birthh to Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa. 18These were the children of Pharaoh’s daughter Bithiah.i

Mered also took a Judeanj wife, who gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.

19The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and of Eshtemoa the Maacathite.k

20The sons of Shimon:

Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon.

The descendants of Ishi:

Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.

21The sons of Shelah son of Judah:

Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea, 22Jokim, the men of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi-lehem. (These names are from ancient records.) 23These were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah. They lived there in the service of the king.

The Descendants of Simeon

24The descendants of Simeon:

Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah,l and Shaul.

25The sons of Shaul:

Shallum, Mibsam, and Mishma.

26The sons of Mishma:

Hammuel, Zaccur, and Shimei.

27Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children, so their whole clan did not become as numerous as the sons of Judah. 28They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, 29Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David. 32And their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan—five towns— 33and all their surrounding villages as far as Baal.m These were their settlements, and they kept a genealogical record:

34Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah, 35Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah (son of Seraiah, son of Asiel), 36Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, 37and Ziza son of Shiphi (son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah).

38These men listed by name were the leaders of their clans. Their families increased greatly, 39and they journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, in search of pasture for their flocks. 40There they found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful, and quiet; for some Hamites had lived there formerly.

41These who were noted by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites and Meunites there in their dwellings, devoting them to destructionn even to this day. Then they settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks. 42And five hundred of these Simeonites led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, went to Mount Seir 43and struck down the remnant of the Amalekites who had escaped. And they have lived there to this day.

Footnotes:

3 a LXX (see also Vulgate); Hebrew These were of the father

4 b Or the founder; also in verses 5, 12, 14, 17, 18, and possibly elsewhere

7 c Alternate MT reading; the other alternate (see also Vulgate) reads Izhar.

9 d Jabez sounds like the Hebrew for pain or distress.

13 e Vulgate and some LXX; Hebrew does not include and Meonothai.

14 f Literally Ge-harashim, for they were craftsmen. The Hebrew Ge-harashim means valley of craftsmen.

15 g Hebrew sons

17 h Literally she gave birth

18 i This statement is at the end of verse 18 in the Hebrew.

18 j Or Judahite

19 k Or were the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maacathite

24 l Zerah is a variant of Zohar; see Genesis 46:10 and Exodus 6:15.

33 m Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts (see also Joshua 19:8) Baalath

41 n Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

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The Descendants of Reuben

1These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright. 2And though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph. 3The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel:

Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

4The descendants of Joel:

Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, 5Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, 6and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-pilesera king of Assyria carried into exile.

Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites. 7His relatives by their clans are recorded in their genealogy:

Jeiel the chief, Zechariah, 8and Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel. They settled in Aroer and as far as Nebo and Baal-meon. 9They also settled in the east as far as the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates River, because their livestock had increased in the land of Gilead.

10During the days of Saul they waged war against the Hagrites, who were defeated at their hands, and they occupied the homes of the Hagrites throughout the region east of Gilead.

The Descendants of Gad

11The descendants of Gad lived next to the Reubenites in the land of Bashan, as far as Salecah:

12Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Jaanai and Shaphat, who lived in Bashan.

13Their kinsmen by families were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all. 14These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz. 15Ahi son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was head of their family.

16They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its towns, and throughout the pasturelands of Sharon. 17All of them were reckoned in the genealogies during the reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.

18The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 warriors—valiant men who carried the shield and sword, drew the bow, and were trained for battle. 19They waged war against the Hagrites, as well as Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.

20And because they cried out to God in battle, they were helped against their enemies, and the Hagrites and all their allies were delivered into their hands. Because they put their trust in God, He answered their prayers. 21They seized the livestock of the Hagrites—50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took 100,000 captives, 22and many others fell slain, because the battle belonged to God. And they occupied the land until the exile.

The Half-Tribe of Manasseh

23Now the people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous. They settled in the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon (that is, Senir, also known as Mount Hermon).b
24These were the heads of their families:

Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel.

They were mighty men of valor, famous men, and heads of their families. 25But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and they prostituted themselves with the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.

26So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria) to take the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. And he brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day.

Footnotes:

6 a Hebrew Tilgath-pilneser, a variant spelling of Tiglath-pileser; also in verse 26

23 b Literally from Bashan to Baal-hermon and Senir and Mount Hermon.

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The Descendants of Levi

1The sons of Levi:

Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

2The sons of Kohath:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

3The children of Amram:

Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.

The sons of Aaron:

Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

4Eleazar was the father of Phinehas,

Phinehas was the father of Abishua,

5Abishua was the father of Bukki,

Bukki was the father of Uzzi,

6Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah,

Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth,

7Meraioth was the father of Amariah,

Amariah was the father of Ahitub,

8Ahitub was the father of Zadok,

Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz,

9Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah,

Azariah was the father of Johanan,

10Johanan was the father of Azariah, who served as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem,

11Azariah was the father of Amariah,

Amariah was the father of Ahitub,

12Ahitub was the father of Zadok,

Zadok was the father of Shallum,

13Shallum was the father of Hilkiah,

Hilkiah was the father of Azariah,

14Azariah was the father of Seraiah,
and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak.a

15Jehozadak went into captivity when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

16The sons of Levi:

Gershom,b Kohath, and Merari.

17These are the names of the sons of Gershom:

Libni and Shimei.

18The sons of Kohath:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

19The sons of Merari:

Mahli and Mushi.

These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers:

20Of Gershom:

Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 21Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and Jeatherai his son.

22The descendants of Kohath:

Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 23Elkanah his son, Ebiasaphc his son, Assir his son, 24Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.

25The descendants of Elkanah:

Amasai, Ahimoth, 26Elkanah his son,d Zophai his son, Nahath his son, 27Eliabe his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son.f

28The sons of Samuel:

Joel his firstborn and Abijah his second son.g

29The descendants of Merari:

Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, 30Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.

The Temple Musicians

31These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark rested there. 32They ministered with song before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. And they performed their duties according to the regulations given them. 33These are the men who served, together with their sons.

From the Kohathites:

Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, 34the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel,h the son of Toah, 35the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 36the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, 37the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, 38the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.

39Heman’s kinsman was Asaph, who served at his right hand:

Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea, 40the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah,i the son of Malchijah, 41the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, 42the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, 43the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.

44On the left were their kinsmen, the sons of Merari:

Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, 45the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, 46the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer, 47the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.

The Descendants of Aaron

48Their fellow Levites were assigned to every kind of service of the tabernacle, the house of God. 49But Aaron and his sons did all the work of the Most Holy Place.j They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

50These were the descendants of Aaron:

Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, 51Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 52Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 53Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.

Territories for the Levites
(Numbers 35:1–8; Joshua 21:1–45)

54Now these were the territories assigned to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clan for their settlements, because the first lot fell to them:

55They were given Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands. 56But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. 57So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah,k Jattir, Eshtemoa, 58Hilen,l Debir, 59Ashan,m Juttah,n and Beth-shemesh, together with their pasturelands.

60And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon,o Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. So they had thirteen cities in all among their families.

61To the rest of the Kohathites, ten cities were allotted from the half-tribe of Manasseh.

62The Gershomitesp , according to their clans, were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh in Bashan.

63The Merarites, according to their families, were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

64So the Israelites gave to the Levites these cities and their pasturelands. 65They assigned by lot the cities named above from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

66And some of the clans of the Kohathites were given cities from the tribe of Ephraim for their territory:

67They were given Shechem (a city of refuge)q with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, and Gezer, 68Jokmeam, Beth-horon, 69Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon, together with their pasturelands.

70And from the half-tribe of Manasseh the remaining clans of the Kohathites were given Aner and Bileam, together with their pasturelands.

71The Gershomites received the following:

From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands.

72From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kedesh, Daberath, 73Ramoth, and Anem, together with their pasturelands.

74From the tribe of Asher they were given Mashal, Abdon, 75Hukok, and Rehob, together with their pasturelands.

76And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.

77The Merarites (the rest of the Levites) received the following:

From the tribe of Zebulun they were given Rimmono and Tabor,r together with their pasturelands.

78From the tribe of Reuben east of the Jordan opposite Jericho they were given Bezer in the wilderness, Jahzah,s
79Kedemoth, and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands.

80And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, 81Heshbon, and Jazer, together with their pasturelands.

Footnotes:

14 a Jehozadak is a variant of Jozadak; also in verse 15; see Ezra 3:2.

16 b Gershom is a variant of Gershon; similarly in verses 17, 20, 43, 62, and 71; see verse 1.

23 c Ebiasaph is a variant of Abiasaph; also in verse 37; see Exodus 6:24.

26 d Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts Elkanah. The sons of Elkanah:

27 e Eliab is also called Eliel; see verse 34. Both of these are other names for Elihu; see 1 Samuel 1:1.

27 f Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts include and Samuel his son; see verses 33–34 and 1 Samuel 1:19–20.

28 g See Syriac and some LXX manuscripts (also verse 33 and 1 Samuel 8:2); Hebrew The sons of Samuel: the firstborn Vashni, then Abiah.

34 h Eliel is also called Eliab; see verse 27. Both of these are other names for Elihu; see 1 Samuel 1:1.

40 i Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, one LXX manuscript, and Syriac Maaseiah

49 j Or the Holy of Holies

57 k As in the parallel text at Joshua 21:13; Hebrew were given the cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah

58 l Some Hebrew Manuscripts; MT Hilez; parallel text at Joshua 21:15 Holon

59 m Ashan is a variant of Ain; see Joshua 21:16.

59 n Syriac and the parallel text at Joshua 21:16; MT does not include Juttah,

60 o LXX, Syriac, and parallel text at Joshua 21:17; MT does not include Gibeon,

62 p Gershomites is a variant of Gershonites; also in verse 71; see 1 Chronicles 23:7.

67 q As in the parallel text at Joshua 21:21; Hebrew They were given the cities of refuge: Shechem

77 r LXX (they were given) Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono, and Tabor; see Joshua 21:34.

78 s Jahzah is a variant of Jahaz; see Numbers 21:23.

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The Descendants of Issachar

1The sons of Issachar:

Tola, Puah,a Jashub, and Shimron—four in all.

2The sons of Tola:

Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel, the heads of their families. In the days of David, 22,600 descendants of Tola were numbered in their genealogies as mighty men of valor.

3The sonb of Uzzi:

Izrahiah.

The sons of Izrahiah:

Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All five of them were chiefs. 4In addition to them, according to their genealogy, they had 36,000 troops for battle, for they had many wives and children.

5Their kinsmen belonging to all the families of Issachar who were mighty men of valor totaled 87,000, as listed in their genealogies.

The Descendants of Benjamin

6The three sons of Benjamin:

Bela, Becher, and Jediael.

7The sons of Bela:

Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, heads of their families—five in all. There were 22,034 mighty men of valor listed in their genealogies.

8The sons of Becher:

Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth; all these were Becher’s sons. 9Their genealogies were recorded according to the heads of their families—20,200 mighty men of valor.

10The son of Jediael:

Bilhan.

The sons of Bilhan:

Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. 11All these sons of Jediael were heads of their families, mighty men of valor; there were 17,200 fit for battle. 12The Shuppites and Huppites were descendants of Ir, and the Hushites were descendants of Aher.

The Descendants of Naphtali

13The sons of Naphtali:

Jahziel,c Guni, Jezer, and Shallumd—the descendants of Bilhah.

The Descendants of Manasseh

14The descendants of Manasseh:

Through his Aramean concubine, Asriel, as well as Machir the father of Gilead.

15Machir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. The name of his sister was Maacah.

Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters.

16Machir’s wife Maacah gave birth to a son, and she named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem.

17The son of Ulam:

Bedan.

These were the sons of Gilead son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. 18His sister Hammolecheth gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.

19And these were the sons of Shemida:

Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.

The Descendants of Ephraim

20The descendants of Ephraim:

Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, 21Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son.

Ezer and Elead were killed by the natives of Gath, because they went down to steal their livestock.

22Their father Ephraim mourned for many days, and his relatives came to comfort him. 23And again he slept with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. So he named him Beriah,e because tragedy had come upon his house. 24His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth-horon, as well as Uzzen-sheerah.

25Additionally, Rephah was his son, Resheph his son,f Telah his son, Tahan his son, 26Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, 27Nung his son, and Joshua his son.

28Their holdings and settlements included Bethel and its villages, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its villages to the west, and Shechem and its villages as far as Ayyahh and its villages. 29And along the borders of Manasseh were Beth-shean,i Taanach, Megiddo, and Dor, together with their villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns.

The Descendants of Asher

30The children of Asher:

Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah.

31The sons of Beriah:

Heber, as well as Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.

32Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer, and Hotham, and of their sister Shua.

33The sons of Japhlet:

Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were Japhlet’s sons.

34The sons of Shemer:

Ahi, Rohgah,j Hubbah, and Aram.

35The sons of his brother Helem:k

Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.

36The sons of Zophah:

Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, 37Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran,l and Beera.

38The sons of Jether:

Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara.

39The sons of Ulla:

Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.

40All these were the descendants of Asher—heads of their families, choice and mighty men of valor, and chiefs among the leaders. The number of men fit for battle, recorded in their genealogies, was 26,000.

Footnotes:

1 a Puah is a variant of Puvah; see Genesis 46:13 and Numbers 26:23.

3 b Hebrew sons; also in verses 10 and 17

13 c Jahziel is a variant of Jahzeel; see Genesis 46:24.

13 d Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew and LXX manuscripts Shillem; see Genesis 46:24 and Numbers 26:49.

23 e Beriah sounds like the Hebrew for tragedy or disaster.

25 f Some LXX manuscripts; Hebrew does not include his son.

27 g Or Non

28 h Ayyah is another name for Gaza; see also LXX.

29 i Beth-shean is a variant of Beth-shan; see 1 Samuel 31:10 and 2 Samuel 21:12.

34 j Or The sons of his brother Shemer: Rohgah; note that Shemer is a variant of Shomer; see verse 32.

35 k Helem is possibly another name for Hotham; see verse 32.

37 l Ithran is possibly a variant of Jether; see verse 38.

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◀   ◀   1 Chronicles 8   ▶   ▶

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Genealogy from Benjamin to Saul

1Benjamin was the father of Bela, his firstborn; Ashbel was the second born, Aharah the third, 2Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.

3The sons of Bela:

Addar, Gera, Abihud,a
4Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.

6These were the descendants of Ehud who were the heads of the families living in Geba and were exiled to Manahath:

7Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who carried them into exile and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.b

8Shaharaim had sons in the country of Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. 9His sons by his wife Hodesh:

Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families.

11He also had sons by Hushim:

Abitub and Elpaal.

12The sons of Elpaal:

Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its villages), 13and Beriah and Shema (who were the heads of families of the inhabitants of Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath).

14Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, 15Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.

17Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.

19Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.

22Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.

26Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham.

28All these were heads of families, the chiefs according to their genealogies, and they lived in Jerusalem.

29Jeiel the father of Gibeon livedc in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah, 30and Abdon was his firstborn son, then Zur, Kish, Baal,d Nadab, 31Gedor, Ahio, Zecher,e
32and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah.f These also lived alongside their relatives in Jerusalem.

The Family of Saul

33Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.g

34The son of Jonathan:

Merib-baal,h and Merib-baal was the father of Micah.i

35The sons of Micah:

Pithon, Melech, Tarea,j and Ahaz.

36Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddahk was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza.

37Moza was the father of Binea. Raphahl was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.

38Azel had six sons, and these were their names:

Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.

39The sons of his brother Eshek:

Ulam was his firstborn, Jeush second, and Eliphelet third. 40The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and they had many sons and grandsons—150 in all.

All these were the descendants of Benjamin.

Footnotes:

3 a Possibly Gera the father of Ehud; see verse 7.

7 b Or and Gera, that is Heglam, who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.

29 c Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 9:35); Hebrew The father of Gibeon lived

30 d Some LXX manuscripts include Ner; see 1 Chronicles 9:36.

31 e Zecher is likely a variant of Zechariah; see 1 Chronicles 9:37.

32 f Shimeah is a variant of Shimeam; see 1 Chronicles 9:38.

33 g Esh-baal is also called Ish-bosheth; see 2 Samuel 2:8.

34 h Merib-baal is also called Mephibosheth; see 2 Samuel 4:4.

34 i Micah is a variant of Mica; see 2 Samuel 9:12.

35 j Tarea is a variant of Tahrea; see 1 Chronicles 9:41.

36 k Jehoaddah is a variant of Jarah or Jadah; see 1 Chronicles 9:42.

37 l Raphah is a variant of Rephaiah; see 1 Chronicles 9:43.

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◀   ◀   1 Chronicles 9   ▶   ▶

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The People of Jerusalem

1So all Israel was recorded in the genealogies written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. But Judah was exiled to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.

2Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.a

3These were some of the descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem:

4Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah.

5From the Shilonites:

Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.

6From the Zerahites:

Jeuel and 690 relatives.

7From the Benjamites:

Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;

8Ibneiah son of Jeroham;

Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Michri;

Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;

9and 956 of their relatives according to their genealogy. All these men were heads of their families.

10From the priests:

Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin;

11Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief official of God’s temple;

12Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah;

Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith,b the son of Immer;

13and 1,760 of their relatives, the heads of their families, able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

14From the Levites:

Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a descendant of Merari;

15Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;

16Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun;
and Berechiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

17These were the gatekeepers:

Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives.

Shallum was their chief; 18he was previously stationed at the King’s Gate on the east side. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the Levites. 19Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph,c the son of Korah, and his relatives from the Korahites were assigned to guard the thresholds of the Tent, just as their fathers had been assigned to guard the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD.

20In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him.

21Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

22The number of those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds was 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their positions of trust.

23So they and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the house of the LORD—the house called the Tent. 24The gatekeepers were stationed on the four sides: east, west, north, and south. 25Their relatives came from their villages at fixed times to serve with them for seven-day periods. 26But the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and the treasuries of the house of God. 27They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they were responsible for guarding it and opening it every morning.

28Some of them were in charge of the articles used in worship, to count them whenever they were brought in or taken out. 29Others were put in charge of the furnishings and other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices. 30And some of the sons of the priests mixed the spices.

31A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread. 32Some of their Kohathite brothers were responsible for preparing the rows of the showbread every Sabbath.

33Those who were musicians, the heads of Levite families, stayed in the temple chambers and were exempt from other duties because they were on duty day and night. 34All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs according to their genealogies, and they lived in Jerusalem.

The Descendants of Saul

35Jeiel the fatherd of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah.

36Abdon was his firstborn son, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.

38Mikloth was the father of Shimeam.e They too lived alongside their relatives in Jerusalem.

39Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.

40The son of Jonathan:

Merib-baal, who was the father of Micah.

41The sons of Micah:

Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.f

42Ahaz was the father of Jarah; Jarahg was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri was the father of Moza. 43Moza was the father of Binea. Rephaiahh was his son, Elasah his son, and Azel his son.

44And Azel had six sons, and these were their names:

Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

Footnotes:

2 a Hebrew Nethinim

12 b Meshillemith is a variant of Meshillemoth; see Nehemiah 11:13.

19 c Ebiasaph is a variant of Abiasaph; see Exodus 6:24.

35 d Or the founder

38 e Shimeam is a variant of Shimeah; see 1 Chronicles 8:32.

41 f Vulgate and Syriac (see also LXX and 1 Chronicles 8:35); Hebrew Pithon, Melech, and Tahrea; note that Tahrea is a variant of Tarea.

42 g Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX Jadah; Jadah; note that Jarah and Jadah are variants of Jehoaddah; see 1 Chronicles 8:36.

43 h Rephaiah is a variant of Raphah; see 1 Chronicles 8:37.

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BSB  [Online]

Saul’s Overthrow and Death
(1 Samuel 31:1–6; 2 Samuel 1:1–16)

1Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

2The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. 3When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him.

4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run it through me, or these uncircumcised men will come and torture me!”

But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

5When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died. 6So Saul died together with his three sons and all his house.

The Philistines Possess the Towns
(1 Samuel 31:7–10)

7When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their cities and ran away. So the Philistines came and occupied their cities.

8The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9They stripped Saul, cut off his head, took his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. 10They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung his head in the temple of Dagon.

Jabesh-gilead’s Tribute to Saul
(1 Samuel 31:11–13)

11When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul, 12all their men of valor set out and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. And they buried their bones under the oaka in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

13So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, 14and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

Footnotes:

12 a Or terebinth or great tree

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◀   ◀   1 Chronicles 11   ▶   ▶

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David Anointed King of All Israel
(2 Samuel 5:1–5)

1Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. 2Even in times past,a while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’ ”

3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.

David Conquers Jerusalem
(2 Samuel 5:6–11)

4Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites inhabited the land.

5The people of Jebus said to David, “You will never get in here.”

Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).

6Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.”

And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief.

7So David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was called the City of David. 8He built up the city around it, from the supporting terracesb to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city.

9And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.

David’s Mighty Men
(2 Samuel 23:8–39)

10Now these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. 11This is the list of David’s mighty men:

Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers;c he wielded his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed at one time.

12Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodod the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. 13He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At the place with a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. 14But Eleazar and David stationed themselvese in the middle of the field and defended it. They struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.

15Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. 17David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

18So the Three broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD, 19saying, “Far be it from me, my God, to do this! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they had brought it at the risk of their lives, David refused to drink it.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

20Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three,f and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. 21He was doubly honored above the Three, and he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.

22And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab,g and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. 23He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall.h Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. 24These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name alongside the three mighty men. 25He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.

26Now these were the mighty men:

Asahel the brother of Joab,

Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

27Shammoth the Harorite,i

Helez the Pelonite,

28Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

Abiezer the Anathothite,

29Sibbecai the Hushathite,

Ilai the Ahohite,

30Maharai the Netophathite,

Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

31Ithaij son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,

Benaiah the Pirathonite,

32Huraik from the brooksl of Gaash,

Abielm the Arbathite,

33Azmaveth the Baharumite,n

Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

34the sons of Hashemo the Gizonite,

Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,

35Ahiam son of Sacharp the Hararite,

Eliphal son of Ur,

36Hepher the Mecherathite,

Ahijah the Pelonite,

37Hezro the Carmelite,

Naarai son of Ezbai,

38Joel the brother of Nathan,

Mibhar son of Hagri,

39Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

40Ira the Ithrite,

Gareb the Ithrite,

41Uriah the Hittite,

Zabad son of Ahlai,

42Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him,

43Hanan son of Maacah,

Joshaphat the Mithnite,

44Uzzia the Ashterathite,

Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

45Jediael son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite,

46Eliel the Mahavite,

Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam,

Ithmah the Moabite,

47Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Footnotes:

2 a Or For some time

8 b Hebrew the Millo

11 c Or of the Thirty; some LXX manuscripts of the Three; see 2 Samuel 23:8.

12 d Dodo is a variant of Dodai; see 1 Chronicles 27:4.

14 e Literally But they stationed themselves

20 f Hebrew; Syriac the Thirty; also in verse 21

22 g Or two sons of Ariel of Moab

23 h 5 cubits is approximately 7 feet 6 inches or 229 centimeters tall.

27 i Shammoth the Harorite is a variant of Shammah the Harodite; see 2 Samuel 23:25.

31 j Ithai is a variant of Ittai; see 2 Samuel 23:29.

32 k Hurai is a variant of Hiddai; see 2 Samuel 23:30.

32 l Or from the ravines

32 m Abiel is a variant of Abi-albon; see 2 Samuel 23:31.

33 n Baharumite is a variant of Barhumite; see 2 Samuel 23:31.

34 o Hashem is a variant of Jashen; see LXX and 2 Samuel 23:32.

35 p Sachar is a variant of Sharar; see 2 Samuel 23:33.

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The Mighty Men Join David at Ziklag

1Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the mighty men who helped him in battle; 2they were archers using both the right and left hands to sling stones and shoot arrows; and they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin):

3Ahiezer their chief and Joash, who were the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite;

Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth;

Beracah;

Jehu the Anathothite;

4Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty;

Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite;

5Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite;

6Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites;

7and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.

8Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:

9Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third, 10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbanai the eleventh.

14These Gadites were army commanders, the least of whom was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand.

15These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight all those in the valleys, both to the east and to the west.

16Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold. 17And David went out to meet them, saying, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free of violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you.”

18Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he said:

“We are yours, O David!

We are with you, O son of Jesse!

Peace, peace to you,
and peace to your helpers,
for your God helps you.”

So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.

19Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”) 20When David went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh defected to him:

Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh.

21They helped David against the raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and commanders in the army.

22For at that time men came to David day after day to help him, until he had a great army, like the army of God.

David’s Army Grows at Hebron

23Now these are the numbers of men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, in accordance with the word of the LORD:

24From Judah: 6,800 armed troops bearing shields and spears.

25From Simeon: 7,100 mighty men of valor, ready for battle.

26From Levi: 4,600, 27including Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, with 3,700 men, 28and Zadok, a mighty young man of valor, with 22 commanders from his own family.

29From Benjamin, the kinsmen of Saul: 3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to the house of Saul up to that time.

30From Ephraim: 20,800 mighty men of valor, famous among their own clans.

31From the half-tribe of Manasseh:a 18,000 designated by name to come and make David king.

32From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command.

33From Zebulun: 50,000 fit for service, trained for battle with all kinds of weapons of war, who with one purpose were devoted to David.b

34From Naphtali: 1,000 commanders, accompanied by 37,000 men with shield and spear.

35From Dan: 28,600 prepared for battle.

36From Asher: 40,000 fit for service, prepared for battle.

37And from east of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh there: 120,000 armed with every kind of weapon of war.

38All these men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind to make David king.

39They spent three days there eating and drinking with David, for their relatives had provided for them. 40And their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant supplies of flour, fig cakes and raisin cakes, wine and oil, oxen and sheep. Indeed, there was joy in Israel.

Footnotes:

31 a That is, the half-tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan

33 b LXX; Hebrew does not include to David.

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◀   ◀   1 Chronicles 13   ▶   ▶

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David Fetches the Ark
(2 Samuel 6:1–4)

1Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of hundreds and of thousands. 2And he said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if this is of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers in all the land of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands, so that they may join us. 3Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Hima in the days of Saul.”

4And because this proposal seemed right to all the people, the whole assembly agreed to it. 5So David assembled all Israel, from the River Shihorb in Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

6David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name.c
7So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart.

Uzzah Touches the Ark
(2 Samuel 6:5–11)

8David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon,d Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. 10And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

11Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah; so he named that place Perez-uzzah,e as it is called to this day.

12That day David feared God and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” 13So he did not move the ark with him to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he owned.

Footnotes:

3 a Or of it

5 b Hebrew from the Shihor

6 c Or the ark of God, which is called by the Name of the LORD who is enthroned between the cherubim; or the ark of God, the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim, where His Name is called

9 d Chidon is a variant of Nacon; see 2 Samuel 6:6.

11 e Perez-uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah.

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David’s Family Grows
(2 Samuel 5:12–16)

1Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters, to build a palace for him. 2And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had highly exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

3And David took more wives in Jerusalem and became the father of more sons and daughters. 4These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua,a Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7Elishama, Beeliada,b and Eliphelet.

Two Victories over the Philistines
(2 Samuel 5:17–25)

8When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went out to face them.

9Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim. 10So David inquired of God, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

“Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will deliver them into your hand.”

11So David and his men went up to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, God has burst out against my enemies by my hand.” So they called that place Baal-perazim.c
12There the Philistines abandoned their gods, and David ordered that they be burned in the fire.

13Once again the Philistines raided the valley. 14So David again inquired of God, who answered him, “Do not march up after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.d
15As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because this will mean that God has marched out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

16So David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. 17And David’s fame went out into every land, and the LORD caused all nations to fear him.

Footnotes:

4 a Shammua is a variant of Shimea; see 1 Chronicles 3:5.

7 b Beeliada is a variant of Eliada; see 2 Samuel 5:16.

11 c Baal-Perazim means The Lord Bursts Out.

14 d Or aspen trees or poplar trees; also in verse 15

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Preparing to Move the Ark
(2 Samuel 6:12–15)

1David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”

3And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it. 4Then he gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:

5From the Kohathites, Uriel the chief and 120 of his relatives;

6from the Merarites, Asaiah the chief and 220 of his relatives;

7from the Gershomites,a Joel the chief and 130 of his relatives;

8from the Elizaphanites, Shemaiah the chief and 200 of his relatives;

9from the Hebronites, Eliel the chief and 80 of his relatives;

10and from the Uzzielites, Amminadab the chief and 112 of his relatives.

11David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”

The Priests and Levites Carry the Ark

14So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. 15And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.

16David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals. 17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah,b Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.c

19The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals. 20Zechariah, Aziel,d Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to Alamoth.e
21And Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead the music with lyres according to Sheminith.f
22Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.

23Berechiah and Elkanah were to be guardiansg of the ark. 24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—the priests—were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be guardians of the ark.

Moving the Ark to Jerusalem

25So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom. 26And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

27Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. 28So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and with cymbals and the music of harps and lyres.

Michal’s Contempt for David
(2 Samuel 6:16)

29As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.

Footnotes:

7 a Gershomites is a variant of Gershonites; see 1 Chronicles 23:7.

18 b Several Hebrew manuscripts and most LXX manuscripts (see also verse 20 and 1 Chronicles 16:5); most Hebrew manuscripts Zechariah son of or Zechariah, Ben,

18 c Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah or Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Ozias

20 d Aziel is a variant of Jaaziel; see verse 18.

20 e Alamoth is probably a musical or liturgical term; here and in Psalm 46:1.

21 f Sheminith is probably a musical term; here and in Psalm 6:1 and Psalm 12:1.

23 g Literally gatekeepers; also in verse 24

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A Tent for the Ark
(2 Samuel 6:17–19)

1So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. 3Then he distributed to every man and woman of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake,a and a raisin cake.

4David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel. 5Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals 6and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving
(Psalm 105:1–15)

7On that day David first committed to Asaph and his brothers this song of thanksgiving to the LORD:

8“Give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name;
make known His deeds among the nations.

9Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
tell of all His wonders.

10Glory in His holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

11Seek out the LORD and His strength;
seek His face always.

12Remember the wonders He has done,

His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

13O offspring of His servant Israel,

O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.

14He is the LORD our God;

His judgments carry throughout the earth.

15Rememberb His covenant forever,
the word He ordained for a thousand generations—

16the covenant He made with Abraham,
and the oath He swore to Isaac.

17He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

18‘I will give you the land of Canaan
as the portion of your inheritance.’

19When they were few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in the land,

20they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.

21He let no man oppress them;

He rebuked kings on their behalf:

22‘Do not touch My anointed ones!

Do no harm to My prophets!’

Sing to the LORD, All the Earth
(Psalm 96:1–13)

23Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Proclaim His salvation day after day.

24Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonderful deeds among all peoples.

25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

He is to be feared above all gods.

26For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but it is the LORD who made the heavens.

27Splendor and majesty are before Him;
strength and joy fill His dwelling.

28Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
bring an offering and come before Him.

Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness;

30tremble before Him, all the earth.

The world is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.

31Let the heavens be glad,
and the earth rejoice.

Let them say among the nations,

‘The LORD reigns!’

32Let the sea resound,
and all that fills it;
let the fields exult,
and all that is in them.

33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD,
for He is coming to judge the earth.

34Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

His loving devotionc endures forever.

35Then cry out: ‘Save us, O God of our salvation;
gather and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to Your holy name,
that we may glory in Your praise.’

36Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.”

Then all the people said, “Amen!” and “Praise the LORD!”

Worship before the Ark

37So David left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to minister there regularly according to the daily requirements, 38along with Obed-edom and his sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.

39And David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon 40to regularly present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offerings, morning and evening, according to all that was written in the Law of the LORD, which He had commanded Israel to keep. 41With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, for “His loving devotion endures forever.”

42Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for the songs of God.d And the sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.

43Then all the people departed for their homes, and David returned home to bless his household.

Footnotes:

3 a Or a portion of meat

15 b Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts He remembers; see Psalm 105:8.

34 c Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

42 d Or instruments for the sacred music

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God’s Covenant with David
(2 Samuel 7:1–17)

1After David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”

2And Nathan replied to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

3But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4“Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build Me a house in which to dwell. 5For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypta until this day, but I have moved from tent to tent and dwelling to dwelling. 6In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leadersb I appointed to shepherd My people, ‘Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’

7Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel. 8I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make for you a name like the greatest in the land.

9And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and be disturbed no more. No longer will the sons of wickedness oppress them as they did at the beginning 10and have done since the day I appointed judges over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies.

Moreover, I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you. 11And when your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12He will build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13I will be his Father, and he will be My son. And I will never remove My loving devotion from him as I removed it from your predecessor. 14But I will set him over My house and My kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.”

15So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire vision.

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
(2 Samuel 7:18–29)

16Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 17And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O God, You have spoken about the future of the house of Your servant and have regarded me as a man of great distinction,c O LORD God. 18What more can David say to You for so honoring Your servant? For You know Your servant, 19O LORD.d For the sake of Your servant and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished this great thing and revealed all Your greatness.

20O LORD, there is none like You, and there is no God but You, according to everything we have heard with our own ears. 21And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself? You made a name for Yourself through great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed from Egypt. 22For You have made Your people Israel Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.

23And now, O LORD, let the word You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house be established forever. Do as You have promised, 24so that Your name will be established and magnified forever when it is said, ‘The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, is God over Israel.’ And may the house of Your servant David be established before You. 25For You, my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build a house for him. Therefore Your servant has found the courage to pray before You.

26And now, O LORD, You are God! And You have promised this goodness to Your servant. 27So now You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”

Footnotes:

5 a Out of Egypt is implied, but not included in the Hebrew; see 2 Samuel 7:6.

6 b Or judges; see verse 10.

17 c Or and have shown me future generations

19 d See 2 Samuel 7:20; many translators 18...For You know Your servant. 19O LORD,

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David’s Triumphs
(2 Samuel 8:1–14; Psalm 60:1–12)

1Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from the hand of the Philistines.

2David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to David and brought him tribute.

3As far as Hamath, David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah, who had marched out to establish his dominiona along the Euphrates River. 4David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots.

5When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand men. 6Then he placed garrisonsb in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victoriousc wherever he went.

7And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8And from Tibhathd and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and various bronze articles.

9When King Toue of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10he sent his son Hadoramf to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze, 11and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all these nations—from Edom and Moab, and from the Ammonites, Philistines, and Amalekites.

12Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

David’s Officers
(2 Samuel 8:15–18)

14Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:

15Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army;

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

16Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelechg son of Abiathar were priests;

Shavshah was the scribe;

17Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;
and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew his hand

6 b LXX and Vulgate (see also 2 Samuel 8:6 and Syriac); Hebrew does not include garrisons.

6 c Or the LORD saved David; also in verse 13

8 d Tibhath is a variant of Tebah; see 2 Samuel 8:8 LXX.

9 e Tou is a variant of Toi; also in verse 10; see 2 Samuel 8:9.

10 f Hadoram is a variant of Joram; see 2 Samuel 8:10.

16 g Some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, and Syriac (see also 2 Samuel 8:17); most Hebrew manuscripts Abimelech

16 h Shavsha is also called Seraiah, Sheva, and Shisha; see 2 Samuel 8:17, 2 Samuel 20:25, and 1 Kings 4:3.

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David’s Messengers Disgraced
(2 Samuel 10:1–8)

1Some time later, Nahash king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son. 2And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.”

So David sent messengers to console Hanun concerning his father. But when David’s servants arrived in the land of the Ammonites to console him, 3the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Have not his servants come to you to explore the land, spy it out, and overthrow it?”

4So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved their beards, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

5When someone came and told David about his men, he sent messengers to meet them, since the men had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

6When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silvera to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Aram-naharaim,b Aram-maacah, and Zobah. 7So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, as well as the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba while the Ammonites came from their cities and marched out for battle.

8On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men. 9The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come stayed by themselves in the open country.

David Defeats Ammon and Aram
(2 Samuel 10:9–19)

10When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. 11And he placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

12“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue. 13Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

14So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him. 15When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Joab’s brother Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.

16When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates,c with Shophachd the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

17When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, advanced toward the Arameans, and arrayed for battle against them. When David lined up to engage them in battle, they fought against him. 18But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach the commander of their army.

19When Hadadezer’s subjects saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were unwilling to help the Ammonites anymore.

Footnotes:

6 a 1,000 talents is approximately 37.7 tons or 34.2 metric tons of silver.

6 b That is, Mesopotamia; Aram-naharaim means Aram of the two rivers, likely the region between the Euphrates and Balih Rivers in northwestern Mesopotamia.

16 c Hebrew the River

16 d Shophach is a variant of Shobach; also in verse 18; see 2 Samuel 10:16.

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The Capture of Rabbah
(2 Samuel 12:26–31)

1In the spring,a at the time when kings march out to war, Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the Ammonites. He came to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. And Joab attacked Rabbah and demolished it.

2Then David took the crown from the head of their king.b It was found to weigh a talent of goldc and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. And David took a great amount of plunder from the city.

3David brought out the people who were there and put them to workd with saws, iron picks, and axes. And he did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

Battles against the Philistines
(2 Samuel 21:15–22)

4Some time later, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai,e a descendant of the Rephaim,f and the Philistines were subdued.

5Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brotherg of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

6And there was still another battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, 7and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimei killed him.

8So these descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally At the turn of the year

2 b Or from the head of Milcom. Milcom, also called Molech, was god of the Ammonites; see Leviticus 18:21 and 1 Kings 11:7.

2 c A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.

3 d Or cut them

4 e Sippai is a variant of Saph; see 2 Samuel 21:18.

4 f Or the giants; see also descendants of Rapha in verses 6 and 8.

5 g Or Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother; see 2 Samuel 21:19.

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David’s Military Census
(Exodus 30:11–16; 2 Samuel 24:1–9)

1Then Satana rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 2So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.”

3But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of my lord? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”

4Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and traveled throughout Israel, and then he returned to Jerusalem. 5And Joab reported to David the total number of the troops. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, including 470,000 in Judah. 6But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count, because the king’s command was detestable to him.

Judgment for David’s Sin
(2 Samuel 24:10–14)

7This command was also evil in the sight of God; so He struck Israel.

8Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. Now I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

9And the LORD instructed Gad, David’s seer, 10“Go and tell David that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’ ”

11So Gad went and said to David, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You must choose 12between three years of famine, three months of being swept awayb before your enemies and overtaken by their swords, or three days of the sword of the LORD—days of plague upon the land, with the angel of the LORD ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”

13David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

A Plague on Israel
(2 Samuel 24:15–17)

14So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead.

15Then God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented from the calamity, and He said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!”

At that time the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornanc the Jebusite.

16When David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown. 17And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave the order to count the people? Id am the one who has sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house, but do not let this plague remain upon Your people.”

David Builds an Altar
(2 Samuel 24:18–25)

18Then the angel of the LORD ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19So David went up at the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD.

20Now Ornan was threshing wheat when he turned and saw the angel; and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21David came to Ornan, and when Ornan looked out and saw David, he left the threshing floor and bowed facedown before David.

22Then David said to Ornan, “Grant me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar to the LORD. Sell it to me for the full price, so that the plague upon the people may be halted.”

23Ornan said to David, “My lord the king may take whatever seems good. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering—I will give it all.”

24“No,” replied King David, “I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for the LORD what belongs to you, nor will I offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

25So David paid Ornan six hundred shekels of golde for the site. 26And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called upon the LORD, who answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.

27Then the LORD spoke to the angel, who put his sword back into its sheath.

28At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there. 29For the tabernacle of the LORD that Moses had made in the wilderness and the altar of burnt offering were presently at the high place in Gibeon, 30but David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, the Accuser or the Adversary

12 b Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate of fleeing; see 2 Samuel 24:13.

15 c Ornan is a variant of Araunah; also in verses 18–28; see 2 Samuel 24:16.

17 d Or I, the shepherd, see 2 Samuel 24:17 DSS and LXX.

25 e 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of gold.

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◀   ◀   1 Chronicles 22   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Preparations for the Temple

1Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the LORD God, as well as the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

2So David gave orders to gather the foreigners in the land of Israel, from whom he appointed stonecutters to prepare finished stones for building the house of God.

3David provided a large quantity of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, together with more bronze than could be weighed 4and more cedar logs than could be counted; for the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought a large quantity of cedar logs to David.

5And David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent—famous and glorious throughout all lands. Therefore I must make preparations for it.” So David made lavish preparations before his death.

Solomon Anointed to Build the Temple

6Then David called for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel.

7“My son,” said David to Solomon, “it was in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, 8but this word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and waged great wars. You are not to build a house for My Name because you have shed so much blood on the ground before Me. 9But a son will be born to you who will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name will be Solomon,a and I will grant to Israel peace and quiet during his reign. 10He is the one who will build a house for My Name. He will be My son, and I will be his Father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’

11Now, my son, may the LORD be with you, and may you succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as He said you would. 12Above all, may the LORD give you insight and understanding when He puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the Law of the LORD your God. 13Then you will succeed, if you carefully follow the statutes and ordinances that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

14Now behold, I have taken great pains to provide for the house of the LORD—100,000 talents of gold,b 1,000,000 talents of silver,c and bronze and iron too great to be weighed. I have also provided timber and stone, and you may add to them.

15You also have many workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in every kind of work— 16in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and may the LORD be with you.”

17Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon: 18“Is not the LORD your God with you, and has He not granted you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land has been subdued before the LORD and His people. 19Now set your heart and soul to seek the LORD your God. Get started building the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy articles of God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD.”

Footnotes:

9 a Solomon sounds like and is probably derived from the Hebrew word for peace.

14 b 100,000 talents is approximately 3,770 tons or 3,420 metric tons of gold.

14 c 1,000,000 talents is approximately 37,700 tons or 34,200 metric tons of silver.

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◀   ◀   1 Chronicles 23   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Divisions of the Levites

1When David was old and full of years, he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel. 2Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites.

3The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000. 4“Of these,” said David,a “24,000 are to oversee the work of the house of the LORD, 6,000 are to be officers and judges, 54,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”

6Then David divided the Levites into divisions according to the sons of Levi:

Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

The Gershonites
(Numbers 3:21–26; Numbers 4:21–28)

7The Gershonites: Ladanb and Shimei.

8The sons of Ladan: Jehielc the first, Zetham, and Joel—three in all.

9The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran—three in all. These were the heads of the families of Ladan.

10And the sons of Shimei:d Jahath, Zina,e Jeush, and Beriah. These were the sons of Shimei—four in all. 11Jahath was the first and Zizah was the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were counted as one family and received a single assignment.

The Kohathites
(Numbers 3:27–32; Numbers 4:1–20)

12The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel—four in all.

13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever. 14As for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

15The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

16The descendants of Gershom: Shebuel was the first.

17The descendants of Eliezer: Rehabiah was the first. Eliezer did not have any other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.

18The sons of Izhar: Shelomith was the first.

19The sons of Hebron: Jeriah was the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20The sons of Uzziel: Micah was the first and Isshiah the second.

The Merarites
(Numbers 3:33–37; Numbers 4:29–33)

21The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.

The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 22Eleazar died without having any sons; he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.

23The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremothf—three in all.

Levite Duties Revised

24These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD.

25For David had said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to His people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever. 26So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.”

27For according to the final instructions of David, the Levites twenty years of age or older were counted, 28but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God, 29as well as for the rows of the showbread, the fine flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking, the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.

30They were also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the LORD, and likewise in the evening. 31Whenever burnt offerings were presented to the LORD on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, they were to serve regularly before the LORD in the numbers prescribed for them. 32So the Levites were to carry out the responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place, and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, the service of the house of the LORD.

Footnotes:

4 a Hebrew does not include said David,

7 b Ladan is a variant of Libni; also in verses 8 and 9; see 1 Chronicles 6:17.

8 c Jehiel is a variant of Jehieli; see 1 Chronicles 26:21.

10 d Shimei was possibly a son or grandson of the Shimei listed in verse 9.

10 e Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, LXX, and Vulgate (see also verse 11) Zizah

23 f Jeremoth is a variant of Jerimoth; see 1 Chronicles 24:30.

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◀   ◀   1 Chronicles 24   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Twenty-Four Divisions of Priests

1These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.

3With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service. 4Since more leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than those of Ithamar, they were divided accordingly. There were sixteen heads of families from the descendants of Eleazar and eight from the descendants of Ithamar.

5Thus they were divided by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.

6The scribe, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officers: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar, and then one from Ithamar.

7The first lot fell to Jehoiarib,
the second to Jedaiah,

8the third to Harim,
the fourth to Seorim,

9the fifth to Malchijah,
the sixth to Mijamin,

10the seventh to Hakkoz,
the eighth to Abijah,

11the ninth to Jeshua,
the tenth to Shecaniah,

12the eleventh to Eliashib,
the twelfth to Jakim,

13the thirteenth to Huppah,
the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

14the fifteenth to Bilgah,
the sixteenth to Immer,

15the seventeenth to Hezir,
the eighteenth to Happizzez,

16the nineteenth to Pethahiah,
the twentieth to Jehezkel,

17the twenty-first to Jachin,
the twenty-second to Gamul,

18the twenty-third to Delaiah,
and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.

19This was their appointed order for service when they entered the house of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

The Rest of the Levites

20Now these were the remaining descendants of Levi:

From the sons of Amram: Shubael;a
from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah.

21As for Rehabiah, from his sons: The first was Isshiah.b

22From the Izharites: Shelomoth;c
from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath.

23From the sons of Hebron: Jeriah was the first,d Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

24From the sons of Uzziel: Micah;
from the sons of Micah: Shamir.

25The brother of Micah: Isshiah;
from the sons of Isshiah: Zechariah.

26The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.

The son of Jaaziah: Beno.

27The descendants of Merari from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.

28From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.

29From Kish: Jerahmeel the son of Kish.

30And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.e

These were the sons of the Levites, according to their families. 31As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.

Footnotes:

20 a Shubael (twice in this verse) is a variant of Shebuel; see 1 Chronicles 23:16 and 1 Chronicles 26:24.

21 b Isshiah is a variant of Jeshaiah; see 1 Chronicles 26:25.

22 c Shelomoth (twice in this verse) is a variant of Shelomith; see 1 Chronicles 23:18.

23 d Hebrew From the sons: Jeriah; see 1 Chronicles 23:19.

30 e Jerimoth is a variant of Jeremoth; see 1 Chronicles 23:23.

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◀   ◀   1 Chronicles 25   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Twenty-Four Divisions of Musicians

1Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:

2From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. These sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.

3From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,a Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all—under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, giving thanks and praise to the LORD.

4From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel,b Jerimoth,c Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5All these sons of Heman the king’s seer were given him through the promises of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

6All these were under the direction of their fathers for the music of the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God.

Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the direction of the king. 7Together with their relatives, who were all trained and skillful in the songs of the LORD, they numbered 288. 8They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.

9The first lot, which was for Asaph, fell to Joseph, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;d
the second to Gedaliah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

10the third to Zaccur, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

11the fourth to Izri,e his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

12the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

13the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

14the seventh to Jesarelah,f his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

15the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

16the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

17the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

18the eleventh to Azarel,g his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

19the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

20the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

21the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

22the fifteenth to Jeremoth,h his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

23the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

24the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

25the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

26the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

27the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

28the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

29the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

30the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

31and the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all.

Footnotes:

3 a One Hebrew manuscript and some LXX manuscripts (see also verse 17); most Hebrew manuscripts do not include Shimei.

4 b Shebuel is a variant of Shubael; see verse 20.

4 c Jerimoth is a variant of Jeremoth; see verse 22.

9 d See LXX and the total in verse 7; Hebrew does not include his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

11 e Izri is a variant of Zeri; see verse 3.

14 f Jesarelah is a variant of Asarelah; see verse 2.

18 g Azarel is a variant of Uzziel; see verse 4.

22 h Jeremoth is a variant of Jerimoth; see verse 4.

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◀   ◀   1 Chronicles 26   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Divisions of the Gatekeepers

1These were the divisions of the gatekeepers:

From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.

2Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, and Eliehoenai the seventh.

4And Obed-edom also had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, 5Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth. For God had blessed Obed-edom.

6Also to his son Shemaiah were born sons who ruled over their families because they were strong, capable men. 7Shemaiah’s sons were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his brothers were Elihu and Semachiah, also capable men. 8All these were descendants of Obed-edom; they and their sons and brothers were capable men with strength to do the work—62 in all from Obed-edom.

9Meshelemiah also had sons and brothers who were capable men—18 in all.

10Hosah the Merarite also had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him as the first), 11Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and brothers of Hosah numbered 13 in all.

12These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their chief men, had duties for ministering in the house of the LORD, just as their brothers did. 13They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

14The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah.a

Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him.

15The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-edom, and the lot for the storehouses to his sons.

16The lots for the West Gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending highwayb fell to Shuppim and Hosah.

There were guards stationed at every watch. 17Each day there were six Levites on the east, four on the north, four on the south, and two pairs at the storehouse. 18As for the courtc on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the court.

19These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.

The Treasurers, Officers, and Judges

20Now their fellow Levites wered in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated things. 21From the descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladane and heads of the families of Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli,f
22the sons of Jehieli, Zetham, and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the LORD.

23From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:

24Shebuel, a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the officer in charge of the treasuries. 25His relatives through Eliezer included Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiahg his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. 26This Shelomith and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and by the army commanders. 27They had dedicated some of the plunder from their battles to the repair of the house of the LORD. 28Everything that had been dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, along with everything else that was dedicated, was under the care of Shelomith and his brothers.

29From the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons had the outside dutiesh as officers and judges over Israel.

30From the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, had charge of the affairs of Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the LORD and for the service of the king. 31As for the Hebronites, Jerijahi was the chief of the Hebronites, according to the genealogies of his ancestors. In the fortieth year of David’s reign the records were searched, and strong, capable men were found among the Hebronites at Jazer in Gilead. 32Among Jerijah’s relatives there were 2,700 capable men who were heads of families. King David appointed them over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and to the affairs of the king.

Footnotes:

14 a Shelemiah is a variant of Meshelemiah; see verse 2.

16 b Or on the upper road

18 c Hebrew parbar; twice in this verse

20 d LXX; Hebrew As for the Levites, Ahijah was

21 e Ladan is a variant of Libni; see 1 Chronicles 6:17.

21 f Jehieli is a variant of Jehiel; also in verse 22; see 1 Chronicles 23:8.

25 g Jeshaiah is a variant of Isshiah; see 1 Chronicles 24:21.

29 h Or the duties outside (the temple) or the duties outside (Jerusalem)

31 i Jerijah is a variant of Jeriah; see 1 Chronicles 23:19.

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◀   ◀   1 Chronicles 27   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Twelve Captains for Twelve Months

1This is the list of the Israelites—the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter concerning the divisions on rotating military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 men in each division:

2Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month. There were 24,000 men in his division. 3He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army commanders for the first month.

4Dodaia the Ahohite was in charge of the division for the second month, and Mikloth was the leader. There were 24,000 men in his division.

5The third army commander, as chief for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest. There were 24,000 men in his division. 6This Benaiah was mighty among the Thirty and was over the Thirty, and his son Ammizabad was in charge of his division.

7The fourth, for the fourth month, was Joab’s brother Asahel, and his son Zebadiah was commander after him. There were 24,000 men in his division.

8The fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuthb the Izrahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

9The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

10The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

11The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

12The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjamite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

13The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

14The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

15The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldaic the Netophathite, from the family of Othniel. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The Leaders of the Twelve Tribes

16These officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel:

Over the Reubenites was Eliezer son of Zichri;
over the Simeonites was Shephatiah son of Maacah;

17over Levi was Hashabiah son of Kemuel;
over Aaron was Zadok;

18over Judah was Elihu, one of David’s brothers;
over Issachar was Omri son of Michael;

19over Zebulun was Ishmaiah son of Obadiah;
over Naphtali was Jerimoth son of Azriel;

20over the Ephraimites was Hoshea son of Azaziah;
over one of the half-tribes of Manasseh was Joel son of Pedaiah;

21over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead was Iddo son of Zechariah;
over Benjamin was Jaasiel son of Abner;

22and over Dan was Azarel son of Jeroham.

These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

23David did not count the men aged twenty or under, because the LORD had said that He would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky. 24Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. For because of this census wrath came upon Israel, and the number was not entered in the Book of the Chronicles of King David.

David’s Various Overseers

25Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses.

Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the fortresses.

26Ezri son of Chelub was in charge of the workers in the fields who tilled the soil.

27Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards.

Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine vats.

28Baal-hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the foothills.d

Joash was in charge of the stores of olive oil.

29Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon.

Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.

30Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels.

Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.

31Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks.

All these officials were in charge of King David’s property.

The Counselors

32David’s uncle Jonathan was a counselor; he was a man of insight and a scribe.

Jehiel son of Hachmoni attended to the sons of the king.

33Ahithophel was the king’s counselor.

Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.

34Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah, then by Abiathar.

Joab was the commander of the king’s army.

Footnotes:

4 a Dodai is a variant of Dodo; see 2 Samuel 23:9.

8 b Shamhuth is a variant of Shammoth or Shammah; see 1 Chronicles 11:27 and 2 Samuel 23:25.

15 c Heldai is a variant of Heled; see 1 Chronicles 11:30 and 2 Samuel 23:29.

28 d Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

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◀   ◀   1 Chronicles 28   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

David Commissions Solomon

1Now David summoned all the leaders of Israel to Jerusalem: the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions in the king’s service, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, along with the court officials and mighty men—every mighty man of valor.

2Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and as a footstool for our God. I had made preparations to build it, 3but God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for My Name, because you are a man of war who has spilled blood.’

4Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah He chose my father’s household, and from my father’s sons He was pleased to make me king over all Israel. 5And of all my sons—for the LORD has given me many sons—He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6And He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build My house and My courts, for I have chosen him as My son, and I will be his Father. 7I will establish his kingdom forever, if he resolutely carries out My commandments and ordinances, as is being done this day.’

8So now in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, keep and seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God, so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants forever. 9As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 10Consider now that the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it.”

The Plans for the Temple

11Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple,a its buildings, storehouses, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat.b
12The plans contained everything David had in mindc for the courts of the house of the LORD, for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the house of God and of the dedicated things, 13for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for all the work of service in the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD:

14the weight of all the gold articles for every kind of service;
the weight of all the silver articles for every kind of service;

15the weight of the gold lampstands and their lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps;
the weight of each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand;

16the weight of gold for each table of showbread, and of silver for the silver tables;

17the weight of the pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls, and pitchers;
the weight of each gold dish;
the weight of each silver bowl;

18the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense;
and the plans for the chariot of the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

19“All this,” said David, “all the details of this plan, the LORD has made clear to me in writing by His hand upon me.”

20David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you before all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished. 21The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God, and every willing man of every skill will be at your disposal for the work. The officials and all the people are fully at your command.”

Footnotes:

11 a LXX; Hebrew does not include of the temple.

11 b Or atonement cover

12 c Or had with him by the Spirit

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Offerings for the Temple

1Then King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great because this palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. 2Now with all my ability I have made provision for the house of my God—gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and slabs of marble—all in abundance.

3Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give for it my personal treasures of gold and silver, over and above all that I have provided for this holy temple: 4three thousand talents of golda (the gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver,b to overlay the walls of the buildings, 5for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now who will volunteer to consecrate himself to the LORD today?”

6Then the leaders of the households, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. 7Toward the service of God’s house they gave 5,000 talentsc and 10,000 darics of gold,d 10,000 talents of silver,e 18,000 talents of bronze,f and 100,000 talents of iron.g
8Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, under the care of Jehielh the Gershonite. 9And the people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given to the LORD freely and wholeheartedly. And King David also rejoiced greatly.

David’s Prayer of Blessing

10Then David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly and said:

“May You be blessed, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

11Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You.

Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. 12Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all. In Your hands are power and might to exalt and give strength to all.

13Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks, and we praise Your glorious name. 14But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You. 15For we are foreigners and strangers in Your presence, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

16O LORD our God, from Your hand comes all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy Name, and all of it belongs to You. 17I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness. All these things I have given willingly and with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You.

18O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this desire forever in the intentions of the hearts of Your people, and direct their hearts toward You. 19And give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and carry out all Your commandments, decrees, and statutes, and to build Your palace for which I have made provision.”

20Then David said to the whole assembly, “Blessed be the LORD your God.”

So the whole assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers. They bowed down and paid homage to the LORD and to the king.

Solomon Anointed King
(1 Kings 1:32–40)

21The next day they offered sacrifices and presented burnt offerings to the LORD: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, along with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22That day they ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the LORD.

Then, for a second time, they designated David’s son Solomon as king, anointing him before the LORD as ruler, and Zadok as the priest.

23So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of his father David. He prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 24All the officials and mighty men, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.

25The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal majesty such as had not been bestowed on any king in Israel before him.

David’s Reign and Death
(1 Kings 2:10–12)

26David son of Jesse was king over all Israel. 27The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 28He died at a ripe old age, full of years, riches, and honor, and his son Solomon reigned in his place.

29Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are indeed written in the Chronicles of Samuel the Seer, the Chronicles of Nathan the Prophet, and the Chronicles of Gad the Seer, 30together with all the details of his reign, his might, and the circumstances that came upon him and Israel and all the kingdoms of the lands.

Footnotes:

4 a 3,000 talents is approximately 113 tons or 103 metric tons of gold.

4 b 7,000 talents is approximately 264 tons or 239.5 metric tons of silver.

7 c 5,000 talents is approximately 188.5 tons or 171 metric tons of gold.

7 d Or 10,000 gold drachmas; that is, approximately 185.2 pounds or 84 kilograms of gold coins

7 e 10,000 talents is approximately 377 tons or 342 metric tons of silver.

7 f 18,000 talents is approximately 678.6 tons or 615.6 metric tons of bronze.

7 g 100,000 talents is approximately 3,770 tons or 3,420 metric tons of iron.

8 h Jehiel is a variant of Jehieli; see 1 Chronicles 26:21.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36)

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
(1 Kings 3:1–15; Psalm 45:1–17; Psalm 72:1–20)

1Now Solomon son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and highly exalted him.

2Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel—the heads of the families. 3And Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon because it was the location of God’s Tent of Meeting, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.

4Now David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, was in Gibeon beforea the tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the assembly inquired of Him there.

6Solomon offered sacrifices there before the LORD on the bronze altar in the Tent of Meeting, where he offered a thousand burnt offerings.

7That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”

8Solomon replied to God: “You have shown much loving devotionb to my father David, and You have made me king in his place. 9Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to my father David be fulfilled. For You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people.c For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

11God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or glory for yourself or death for your enemies—and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king— 12therefore wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will also give you riches and wealth and honor unlike anything given to the kings before you or after you.”

13So Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place in Gibeon before the Tent of Meeting, and he reigned over Israel.

Solomon’s Riches
(1 Kings 10:26–29)

14Solomon accumulatedd 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses,e which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.f

16Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue;g the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. 17A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver,h and a horse for a hundred and fifty.i Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.

Footnotes:

5 a LXX, Vulgate, and some Hebrew manuscripts was there before; MT he placed before

8 b Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

10 c Literally so that I may go out before this people and come in

14 d Literally Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had

14 e Or horsemen or charioteers

15 f Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

16 g Probably an area in Cilicia, a province in the southeast of Asia Minor

17 h 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of silver.

17 i 150 shekels is approximately 3.8 pounds or 1.7 kilograms of silver.

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Preparations for the Temple
(1 Kings 5:1–6)

1Now Solomon purposed to build a house for the Name of the LORD and a royal palace for himself. 2So he conscripted 70,000 porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.

3Then Solomon sent word to Hirama king of Tyre:

“Do for me as you did for my father David when you sent him cedars to build himself a house to live in. 4Behold, I am about to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God to dedicate to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for displaying the showbread continuously, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening as well as on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is ordained for Israel forever.

5The house that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. 6But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain Him? Who then am I, that I should build a house for Him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before Him?

7Send me, therefore, a craftsman skilled in engraving to work with gold and silver, with bronze and iron, and with purple, crimson, and blue yarn. He will work with my craftsmen in Judah and Jerusalem, whom my father David provided.

8Send me also cedar, cypress,b and algumc logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber there. And indeed, my servants will work with yours 9to prepare for me timber in abundance, because the temple I am building will be great and wonderful. 10I will pay your servants, the woodcutters, 20,000 cors of ground wheat,d 20,000 cors of barley,e 20,000 baths of wine,f and 20,000 baths of olive oil.g”

Hiram’s Reply to Solomon
(1 Kings 5:7–12)

11Then Hiram king of Tyre wrote a letter in reply to Solomon:

“Because the LORD loves His people, He has set you over them as king.”

12And Hiram added:

“Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son with insight and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.

13So now I am sending you Huram-abi, a skillful man endowed with creativity.h
14He is the son of a woman from the daughters of Dan, and his father is a man of Tyre. He is skilled in work with gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple, blue, and crimson yarn, and fine linen. He is experienced in every kind of engraving and can execute any design that is given him. He will work with your craftsmen and with those of my lord, your father David.

15Now let my lord send to his servants the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he promised. 16We will cut logs from Lebanon, as many as you need, and we will float them to you as rafts by sea down to Joppa. Then you can take them up to Jerusalem.”

17Solomon numbered all the foreign men in the land of Israel following the census his father David had conducted, and there were found to be 153,600 in all. 18Solomon made 70,000 of them porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew Huram, a variant of Hiram; also in verses 11 and 12

8 b Or pine or juniper or fir

8 c Algum is probably a variant of almug; see 1 Kings 10:11.

10 d 20,000 cors is approximately 124,800 bushels or 4.4 million liters (probably about 3,800 tons or 3,400 metric tons of wheat).

10 e 20,000 cors is approximately 124,800 bushels or 4.4 million liters (probably about 2,910 tons or 2,700 metric tons of barley).

10 f 20,000 baths is approximately 116,000 gallons or 440,000 liters of wine.

10 g Or 20,000 baths of oil; that is, approximately 116,000 gallons or 440,000 liters

13 h Or understanding

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Temple Construction Begins
(1 Kings 6:1–4)

1Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeareda to his father David. This was the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornanb the Jebusite. 2Solomon began construction on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.

3The foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide,c according to the old standard.d
4The portico at the front, extending across the width of the temple, was twenty cubits longe and twenty cubits high.f He overlaid the inside with pure gold.

The Temple’s Interior
(1 Kings 6:14–22)

5He paneled the main room with cypress,g which he overlaid with fine gold and decorated with palm trees and chains. 6He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and its gold was from Parvaim. 7He overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.

8Then he made the Most Holy Place;h its length corresponded to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold.i
9The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold.j He also overlaid the upper area with gold.

The Cherubim
(1 Kings 6:23–30)

10In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold. 11The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits longk and touched the wall of the temple, and its other wing was five cubits long and touched the wing of the other cherub. 12The wing of the second cherub also measured five cubits and touched the wall of the temple, while its other wing measured five cubits and touched the wing of the first cherub. 13So the total wingspan of these cherubim was twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main room.

The Veil and Pillars
(1 Kings 7:13–22)

14He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim woven into it.

15In front of the temple he made two pillars, which together were thirty-five cubits high,l each with a capital on top measuring five cubits.

16He made interwoven chainsm and put them on top of the pillars. He made a hundred pomegranates and fastened them into the chainwork. 17Then he set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south and one on the north. The pillar on the south he named Jachin,n and the pillar on the north he named Boaz.o

Footnotes:

1 a See LXX; Hebrew where He had appeared

1 b Ornan is a variant of Araunah; see 2 Samuel 24:16.

3 c The foundation was approximately 90 feet long and 30 feet wide (27.4 meters long and 9.1 meters wide).

3 d The old standard of measurement was a cubit equal to 18 inches or 45.7 centimeters. The new standard, a cubit of approximately 21 inches or 53.3 centimeters (the long cubit) is the basic unit of length throughout Ezekiel 40 to 48.

4 e 20 cubits is approximately 30 feet or 9.1 meters; also in verses 8, 11, and 13.

4 f Some LXX and Syriac manuscripts; Hebrew 120 cubits high (approximately 180 feet or 54.9 meters)

5 g Or pine or juniper or fir

8 h Or the Holy of Holies; also in verse 10

8 i 600 talents is approximately 22.6 tons or 20.5 metric tons of gold.

9 j 50 shekels is approximately 1.26 pounds or 569.8 grams of gold.

11 k 5 cubits is approximately 7.5 feet or 2.3 meters; also in verse 15.

15 l 35 cubits is approximately 52.5 feet or 16 meters.

16 m Or He made chains in the inner sanctuary

17 n Jachin probably means He establishes.

17 o Boaz probably means in Him is strength.

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The Bronze Altar and Molten Sea
(1 Kings 7:23–26)

1He made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.a

2He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference.b
3Below the rim, figures of oxen encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea.

4The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center. 5It was a handbreadth thick,c and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold three thousand baths.d

The Ten Basins, Lampstands, and Tables
(1 Kings 7:38–39)

6He also made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. The parts of the burnt offering were rinsed in them, but the priests used the Sea for washing.

7He made ten gold lampstands according to their specifications and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.

8Additionally, he made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made a hundred gold bowls.

The Courts

9He made the courtyard of the priests and the large court with its doors, and he overlaid the doors with bronze.

10He put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner.

Completion of the Bronze Works
(1 Kings 7:40–47)

11Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls.

So Huram finished the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of God:

12the two pillars;
the two bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars;
the two sets of network covering both bowls of the capitals atop the pillars;

13the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network covering both the bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars);

14the stands;
the basins on the stands;

15the Sea;
the twelve oxen underneath the Sea;

16and the pots, shovels, meat forks, and all the other articles.

All these objects that Huram-abi made for King Solomon for the house of the LORD were of polished bronze. 17The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zeredah.e
18Solomon made all these articles in such great abundance that the weight of the bronze could not be determined.

Completion of the Gold Furnishings
(1 Kings 7:48–51)

19Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of God:

the golden altar;
the tables on which was placed the Bread of the Presence;

20the lampstands of pure gold and their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;

21the flowers, lamps, and tongs of gold—of purest gold;

22the wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers of purest gold;
and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Placef as well as the doors of the main hall.

Footnotes:

1 a The altar was approximately 30 feet in length and width and 15 feet high (9.1 meters in length and width and 4.6 meters high).

2 b The Sea was approximately 15 feet from rim to rim, 7.5 feet in height, and 45 feet in circumference (4.6 meters from rim to rim, 2.3 meters in height, and 13.7 meters in circumference).

5 c A handbreadth is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters.

5 d 3,000 baths is approximately 17,400 gallons or 66,000 liters.

17 e Zeredah is a variant of Zarethan; see 1 Kings 7:46.

22 f Or the Holy of Holies

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The Ark Enters the Temple
(1 Kings 8:1–11)

1So all the work that Solomon had performed for the house of the LORD was completed.

Then Solomon brought in the items his father David had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and all the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the house of God.

2At that time Solomon assembled in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David. 3So all the men of Israel came together to the king at the feast in the seventh month.a

4When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, 5and they brought up the ark and the Tent of Meeting with all its sacred furnishings. The Levitical priests carried them up.

6There, before the ark, King Solomon and the whole congregation of Israel who had assembled with him sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.

7Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place,b beneath the wings of the cherubim. 8For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles.

9The poles of the ark extended far enough that their ends were visible from in front of the inner sanctuary,c but not from outside the Holy Place;d and they are there to this day.

10There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb,e where the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites after they had come out of Egypt.

11Now all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves regardless of their divisions. And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, 12all the Levitical singers—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. 13The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD:

“For He is good;

His loving devotion endures forever.”

And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud 14so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

Footnotes:

3 a That is, the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths or Shelters); see Leviticus 23:33–36.

7 b Or the Holy of Holies

9 c Some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX The poles extended far enough that their ends were visible from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary; see 1 Kings 8:8.

9 d Literally not from outside

10 e That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

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Solomon Blesses the LORD
(1 Kings 8:12–21)

1Then Solomon declared:

“The LORD has said that He would dwell
in the thick cloud;

2and I have built You an exalted house,
a place for You to dwell forever.”

3And as the whole assembly of Israel stood there, the king turned around and blessed them all 4and said:

“Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His own hand what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying, 5‘Since the day I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over My people Israel. 6But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’

7Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart. 9Nevertheless, you are not the one to build it; but your son, your own offspring, will build the house for My Name.’

10Now the LORD has fulfilled the word that He spoke. I have succeeded my father David, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built the house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 11And there I have provided a place for the ark, which contains the covenant of the LORD that He made with the children of Israel.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
(1 Kings 8:22–53)

12Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13Now Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high,a and had placed it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on it, knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, 14and said:

“O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven or on earth, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. 15You have kept Your promise to Your servant, my father David. What You spoke with Your mouth You have fulfilled with Your hand this day.

16Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’ 17And now, O LORD, God of Israel, please confirm what You promised to Your servant David.

18But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built. 19Yet regard the prayer and plea of Your servant, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You.

20May Your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your Name, so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. 21Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.

22When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple, 23then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

24When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading before You in this temple, 25then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel. May You restore them to the land You gave to them and their fathers.

26When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them, 27then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, so that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk. May You send rain on the land that You gave Your people as an inheritance.

28When famine or plague comes upon the land, or blight or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemies besiege them in their cities, whatever plague or sickness may come, 29then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple— 30be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of men— 31so that they may fear You and walk in Your ways all the days they live in the land that You gave to our fathers.

32And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your great name and Your mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, 33then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name.

34When Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You in the direction of the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your Name, 35then may You hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and may You uphold their cause.

36When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near, 37and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’ 38and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, 39then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition, and may You uphold their cause. May You forgive Your people who sinned against You.

40Now, my God, may Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.

41Now therefore, arise, O LORD God, and enter Your resting place,

You and the ark of Your might.

May Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation,
and may Your godly ones rejoice in goodness.

42O LORD God, do not reject Your anointed one.

Remember Your loving devotion to Your servant David.”

Footnotes:

13 a The platform was approximately 7.5 feet in length and width, and 4.5 feet high (2.3 meters in length and width, and 1.4 meters high).

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Fire from Heaven
(Psalm 136:1–26)

1When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2The priests were unable to enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled it.

3When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD:

“For He is good;

His loving devotion endures forever.”

Sacrifices of Dedication
(1 Kings 8:62–66)

4Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. 5And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

6The priests stood at their posts, as did the Levites with the musical instruments of the LORD, which King David had made for giving thanks to the LORD and with which David had offered praise, saying, “For His loving devotion endures forever.” Across from the Levites, the priests sounded trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.

7Then Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of the LORD, and there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, since the bronze altar he had made could not contain all these offerings.

8So at that time Solomon and all Israel with him—a very great assembly of people from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt—kept the feasta for seven days. 9On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar had lasted seven days, and the feast seven days more.

10On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the good things that the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel.

The LORD’s Response to Solomon
(1 Kings 9:1–9)

11When Solomon had finished the house of the LORD and the royal palace, successfully carrying out all that was in his heart to do for the house of the LORD and for his own palace, 12the LORD appeared to him at night and said to him:

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people, 14and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

15Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16For I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will be there for all time.

17And as for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, doing all I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and ordinances, 18then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with your father David when I said, ‘You will never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.’

19But if you turn away and forsake the statutes and commandments I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods, 20then I will uproot Israel from the soil I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. I will make it an object of scorn and ridicule among all the peoples.

21And when this temple has become a heap of rubble,b all who pass by it will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22And others will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—because of this, He has brought all this disaster upon them.’ ”

Footnotes:

8 a That is, the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths or Shelters); see Leviticus 23:33–36.

21 b Some LXX manuscripts, Syriac, and Arabic; Hebrew And though this temple is now exalted; see also 1 Kings 9:8.

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Solomon’s Additional Achievements
(1 Kings 9:10–28)

1Now at the end of the twenty years during which Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own palace, 2Solomon rebuilt the cities Hirama had given him and settled Israelites there.

3Then Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and captured it. 4He built Tadmor in the wilderness, in addition to all the store cities that he had built in Hamath. 5He rebuilt Upper and Lower Beth-horon as fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars, 6as well as Baalath, all the store cities that belonged to Solomon, and all the cities for his chariots and horsesb —whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout the land of his dominion.

7As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (the people who were not Israelites)— 8their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to destroy—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

9But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slave labor, because they were his men of war, his officers and captains, and the commanders of his chariots and cavalry. 10They were also the chief officers for King Solomon: 250 supervisors.

11Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her. For he said, “My wife must not live in the house of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy.”

12At that time Solomon offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the LORD he had built in front of the portico. 13He observed the daily requirement for offerings according to the commandment of Moses for Sabbaths, New Moons, and the three annual appointed feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread,c the Feast of Weeks,d and the Feast of Tabernacles.e

14In keeping with the ordinances of his father David, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests over their service, and the Levites for their duties to offer praise and to minister before the priests according to the daily requirement. He also appointed gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate, for this had been the command of David, the man of God. 15They did not turn aside from the king’s command regarding the priests or the Levites or any matter concerning the treasuries.

16Thus all the work of Solomon was carried out, from the day the foundation was laid for the house of the LORD until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was completed.

17Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber and to Elothf on the coast of Edom.g
18So Hiram sent him ships captained by his servants, along with crews of experienced sailors. They went with Solomon’s servants to Ophir and acquired from there 450 talents of gold,h which they delivered to King Solomon.

Footnotes:

2 a Hebrew Huram, a variant of Hiram; also in verse 18

6 b Or horsemen or charioteers

13 c That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten; see Exodus 12:14–20.

13 d That is, Shavuot, the late spring feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is also known as the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16) or the Feast of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1).

13 e That is, Sukkot, the autumn feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; also translated as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Shelters and originally called the Feast of Ingathering (see Exodus 23:16 and Exodus 34:22).

17 f Eloth is a variant of Elath; see LXX, 2 Kings 14:22, and 2 Kings 16:6.

17 g That is, along the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom

18 h 450 talents is approximately 17 tons or 15.4 metric tons of gold.

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The Queen of Sheba
(1 Kings 10:1–13)

1Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones.

So she came to Solomon and spoke with him about all that was on her mind. 2And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for him to explain.

3When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built, 4the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants and cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presenteda at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.

5She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your wordsb and wisdom is true. 6But I did not believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not half of the greatness of your wisdom was told to me. You have far exceeded the report I heard. 7How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! 8Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God. Because your God loved Israel enough to establish them forever, He has made you king over them to carry out justice and righteousness.”

9Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold,c a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10(The servants of Hiram and of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought algumd wood and precious stones. 11The king made the algum wood into stepse for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.)

12King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—far more than she had brought the king. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants.

Solomon’s Wealth and Splendor
(1 Kings 10:14–29)

13The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents,f
14not including the revenue from the merchants and traders. And all the Arabian kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered goldg went into each shield. 16He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; three hundred shekels of goldh went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

17Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. 18The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest. 19Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.

20All King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, because it was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon. 21For the king had the ships of Tarshishi that went with Hiram’sj servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.k

22So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23All the kings of the earth sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart. 24Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.

25Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horses,l which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 26He reigned over all the kings from the Euphratesm to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. 27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.n
28Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all the lands.

The Death of Solomon
(1 Kings 11:41–43)

29As for the rest of the acts of Solomon, from beginning to end, are they not written in the Records of Nathan the Prophet, in the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the Visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat? 30Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31And Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

4 a LXX and Syriac (see also 1 Kings 10:5); Hebrew and his stairway by which he went up

5 b Or your achievements

9 c 120 talents is approximately 4.52 tons or 4.1 metric tons of gold.

10 d Algum is probably a variant of almug; also in verse 11; see 1 Kings 10:11.

11 e Or gateways

13 f 666 talents is approximately 25.1 tons or 22.8 metric tons of gold.

15 g 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of gold.

16 h 300 shekels is approximately 7.5 pounds or 3.4 kilograms of gold.

21 i Or a fleet of trading ships; twice in this verse

21 j Hebrew Huram’s, a variant of Hiram’s

21 k Or baboons

25 l Or horsemen or charioteers

26 m Hebrew the River

27 n Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

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Rebellion against Rehoboam
(1 Kings 12:1–15)

1Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. 2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he returned from Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. 3So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel came to Rehoboam and said, 4“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people departed.

6Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.

7They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

8But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him. 9He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you should make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’ ”

12After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.” 13And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders 14and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy,a I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

15So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from God, in order that the LORD might fulfill the word that He had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

The Kingdom Divided
(1 Kings 12:16–19)

16When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answeredb the king:

“What portion do we have in David,
and what inheritance in the son of Jesse?

To your tents, O Israel!

Look now to your own house, O David!”

So all the Israelites went home, 17but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.

18Then King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram,c who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem. 19So to this day Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David.

Footnotes:

14 a LXX and many Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Kings 12:14); MT Whereas I made your yoke heavy

16 b Syriac, Vulgate, and many Hebrew Manuscripts; MT And all Israel, since the king had refused to listen to them, answered.

18 c Hadoram is a variant of Adoram and Adoniram; see 2 Samuel 20:24 and 1 Kings 4:6.

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Shemaiah’s Prophecy
(1 Kings 12:20–24)

1When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. 2But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: 3“Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin 4that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers. Each of you must return home, for this word is from Me.’ ”

So they listened to the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

5Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah. 6He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, 8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. 11He strengthened their fortresses and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine. 12He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites

13Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam. 14For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD. 15And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.

16Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers. 17So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.

Rehoboam’s Family

18And Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab. 19She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

20After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king. 23Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them.

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Shishak Raids Jerusalem
(1 Kings 14:25–28)

1After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he and all Israela with him forsook the Law of the LORD. 2In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem 3with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen,b and countless troops who came with him out of Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites.c
4He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

5Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have forsaken Me; therefore, I have forsaken you into the hand of Shishak.’ ”

6So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.”

7When the LORD saw that they had humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them, but will soon grant them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. 8Nevertheless, they will become his servants, so that they may learn the difference between serving Me and serving the kings of other lands.”

9So King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields that Solomon had made.

10Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place and committed them to the care of the captains of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. 11And whenever the king entered the house of the LORD, the guards would go with him, bearing the shields, and later they would return them to the guardroom.

12Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the anger of the LORD turned away from him, and He did not destroy him completely. Indeed, conditions were good in Judah.

Rehoboam’s Reign and Death
(1 Kings 14:21–24)

13Thus King Rehoboam established himself in Jerusalem. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to put His Name. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite. 14And Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

15Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah the Prophet and of Iddo the Seer concerning the genealogies? There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their days. 16And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Abijahd reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, Judah; in 2 Chronicles, Judah is occasionally called Israel, as representative of the true Israel.

3 b Or charioteers

3 c That is, people from the upper Nile region

16 d Abijah is a variant of Abijam; see 1 Kings 14:31.

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Abijah Reigns in Judah
(1 Kings 15:1–8)

1In the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign, Abijaha became king of Judah, 2and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Micaiahb daughterc of Uriel; she was from Gibeah.

And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3Abijah went into battle with an army of 400,000 chosen men, while Jeroboam drew up in formation against him with 800,000 chosen and mighty men of valor.

Civil War against Jeroboam

4Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim and said, “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel! 5Do you not know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of saltd? 6Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master. 7Then worthless and wicked men gathered around him to resist Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young, inexperienced, and unable to resist them.

8And now you think you can resist the kingdom of the LORD, which is in the hands of David’s descendants. You are indeed a vast army, and you have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods. 9But did you not drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites? And did you not make priests for yourselves as do the peoples of other lands? Now whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of things that are not gods.

10But as for us, the LORD is our God. We have not forsaken Him; the priests who minister to the LORD are sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties. 11Every morning and every evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the rows of showbread on the ceremonially clean table, and every evening they light the lamps of the gold lampstand. We are carrying out the requirements of the LORD our God, while you have forsaken Him.

12Now behold, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with their trumpets sound the battle call against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”

13Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to ambush from the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah, the ambush was behind them. 14When Judah turned and discovered that the battle was both before and behind them, they cried out to the LORD. Then the priests blew the trumpets, 15and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. And when they raised the cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

16So the Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands. 17Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain. 18Thus the Israelites were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.

19Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some cities from him: Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their villages.

20Jeroboam did not again recover his power during the days of Abijah, and the LORD struck him down and he died.

21But Abijah grew strong, married fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, along with his ways and his words, are written in the Treatisee of the Prophet Iddo.

Footnotes:

1 a Abijah is a variant of Abijam; see 1 Kings 14:31.

2 b Hebrew; most LXX manuscripts and Syriac Maacah; see 2 Chronicles 11:20 and 1 Kings 15:2.

2 c Or granddaughter

5 d That is, a perpetual covenant

22 e Or Exposition or Study

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Asa Reigns in Judah
(1 Kings 15:9–15)

1Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years.

2And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. 3He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles. 4He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments. 5He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace.

6Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest. 7So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

8Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor.

9Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 mena and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah. 10So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.b

11Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”

12So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled. 13Then Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover, for they were crushed before the LORD and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of plunder 14and attacked all the cities around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the cities, since there was much plunder there. 15They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and carried off many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

Footnotes:

9 a Or an army of thousands and thousands; Hebrew an army of a thousand thousands

10 b Or the valley north of Mareshah

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The Prophecy of Azariah

1Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. 2So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. 3For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a priest to instruct them, and without the law. 4But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought Him, and He was found by them. 5In those days there was no safety for travelers, because the residents of the lands had many conflicts. 6Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God afflicted them with all kinds of adversity. 7But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”

Asa’s Reforms
(1 Kings 15:9–15)

8When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Odeda the prophet, he took courage and removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then restored the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple. 9And he assembled all Judah and Benjamin, along with those from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them, for great numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

10So they gathered together in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. 11At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep from all the plunder they had brought back. 12Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. 13And whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, would be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. 14They took an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, trumpets, and rams’ horns. 15And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart. They had sought Him earnestly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.

16King Asa also removed his grandmotherb Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 17The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days. 18And he brought into the house of God the silver and gold articles that he and his father had dedicated.

19And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

Footnotes:

8 a Vulgate and Syriac (see also verse 1 and LXX); Hebrew does not include Azariah son of.

16 b Hebrew his mother

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War between Asa and Baasha
(1 Kings 15:16–22)

1In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah. 2So Asa withdrew the silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he sent it with this message to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus: 3“Let there be a treatya between me and you, between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

4And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim,b and all the store cities of Naphtali.

5When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned his work. 6Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials he built up Geba and Mizpah.

Hanani’s Message to Asa

7At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and told him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. 8Were not the Cushitesc and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. 9For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”

10Asa was angry with the seer and became so enraged over this matter that he put the man in prison. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.

The Death and Burial of Asa

11Now the rest of the acts of Asa, from beginning to end, are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady became increasingly severe. Yet even in his illness he did not seek the LORD, but only the physicians.

13So in the forty-first year of his reign, Asa died and rested with his fathers. 14And he was buried in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bier that was full of spices and various blended perfumes; then they made a great fire in his honor.

Footnotes:

3 a Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant; twice in this verse.

4 b Abel-maim was also known as Abel-beth-maacah; see 1 Kings 15:20.

8 c That is, people from the upper Nile region

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Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah
(1 Kings 15:23–24)

1Asa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel. 2He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

3Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier waysa of his father David. He did not seek out the Baals, 4but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel. 5So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor. 6And his heart took delightb in the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

7In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah, 8accompanied by certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

10And the dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11Some Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.

12Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah 13and kept vast supplies in the cities of Judah. He also had warriors in Jerusalem who were mighty men of valor. 14These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers:

From Judah, the commanders of thousands:

Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor;

15next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000;

16and next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer for the LORD, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor.

17From Benjamin:

Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields;

18and next to him, Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed for battle.

19These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.

Footnotes:

3 a Or in his early years he walked in the ways

6 b Or was exalted or was courageous

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Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab
(1 Kings 22:1–12)

1Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage. 2And some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria, where Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him, and urged him to march up to Ramoth-gilead.

3Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?”

And Jehoshaphat replied, “I am like you, and my people are your people; we will join you in the war.”

4But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”

5So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?”

“Go up,” they replied, “and God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

6But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here of whom we can inquire?”

7The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man who can ask the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.

8So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

9Dressed in royal attire, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.

10Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.’ ”

11And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab
(1 Kings 22:13–28)

12Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

13But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever my God tells me.”

14When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?”

“Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for they will be given into your hand.”

15But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?”

16So Micaiah declared:

“I saw all Israel scattered on the hills
like sheep without a shepherd.

And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master;
let each one return home in peace.’ ”

17Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good for me, but only bad?”

18Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left.

19And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’

And one suggested this, and another that.

20Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’

‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.

21And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’

‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’

22So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”

23Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?”

24Micaiah replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.”

25And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, 26and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’ ”

27But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”

Ahab’s Defeat and Death
(1 Kings 22:29–40)

28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

30Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

31When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “This is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him. 32And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

33However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn arounda and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

34The battle raged throughout that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. And at sunset he died.

Footnotes:

33 a Literally Turn your hand

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Jehoshaphat Reproved by Jehu

1When Jehoshaphat king of Judah had returned safely to his home in Jerusalem, 2Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you. 3However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”

Jehoshaphat’s Reforms

4Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. 5He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. 6Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment. 7And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”

8Moreover, Jehoshaphat appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites, priests, and heads of the Israelite families to judge on behalf of the LORD and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. 9He commanded them, saying, “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD. 10For every dispute that comes before you from your brothers who dwell in their cities—whether it regards bloodshed or some other violation of law, commandments, statutes, or ordinances—you are to warn them, so that they will not incur guilt before the LORD and wrath will not come upon you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not incur guilt.

11Note that Amariah, the chief priest, will be over you in all that pertains to the LORD, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. And the Levites will serve as officers before you. Act resolutely; may the LORD be with the upright!”

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War against Jehoshaphat

1After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites,a came to make war against Jehoshaphat. 2Then some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,b from beyond the Sea;c they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi).

3Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. 4So the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer

5Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard 6and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.

7Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend? 8They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, 9‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment,d plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’

10And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt; but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession that You gave us as an inheritance.

12Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

13Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, were standing before the LORD.

The Prophecy of Jahaziel

14Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants, as he stood in the midst of the assembly. 15And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. 16Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’ ”

18Then Jehoshaphat bowed facedown, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the LORD to worship Him. 19And the Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, shouting in a very loud voice.

The Enemies Destroy Themselves

20Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”

21Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing:

“Give thanks to the LORD,
for His loving devotion endures forever.”

22The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. 23The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction.e And when they had made an end to the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24When the men of Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the vast army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to carry off the plunder, and they found on the bodies an abundance of goods and valuablesf —more than they could carry away. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much.

The Joyful Return

26On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah,g where they blessed the LORD. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.

27Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets.

29And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign
(1 Kings 22:41–50)

31So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

32And Jehoshaphat walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn away from it; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.

33The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their fathers.

34As for the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from beginning to end, they are indeed written in the Chronicles of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

Jehoshaphat’s Fleet Is Wrecked

35Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly.h
36They agreed to make ships to go to Tarshish,i and these were built in Ezion-geber.

37Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.”

So the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish.j

Footnotes:

1 a Some LXX manuscripts (see also 2 Chronicles 26:7); Hebrew together with some other Ammonites or together with some besides the Ammonites

2 b One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Vulgate Aram

2 c That is, the Dead Sea

9 d Or the sword of judgment

23 e Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

25 f Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate they found among them an abundance of goods and clothing and valuables

26 g Beracah means blessing.

35 h Or who made him act wickedly or by which he acted wickedly

36 i Or a fleet of trading ships

37 j Or set sail to trade

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Jehoram Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 8:16–19)

1And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And his son Jehoram reigned in his place.

2Jehoram’s brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; these were all sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.a
3Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and precious things, as well as the fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.

4When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened himself by putting to the sword all his brothers along with some of the princes of Israel. 5Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.

6And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD. 7Yet the LORD was unwilling to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant He had made with David, and since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.

Edom and Libnah Rebel
(2 Kings 8:20–24)

8In the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king. 9So Jehoram crossed into Edom with his officers and all his chariots. When the Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, he rose up and attackedb by night.

10So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled against his rule at the same time, because Jehoram had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers.

11Jehoram had also built high places on the hills of Judah; he had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray.

Elijah’s Letter to Jehoram

12Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, which stated:

“This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says:

‘You have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah, 13but you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and have caused Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab prostituted itself. You have also killed your brothers, your father’s family, who were better than you.

14So behold, the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a serious blow. 15And day after day you yourself will suffer from a severe illness, a disease of your bowels, until it causes your bowels to come out.’ ”

Jehoram’s Disease and Death

16Then the LORD stirred against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and Arabs who lived near the Cushites. 17So they went to war against Judah, invaded it, and carried off all the possessions found in the king’s palace, along with his sons and wives; not a son was left to him except Jehoahaz,c his youngest.

18After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels. 19This continued day after day until two full years had passed. Finally, his intestines came out because of his disease, and he died in severe pain. And his people did not make a fire in his honor as they had done for his fathers.

20Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He died, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Footnotes:

2 a That is, Judah; in 2 Chronicles, Judah is occasionally called Israel, as representative of the true Israel.

9 b Or he went out and escaped

17 c Jehoahaz is a variant of Ahaziah; see 2 Chronicles 22:1.

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Ahaziah Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 8:25–29)

1Then the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, the youngest son of Jehoram, king in his place, since the raiders who had come into the camp with the Arabsa had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah. 2Ahaziah was twenty-twob years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.

3Ahaziah also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in wickedness. 4And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for to his destruction they were his counselors after the death of his father.

5Ahaziah also followed their counsel and went with Joram son of Ahab king of Israel to fight against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. But the Arameansc wounded Joram;d
6so he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they had inflicted on him at Ramahe when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziahf son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded.

7Ahaziah’s downfall came from God when he went to visit Joram. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu song of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

Jehu Kills the Princes of Judah
(2 Kings 9:14–29)

8So while Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the rulers of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers who were serving Ahaziah, and he killed them.

9Then Jehu looked for Ahaziah, and Jehu’s soldiers captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. So Ahaziah was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart.”

So no one was left from the house of Ahaziah with the strength to rule the kingdom.

Athaliah and Joash
(2 Kings 11:1–3)

10When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs of the house of Judah. 11But Jehoshabeathh daughter of King Jehoram took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and the wife of Jehoiada the priest, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah so that she could not kill him.

12And Joash remained hidden with them in the house of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

Footnotes:

1 a Or since the marauding bands of Arabs

2 b Some LXX manuscripts and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 8:26); Hebrew forty-two

5 c Some LXX manuscripts the archers

5 d Hebrew Jehoram, a variant of Joram; also in verses 6 and 7

6 e Ramah is a variant of Ramoth; see verse 5.

6 f Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 8:29); most Hebrew manuscripts Azariah

7 g Or grandson; see 2 Kings 9:14.

11 h Jehoshabeath is a variant of Jehosheba; twice in this verse; see 2 Kings 11:2.

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Joash Anointed King of Judah
(2 Kings 11:4–12)

1Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself and made a covenant with the commanders of hundreds—with Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri. 2So they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the heads of the families of Israel. And when they came to Jerusalem, 3the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God.

“Behold, the king’s son!” said Jehoiada. “He must reign, just as the LORD promised concerning the descendants of David. 4This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors, 5a third shall be at the royal palace, and a third at the Foundation Gate, while all the others are in the courtyards of the house of the LORD. 6No one is to enter the house of the LORD except the priests and those Levites who serve; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the LORD. 7The Levites must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who enters the temple must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

8So the Levites and all Judah did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions. 9Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields of King David that were in the house of God. 10He stationed all the troops, with their weapons in hand, surrounding the king by the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

11Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”

The Death of Athaliah
(2 Kings 11:13–16)

12When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went out to them in the house of the LORD. 13And she looked out and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praises.

Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason, treason!”

14And Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, saying, “Bring her out between the ranks,a and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”

15So they seized Athaliah as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate to the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.

Jehoiada Restores the Worship of the LORD
(2 Kings 11:17–21)

16Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people. 17So all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

18Moreover, Jehoiada put the oversight of the house of the LORD into the hands of the Levitical priests, whom David had appointed over the house of the LORD, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD as is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and song, as ordained by David. 19He stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD, so that nothing unclean could enter for any reason.

20He also took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate. They seated King Joash on the royal throne, 21and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword.

Footnotes:

14 a Or out from the precincts

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Joash Repairs the Temple
(2 Kings 12:1–16)

1Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 2And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he had sons and daughters.

4Some time later, Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the LORD. 5So he gathered the priests and Levites and said, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the house of your God. Do it quickly.”

The Levites, however, did not make haste. 6So the king called Jehoiada the high priest and said, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?”

7For the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the house of God and had even used the sacred objects of the house of the LORD for the Baals.

8At the king’s command a chest was made and placed outside, at the gate of the house of the LORD. 9And a proclamation was issued in Judah and Jerusalem that they were to bring to the LORD the tax imposed by Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness. 10All the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought their contributions, and they dropped them in the chest until it was full.

11Whenever the chest was brought by the Levites to the king’s overseers and they saw that there was a large amount of money, the royal scribe and the officer of the high priest would come and empty the chest and carry it back to its place. They did this daily and gathered the money in abundance. 12Then the king and Jehoiada would give the money to those who supervised the labor on the house of the LORD to hire stonecutters and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, as well as workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD.

13So the workmen labored, and in their hands the repair work progressed. They restored the house of God according to its specifications, and they reinforced it. 14When they were finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada to make with it the articles for the house of the LORD—utensils for the service and for the burnt offerings, dishes, and other objects of gold and silver.

Throughout the days of Jehoiada, burnt offerings were presented regularly in the house of the LORD.

Jehoiada’s Death and Burial

15When Jehoiada was old and full of years, he died at the age of 130.

16And Jehoiada was buried with the kings in the City of David, because he had done what was good in Israel for God and His temple.

The Wickedness of Joash

17After the death of Jehoiada, however, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. 18They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and idols. So wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. 19Nevertheless, the LORD sent prophets to bring the people back to Him and to testify against them; but they would not listen.

20Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’ ”

21But they conspired against Zechariah, and by order of the king, they stoned him in the courtyard of the house of the LORD.

22Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him. Instead, Joash killed Jehoiada’s son. As he lay dying, Zechariah said, “May the LORD see this and call you to account.”

The Death of Joash
(2 Kings 12:17–21)

23In the spring,a the army of Aram went to war against Joash. They entered Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the leaders of the people, and they sent all the plunder to their king in Damascus. 24Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men, the LORD delivered into their hand a very great army. Because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, judgment was executed on Joash.

25And when the Arameans had withdrawn, they left Joash severely wounded. His own servants conspired against him for shedding the blood of the sonb of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him on his bed. So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. 26Those who conspired against Joash were Zabadc son of Shimeath the Ammonitess and Jehozabad son of Shimrithd the Moabitess.

27The accounts of the sons of Joash, as well as the many pronouncements about him and about the restoratione of the house of God, are indeed written in the Treatisef of the Book of the Kings. And his son Amaziah reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

23 a Literally At the turn of the year

25 b LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew of the sons

26 c Zabad is a variant of Jozabad; see 2 Kings 12:21.

26 d Shimrith is a variant of Shomer; see 2 Kings 12:21.

27 e Or founding

27 f Or Exposition or Study

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Amaziah Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 14:1–7)

1Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. 2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.

3As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah executed the servants who had murdered his father the king. 4Yet he did not put their sons to death, but acted according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.”a

Amaziah’s Victories

5Then Amaziah gathered the people of Judah and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and of hundreds. And he numbered those twenty years of age or older throughout Judah and Benjamin and found 300,000 chosen men able to serve in the army, bearing the spear and shield.

6He also hired 100,000 mighty warriors from Israel for a hundred talents of silver.b
7But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the Ephraimites. 8Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will make you stumble before the enemy, for God has power to help and power to overthrow.”

9Amaziah asked the man of God, “What should I do about the hundred talents I have given to the army of Israel?”

And the man of God replied, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”

10So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. And they were furious with Judah and returned home in great anger.

11Amaziah, however, summoned his strength and led his troops to the Valley of Salt, where he struck down 10,000 men of Seir, 12and the army of Judah also captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces.

13Meanwhile the troops that Amaziah had dismissed from battle raided the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon. They struck down 3,000 people and carried off a great deal of plunder.

Amaziah Rebuked for Idolatry

14When Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the Seirites, set them up as his own gods, bowed before them, and burned sacrifices to them. 15Therefore the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet, who said, “Why have you sought this people’s gods, which could not deliver them from your hand?”

16While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?”

So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

Jehoash Defeats Amaziah
(2 Kings 14:8–14)

17Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to the king of Israel Jehoashc son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.

18But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. 19You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated Edom,’ and your heart has become proud and boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

20But Amaziah would not listen, for this had come from God in order to deliver them into the hand of Jehoash, because they had sought the gods of Edom. 21So Jehoash king of Israel advanced, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh in Judah. 22And Judah was routed before Israel, and every man fled to his own home.

23There at Beth-shemesh, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz.d

Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section of four hundred cubits.e
24He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the house of God with Obed-edom and in the treasuries of the royal palace, as well as some hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.

The Death of Amaziah
(2 Kings 14:17–20)

25Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 26As for the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from beginning to end, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel?

27From the time that Amaziah turned from following the LORD, a conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But men were sent after him to Lachish, and they killed him there. 28They carried him back on horses and buried him with his fathers in the City of Judah.f

Footnotes:

4 a Deuteronomy 24:16

6 b 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver; also in verse 9.

17 c Jehoash is a variant of Joash; also in verses 18, 21, 23, and 25.

23 d Jehoahaz is a variant of Ahaziah.

23 e 400 cubits is approximately 600 feet or 182.9 meters.

28 f Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac City of David; see 2 Kings 14:20.

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Uzziah Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 14:21–22; 2 Kings 15:1–7)

1All the people of Judah took Uzziah,a who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 2Uzziah was the one who rebuilt Elothb and restored it to Judah after King Amaziahc rested with his fathers.

3Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5He sought God throughout the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the feard of God. And as long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.

6Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines, and he tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built cities near Ashdod and among the Philistines. 7God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs living in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites. 8The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, for he had become exceedingly powerful.

9Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and the angle in the wall, and he fortified them. 10Since he had much livestock in the foothillse and in the plain, he built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns. And since he was a lover of the soil, he had farmers and vinedressers in the hill country and in the fertile fields.

11Uzziah had an army ready for battle that went out to war by assigned divisions, as recorded by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officers. 12The total number of family leaders of the mighty men of valor was 2,600. 13Under their authority was an army of 307,500 trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies.

14Uzziah supplied the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingstones. 15And in Jerusalem he made skillfully designed devices to shootf arrows and catapult large stones from the towers and corners. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was helped tremendously so that he became powerful.

16But when Uzziah grew powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

17Then Azariah the priest, along with eighty brave priests of the LORD, went in after him. 18They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.”

19Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But while he raged against the priests in their presence in the house of the LORD before the altar of incense, leprosyg broke out on his forehead. 20When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw his leprous forehead, they rushed him out. Indeed, he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had afflicted him.

21So King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He lived in isolation, leprous and cut off from the house of the LORD, while his son Jotham had charge of the royal palace to govern the people of the land.

22As for the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from beginning to end, they are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23And Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near themh in a field of burial that belonged to the kings; for the people said, “He was a leper.” And his son Jotham reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

1 a Uzziah is also called Azariah; throughout this chapter; see 2 Kings 14:21.

2 b Eloth is a variant of Elath; see LXX, 2 Kings 14:22, and 2 Kings 16:6.

2 c Literally after the king

5 d Many Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts through the vision

10 e Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

15 f Or to protect those who shoot

19 g Leprosy was a term used for various skin diseases; see Leviticus 13.

23 h Literally with his fathers

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Jotham Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 15:32–38)

1Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerushaha daughter of Zadok. 2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziahb had done. In addition, he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people still behaved corruptly.

3Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he worked extensively on the wall at the hill of Ophel. 4He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.

5Jotham waged war against the king of the Ammonites and defeated them, and that year they gave him a hundred talents of silver,c ten thousand cors of wheat,d and ten thousand cors of barley.e They paid him the same in the second and third years. 6So Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.

7As for the rest of the acts of Jotham, along with all his wars and his ways, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. 9And Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

1 a Jerushah is a variant of Jerusha; see 2 Kings 15:33.

2 b Uzziah is also called Azariah; see 2 Kings 14:21.

5 c 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver.

5 d 10,000 cors is approximately 62,400 bushels or 2.2 million liters (probably about 1,920 tons or 1,740 metric tons of wheat).

5 e 10,000 cors is approximately 62,400 bushels or 2.2 million liters (probably about 1,450 tons or 1,315 metric tons of barley).

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Ahaz Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 16:1–9)

1Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD. 2Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even made cast images of the Baals.

3Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire,a according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 4And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Aram Defeats Judah
(Isaiah 1:1–9)

5So the LORD his God delivered Ahaz into the hand of the king of Aram, who attacked him and took many captives to Damascus.

Ahaz was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force. 6For in one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 valiant men in Judah. This happened because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. 7Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the son of the king, Azrikam the governor of the palace, and Elkanah the second to the king. 8Then the Israelites took 200,000 captives from their kinsmen—women, sons, and daughters. They also carried off a great deal of plunder and brought it to Samaria.

9But a prophet of the LORD named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army that returned to Samaria. “Look,” he said to them, “because of His wrath against Judah, the LORD, the God of your fathers, has delivered them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. 10And now you intend to reduce to slavery the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But are you not also guilty before the LORD your God? 11Now therefore, listen to me and return the captives you took from your kinsmen, for the fierce anger of the LORD is upon you.”

12Then some of the leaders of the Ephraimitesb—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth,c Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—stood in opposition to those arriving from the war. 13“You must not bring the captives here,” they said, “for you are proposing to bring guilt upon us from the LORD and to add to our sins and our guilt. For our guilt is great, and fierce anger is upon Israel.”

14So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the leaders and all the assembly. 15Then the men who were designated by name arose, took charge of the captives, and provided from the plunder clothing for the naked. They clothed them, gave them sandals and food and drink, anointed their wounds, and put all the feeble on donkeys. So they brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

The Idolatry of Ahaz
(2 Kings 16:10–20)

16At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the kingd of Assyria. 17The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away captives. 18The Philistines had also raided the cities of the foothillse and the Negev of Judah, capturing and occupying Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their villages. 19For the LORD humbled Judah because Ahaz king of Israelf had thrown off restraint in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD.

20Then Tiglath-pileserg king of Assyria came to Ahaz but afflicted him rather than strengthening him. 21Although Ahaz had taken a portion from the house of the LORD, from the royal palace, and from the princes and had presented it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

22In the time of his distress, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD. 23Since Damascus had defeated him, he sacrificed to their gods and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But these gods were the downfall of Ahaz and of all Israel.

24Then Ahaz gathered up the articles of the house of God, cut them into pieces, shut the doors of the house of the LORD, and set up altars of his own on every street corner in Jerusalem. 25In every city of Judah he built high places to offer incense to other gods, and so he provoked the LORD, the God of his fathers.

26As for the rest of the acts of Ahaz and all his ways, from beginning to end, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27And Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

3 a Literally passed his sons through the fire

12 b That is, the leaders of the northern kingdom of Israel

12 c Meshillemoth is a variant of Meshillemith; see 1 Chronicles 9:12.

16 d LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate (see also 2 Kings 16:7); Hebrew kings

18 e Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

19 f That is, Judah; in 2 Chronicles, Judah is occasionally called Israel, as representative of the true Israel.

20 g Hebrew Tilgath-pilneser, a variant spelling of Tiglath-pileser

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Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple
(2 Kings 18:1–12)

1Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah,a the daughter of Zechariah. 2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.

3In the first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah opened and repaired the doors of the house of the LORD. 4Then he brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them in the square on the east side.

5“Listen to me, O Levites,” he said. “Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove from the Holy Place every impurity.

6For our fathers were unfaithful and did evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned Him, turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him. 7They also shut the doors of the portico and extinguished the lamps. They did not burn incense or present burnt offerings in the Holy Place of the God of Israel.

8Therefore, the wrath of the LORD has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, horror, and mockery, as you can see with your own eyes. 9For behold, this is why our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and daughters and wives are in captivity.

10Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that His fierce anger will turn away from us. 11Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, to minister before Him, and to burn incense.”

12Then the Levites set to work:

Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah from the Kohathites;

Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel from the Merarites;

Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah from the Gershonites;

13Shimri and Jeuel from the Elizaphanites;

Zechariah and Mattaniah from the Asaphites;

14Jehiel and Shimei from the Hemanites;
and Shemaiah and Uzziel from the Jeduthunites.

15When they had assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves, they went in to cleanse the house of the LORD, according to the command of the king by the words of the LORD.

16So the priests went inside the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and they brought out to the courtyard all the unclean things that they found in the temple of the LORD. Then the Levites took these things and carried them out to the Kidron Valley. 17They began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they reached the portico of the LORD. For eight more days they consecrated the house of the LORD itself, finishing on the sixteenth day of the first month.

18Then they went in to King Hezekiah and reported, “We have cleansed the entire house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of the showbread with all its utensils. 19Moreover, we have prepared and consecrated all the articles that King Ahaz in his unfaithfulness cast aside during his reign. They are now in front of the altar of the LORD.”

Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship

20Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials and went up to the house of the LORD. 21They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And the king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD.

22So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. They slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.

23Then they brought the goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them. 24And the priests slaughtered the goats and put their blood on the altar for a sin offering, to make atonement for all Israel, because the king had ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel.

25Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets. 26The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

27And Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be sacrificed on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD and the trumpets began as well, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. 28The whole assembly was worshiping, the singers were singing, and the trumpeters were playing. All this continued until the burnt offering was completed.

29When the offerings were completed, the king and all those present with him bowed down and worshiped. 30Then King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD in the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.

31Then Hezekiah said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD,b come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.”

So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings. 32The number of burnt offerings the assembly brought was seventy bulls, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. 33And the consecrated offerings were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep.

34However, since there were not enough priests to skin all the burnt offerings, their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests had been consecrated. For the Levites had been more diligent in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.

35Furthermore, the burnt offerings were abundant, along with the fat of the peace offerings and the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. So the service of the house of the LORD was established. 36Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had prepared for the people, because everything had been accomplished so quickly.

Footnotes:

1 a Abijah is a variant of Abi; see 2 Kings 18:2.

31 b Or filled your hand for the LORD

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Hezekiah Proclaims a Passover

1Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. 2For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month,a
3since they had been unable to observe it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem.

4This proposal pleased the king and the whole assembly. 5So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it as a nation as prescribed.

6So the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read:

“Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria. 7Do not be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that He made them an object of horror, as you can see.

8Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you. 9For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”

10And the couriers traveled from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun; but the people scorned and mocked them. 11Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12Moreover, the power of God was on the people in Judah to give them one heart to obey the command of the king and his officials according to the word of the LORD.

Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover

13In the second month, a very great assembly gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread.b
14They proceeded to remove the altars in Jerusalem and to take away the incense altars and throw them into the Kidron Valley. 15And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.

16They stood at their prescribed posts, according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood, which they received from the hand of the Levites. 17Since there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves, the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every unclean person to consecrate the lambs to the LORD.

18A large number of the people—many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun—had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah interceded for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone 19who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not cleansed according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”

20And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people. 21The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and priests praised the LORD day after day, accompanied by loud instruments of praise to the LORD.c
22And Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who performed skillfully before the LORD. For seven days they ate their assigned portion, sacrificing fellowship offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

23The whole assembly agreed to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy. 24For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the assembly, and a great number of priests consecrated themselves.

25Then the whole assembly of Judah rejoiced along with the priests and Levites and the whole assembly that had come from Israel, including the foreigners who had come from Israel and those who lived in Judah. 26So there was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for nothing like this had happened there since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel.

27Then the priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard their voice, and their prayer came into His holy dwelling place in heaven.

Footnotes:

2 a See Numbers 9:9–12.

13 b That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten; see Exodus 12:14–20.

21 c Or day after day, with all their strength to the LORD. Literally day after day, with loud instruments to the LORD.

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The Destruction of Idols

1When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own property.

2Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—for the burnt offerings and peace offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for singing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.

Contributions for Worship

3The king contributed from his own possessions for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, as written in the Law of the LORD. 4Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.

5As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything. 6And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.

7In the third month they began building up the heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. 8When Hezekiah and his officials came and viewed the heaps, they blessed the LORD and His people Israel.

9Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and Levites about the heaps, 10and Azariah, the chief priest of the household of Zadok, answered him, “Since the people began to bring their contributions into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and there is plenty left over, because the LORD has blessed His people; this great abundance is what is left over.”

Hezekiah Organizes the Priests

11Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare storerooms in the house of the LORD, and they did so. 12And they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes, and dedicated gifts. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second. 13Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei, by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief official of the house of God.

14Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the contributions to the LORD and the consecrated gifts. 15Under his authority, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah faithfully distributed portions to their fellow priests in their cities, according to their divisions, old and young alike.a

16In addition, they distributed portions to the males registered by genealogy who were three years of age or older—to all who would enter the house of the LORD for their daily duties for service in the responsibilities of their divisions— 17and to the priests enrolled according to their families in the genealogy, as well as to the Levites twenty years of age or older, according to their duties and divisions. 18The genealogy included all the little ones, wives, sons, and daughters in the whole assembly. For they had faithfully consecrated themselves as holy.

19As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farmlands around each of their cities or in any other city, men were designated by name to distribute a portion to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed by the genealogies.

20So this is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the LORD his God. 21He was diligent in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law and the commandments, in order to seek his God. And so he prospered.

Footnotes:

15 a Or whether large or small

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Sennacherib Invades Judah
(2 Kings 18:13–16; Psalm 46:1–11)

1After all these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, intending to conquer them for himself.

2When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to make war against Jerusalem, 3he consulted with his leaders and commanders about stopping up the waters of the springs outside the city, and they helped him carry it out. 4Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kingsa of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said.

5Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terracesb of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.

6Hezekiah appointed military commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them, saying, 7“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater One with us than with him. 8With him is only the arm of flesh,c but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
(2 Kings 18:17–37; Isaiah 36:1–22)

9Later, as Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces besieged Lachish, he sent his servants to Jerusalem with a message for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem: 10“This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: What is the basis of your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? 11Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give you over to death by famine and thirst when he says, ‘The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria?’ 12Did not Hezekiah himself remove His high places and His altars and say to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn sacrifices’?

13Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Have the gods of these nations ever been able to deliver their land from my hand? 14Who among all the gods of these nations that my fathers devoted to destructiond has been able to deliver his people from my hand? How then can your God deliver you from my hand?

15So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and do not let him mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand!”

16And the servants of Sennacherib spoke further against the LORD God and against His servant Hezekiah. 17He also wrote letters mocking the LORD, the God of Israel, and saying against Him: “Just as the gods of the nations did not deliver their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.”

18Then the Assyrians called out loudly in Hebrewe to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them in order to capture the city. 19They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as they had spoken against the gods of the peoples of the earth—the work of human hands.

Jerusalem Delivered from the Assyrians
(2 Kings 19:35–37; Isaiah 37:36–38)

20In response, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out to heaven in prayer, 21and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty man of valor and every leader and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword.

22So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hands of King Sennacherib of Assyria and all the others, and He gave them rest on every side. 23Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the LORD and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah, and from then on he was exalted in the eyes of all nations.

Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery
(2 Kings 20:1–11; Isaiah 38:1–8)

24In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. So he prayed to the LORD, who spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

26Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.

27Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable articles. 28He also made storehouses for the harvest of grain and new wine and oil, stalls for all kinds of livestock, and pens for the flocks. 29He made cities for himself, and he acquired herds of sheep and cattle in abundance, for God gave him very great wealth.

30It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Spring of Gihon and channeled it down to the west side of the City of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did. 31And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.

Hezekiah’s Death

32As for the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of loving devotion, they are indeed written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 33And Hezekiah rested with his fathers and was buried in the upper tombs of David’s descendants. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem paid him honor at his death. And his son Manasseh reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

4 a Hebrew; LXX and Syriac king

5 b Hebrew the Millo

8 c Or He has only the strength of his own flesh

14 d Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

18 e Or in the dialect of Judah

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Manasseh Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 21:1–9)

1Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. 2And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 3For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he raised up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. And he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

4Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” 5In both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the host of heaven. 6He sacrificed his sons in the firea in the Valley of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

7Manasseh even took the carved image he had made and set it up in the house of God, of which God had said to David and his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My Name forever. 8I will never again cause the feet of the Israelites to leave the land that I assigned to your fathers, if only they are careful to do all that I have commanded them through Moses—all the laws, statutes, and judgments.”

9So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.

Manasseh’s Repentance and Restoration
(2 Kings 21:10–18)

10And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they did not listen. 11So the LORD brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. 12And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers. 13And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition; so He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

14After this, Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David from west of Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate, and he brought it around the hill of Ophel and heightened it considerably. He also stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.

15He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, along with all the altars he had built on the temple mountb and in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city. 16Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it, and he told Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel. 17Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.

18As for the rest of the acts of Manasseh, along with his prayer to his God and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, they are indeed written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.c
19His prayer and how God received his plea, as well as all his sin and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself, they are indeed written in the Records of the Seers.d
20And Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried at his palace. And his son Amon reigned in his place.

Amon Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 21:19–26)

21Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. 22And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done.

Amon served and sacrificed to all the idols that his father Manasseh had made, 23but he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done; instead, Amon increased his guilt.

24Then the servants of Amon conspired against him and killed him in his palace. 25But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.

Footnotes:

6 a Literally made his sons pass through the fire

15 b Literally the mountain of the house of the LORD

18 c That is, Judah; in 2 Chronicles, Judah is occasionally called Israel, as representative of the true Israel.

19 d Or the Records of the Hozai or the Annals of the Prophets

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Josiah Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 22:1–2)

1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Josiah Destroys Idolatry
(1 Kings 13:1–10; 2 Kings 23:4–20)

3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images. 4Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

6Josiah did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruinsa around them. 7He tore down the altars and Asherah poles, crushed the idols to powder, and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Josiah Repairs the Temple
(2 Kings 22:3–7)

8Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, in order to cleanse the land and the temple, Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

9So they went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites at the doors had collected from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, Judah, and Benjamin, and from the people of Jerusalem. 10They put it into the hands of the supervisors of those doing the work of the house of the LORD, who in turn gave it to the workmen restoring and repairing the house of the LORD. 11They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to buy dressed stone, as well as timbers for couplings and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to deteriorate.

12And the men did the work faithfully. The Levites overseeing them were Jahath and Obadiah, descendants of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descendants of Kohath. Other Levites, all skilled with musical instruments, 13were over the laborers and supervised all who did the work, task by task. Some of the Levites were secretaries, officers, and gatekeepers.

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law
(2 Kings 22:8–13)

14While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD written byb Moses. 15And Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan.

16Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported, “Your servants are doing all that has been placed in their hands. 17They have paid out the money that was found in the house of the LORD and have put it into the hands of the supervisors and workers.”

18Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.

19When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes 20and commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdonc son of Micah,d Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king: 21“Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah concerning the words in the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD by doing all that is written in this book.”

Huldah’s Prophecy
(2 Kings 22:14–20)

22So Hilkiah and those the king had designated went and spoke to Huldahe the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath,f the son of Hasrah,g the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.h

23And Huldah said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Tell the man who sent you 24that this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring calamity on this place and on its people, according to all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah, 25because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. My wrath will be poured out upon this place and will not be quenched.’

26But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for the words that you heard, 27because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and because you have humbled yourself before Me and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD.

28‘Now I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.’ ”

So they brought her answer back to the king.

Josiah Renews the Covenant
(2 Kings 23:1–3)

29Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the Levites—all the people small and great—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.

31So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book.

32Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand in agreement to it. So all the people of Jerusalem carried out the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

33And Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the Israelites, and he required everyone in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his reign they did not turn aside from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Footnotes:

6 a Or in the regions

14 b Hebrew the Law of the LORD by the hand of

20 c Abdon is a variant of Achbor; see 2 Kings 22:12.

20 d Micah is a variant of Micaiah; see 2 Kings 22:12.

22 e One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate, and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts and those the king had told went to Huldah

22 f Tokhath is a variant of Tikvah; see 2 Kings 22:14.

22 g Hasrah is a variant of Harhas; see 2 Kings 22:14.

22 h Or the Second Quarter, a newer section of Jerusalem; Hebrew the Mishneh

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Josiah Restores the Passover
(2 Kings 23:21–27)

1Then Josiah celebrated the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD.

3To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD, Josiah said: “Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon son of David king of Israel. It is not to be carried around on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel. 4Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions, according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and Solomon his son.

5Moreover, stand in the Holy Place by the divisions of the families of your kinsmen the lay people, and by the divisions of the families of the Levites. 6Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your fellow countrymen to carry out the word of the LORD given bya Moses.”

7From his own flocks and herds Josiah contributed 30,000 lambs and goats plus 3,000 bulls for the Passover offerings for all the people who were present.

8His officials also contributed willingly to the people and priests and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the administrators of the house of God, gave the priests 2,600 Passover offerings and 300 bulls. 9Additionally, Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, as well as Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, officers of the Levites, donated to the Levites 5,000 Passover offerings and 500 bulls.

10So the service was prepared; the priests stood in their places and the Levites in their divisions according to the king’s command. 11And they slaughtered the Passover lambs, while the priests sprinkled the blood handed to them and the Levites skinned the animals. 12They set aside the burnt offerings to be given to the divisions of the families of the people to offer to the LORD, as is written in the Book of Moses; and they did the same with the bulls.

13They roasted the Passover animals on the fire according to the regulation, and they boiled the other holy offerings in pots, kettles, and bowls and quickly brought them to all the people. 14Afterward, they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, since the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were offering up burnt offerings and fat until nightfall. So the Levites made preparations for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

15The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their position, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.

16So on that day the entire service of the LORD was carried out for celebrating the Passover and offering burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the command of King Josiah. 17The Israelites who were present also observed the Passover at that time, as well as the Feast of Unleavened Breadb for seven days. 18No such Passover had been observed in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel ever observed a Passover like the one that Josiah observed with the priests, the Levites, all Judah, the Israelites who were present, and the people of Jerusalem. 19In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, this Passover was observed.

The Death of Josiah
(2 Kings 23:28–30)

20After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. 21But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty. God told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”

22Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo. 23There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!”

24So his servants took him out of his chariot, put him in his second chariot, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. And Josiah was buried in the tomb of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.

Laments over Josiah

25Then Jeremiah lamented over Josiah, and to this day all the choirs of men and women sing laments over Josiah. They established them as a statute for Israel, and indeed they are written in the Book of Laments.

26As for the rest of the acts of Josiah, along with his deeds of loving devotion according to what is written in the Law of the LORD— 27his acts from beginning to end—they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

Footnotes:

6 a Hebrew the word of the LORD by the hand of

17 b That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten; see Exodus 12:14–20.

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Jehoahaz Succeeds Josiah
(2 Kings 23:31–35)

1Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.

2Jehoahaza was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. 3And the king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silverb and a talent of gold.c

4Then Neco king of Egypt made Eliakim brother of Jehoahaz king over Judah and Jerusalem, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.

Jehoiakim Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 23:36–37)

5Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God.

6Then Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jehoiakim and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon. 7Nebuchadnezzar also took to Babylon some of the articles from the house of the LORD, and he put them in his templed in Babylon.

8As for the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, the abominations he committed, and all that was found against him, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And his son Jehoiachin reigned in his place.

Jehoiachin Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 24:6–9)

9Jehoiachin was eighteene years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD.

10In the spring,f King Nebuchadnezzar summoned Jehoiachin and brought him to Babylon, along with the articles of value from the house of the LORD. And he made Jehoiachin’s relativeg Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Zedekiah Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 24:18–20; Jeremiah 52:1–3)

11Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. 12And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke for the LORD.

13He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardenedh his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. 14Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.

The Fall of Jerusalem
(2 Kings 25:1–7)

15Again and againi the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. 16But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

17So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans,j who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, 18who carried off everything to Babylon—all the articles of the house of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king and his officials. 19Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value.

20Those who escaped the sword were carried by Nebuchadnezzar into exile in Babylon, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power.

21So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD through Jeremiah.k

The Proclamation of Cyrus
(Ezra 1:1–4; Isaiah 45:1–25)

22In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:

23“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:

‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.

Whoever among you belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’ ”

Footnotes:

2 a Hebrew Joahaz, a variant of Jehoahaz; also in verse 4

3 b 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver.

3 c A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.

7 d Or palace

9 e One Hebrew manuscript, some LXX manuscripts, and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 24:8); most Hebrew manuscripts eight

10 f Literally At the turn of the year

10 g Or brother or uncle

13 h Or made strong or made courageous

15 i Literally Rising up early and sending (it),

17 j That is, the Babylonians; also clarified in verse 19

21 k See Jeremiah 25:12 and Jeremiah 29:10.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)

The Proclamation of Cyrus
(2 Chronicles 36:22–23; Isaiah 45:1–25)

1In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:

2“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:

‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.

3Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4And let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.’ ”

5So the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone whose spirit God had stirred—prepared to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.

6And all their neighbors supported them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuables, in addition to all their freewill offerings.

Cyrus Restores the Holy Vessels

7King Cyrus also brought out the articles belonging to the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the temple of his gods. 8Cyrus king of Persia had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.a
9This was the inventory:

30 gold dishes,b

1,000 silver dishes,

29 silver utensils,

1030 gold bowls,

410 matching silver bowls,
and 1,000 other articles.

11In all, there were 5,400 gold and silver articles. Sheshbazzar brought all these along when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

Footnotes:

8 a That is, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah

9 b Or basins; twice in this verse

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The List of Returning Exiles
(Nehemiah 7:4–69)

1Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, 2accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.a

This is the count of the men of Israel:

3the descendants of Parosh, 2,172;

4the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;

5the descendants of Arah, 775;

6the descendants of Pahath-moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,812;

7the descendants of Elam, 1,254;

8the descendants of Zattu, 945;

9the descendants of Zaccai, 760;

10the descendants of Bani,b 642;

11the descendants of Bebai, 623;

12the descendants of Azgad, 1,222;

13the descendants of Adonikam, 666;

14the descendants of Bigvai, 2,056;

15the descendants of Adin, 454;

16the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98;

17the descendants of Bezai, 323;

18the descendants of Jorah,c 112;

19the descendants of Hashum, 223;

20the descendants of Gibbar,d 95;

21the mene of Bethlehem, 123;

22the men of Netophah, 56;

23the men of Anathoth, 128;

24the descendants of Azmaveth,f 42;

25the men of Kiriath-jearim,g Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;

26the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;

27the men of Michmash, 122;

28the men of Bethel and Ai, 223;

29the descendants of Nebo, 52;

30the descendants of Magbish, 156;

31the descendants of the other Elam,h 1,254;

32the descendants of Harim, 320;

33the men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725;

34the men of Jericho, 345;

35and the descendants of Senaah, 3,630.

36The priests:

The descendants of Jedaiah (through the house of Jeshua), 973;

37the descendants of Immer, 1,052;

38the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247;

39and the descendants of Harim, 1,017.

40The Levites:

the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the line of Hodaviahi), 74.

41The singers:

the descendants of Asaph, 128.

42The gatekeepers:

the descendants of Shallum,
the descendants of Ater,
the descendants of Talmon,
the descendants of Akkub,
the descendants of Hatita,
and the descendants of Shobai,

139 in all.

43The temple servants:j
the descendants of Ziha,
the descendants of Hasupha,
the descendants of Tabbaoth,

44the descendants of Keros,
the descendants of Siaha,k
the descendants of Padon,

45the descendants of Lebanah,
the descendants of Hagabah,
the descendants of Akkub,

46the descendants of Hagab,
the descendants of Shalmai,l
the descendants of Hanan,

47the descendants of Giddel,
the descendants of Gahar,
the descendants of Reaiah,

48the descendants of Rezin,
the descendants of Nekoda,
the descendants of Gazzam,

49the descendants of Uzza,
the descendants of Paseah,
the descendants of Besai,

50the descendants of Asnah,
the descendants of Meunim,
the descendants of Nephusim,m

51the descendants of Bakbuk,
the descendants of Hakupha,
the descendants of Harhur,

52the descendants of Bazluth,n
the descendants of Mehida,
the descendants of Harsha,

53the descendants of Barkos,
the descendants of Sisera,
the descendants of Temah,

54the descendants of Neziah,
and the descendants of Hatipha.

55The descendants of the servants of Solomon:

the descendants of Sotai,
the descendants of Sophereth,
the descendants of Peruda,o

56the descendants of Jaala,
the descendants of Darkon,
the descendants of Giddel,

57the descendants of Shephatiah,
the descendants of Hattil,
the descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim,
and the descendants of Ami.p

58The temple servants and descendants of the servants of Solomon numbered 392 in all.

59The following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan,q and Immer, but could not prove that their families were descended from Israel:

60the descendants of Delaiah,
the descendants of Tobiah,
and the descendants of Nekoda,

652 in all.

61And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah,
the descendants of Hakkoz,
and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).

62These men searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 63The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.r

64The whole assembly numbered 42,360, 65in addition to their 7,337 menservants and maidservants, as well as their 200 male and female singers. 66They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 67435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

Offerings by the Exiles
(Exodus 38:21–31; Nehemiah 7:70–73)

68When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings to rebuild the house of God on its original site. 69According to their ability, they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics of gold,s 5,000 minas of silver,t and 100 priestly garments.

70So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, along with some of the people, settled in their own towns; and the rest of the Israelitesu settled in their towns.

Footnotes:

2 a Parallel text at Nehemiah 7:7 accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah

10 b Bani is a variant of Binnui; see Nehemiah 7:15.

18 c Jorah is a variant of Hariph; see Nehemiah 7:24.

20 d Gibbar is a variant of Gibeon; see Nehemiah 7:25.

21 e Literally the sons; here and in verses 25, 26, 33, and 34

24 f Azmaveth is a variant of Beth-azmaveth; see Nehemiah 7:28.

25 g LXX (see also Nehemiah 7:29); Hebrew Kiriath-arim

31 h Or of West Elam

40 i Hodaviah is a variant of Hodevah; see Nehemiah 7:43.

43 j Hebrew The Nethinim; also in verses 58 and 70

44 k Siaha is a variant of Sia; see Nehemiah 7:47.

46 l Alternate MT reading (see also Nehemiah 7:48); the other alternate reads Shamlai

50 m Nephusim is a variant of Nephushesim; see Nehemiah 7:52.

52 n Bazluth is a variant of Bazlith; see Nehemiah 7:54.

55 o Peruda is a variant of Perida; see Nehemiah 7:57.

57 p Ami is a variant of Amon; see Nehemiah 7:59.

59 q Addan is a variant of Addon; see Nehemiah 7:61.

63 r Literally Lights and Perfections

69 s Or 61,000 gold drachmas; that is, approximately 1,129.7 pounds or 512.4 kilograms of gold coins

69 t 5,000 minas is approximately 3.14 tons or 2.85 metric tons of silver.

70 u Or all Israel

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Sacrifices Restored

1By the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns, and the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem.

2Then Jeshua son of Jozadaka and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3They set up the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD—both the morning and evening burnt offerings—even though they feared the people of the land.

4They also celebrated the Feast of Tabernaclesb in accordance with what is written, and they offered burnt offerings daily based on the number prescribed for each day.

5After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings and those for New Moons and for all the appointed sacred feasts of the LORD, as well as all the freewill offerings brought to the LORD.

6On the first day of the seventh month, the Israelites began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, although the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid. 7They gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.

Temple Restoration Begins

8In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years of age or older to supervise the construction of the house of the LORD. 9So Jeshua and his sons and brothers, Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Yehudah),c and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together to supervise those working on the house of God.

10When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed. 11And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD:

“For He is good;
for His loving devotiond to Israel endures forever.”

Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.

12But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully. 13The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise. And the sound was heard from afar.

Footnotes:

2 a Jozadak is a variant of Jehozadak; also in verse 8; see 1 Chronicles 6:14.

4 b That is, Sukkot, the autumn feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; also translated as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Shelters and originally called the Feast of Ingathering (see Exodus 23:16 and Exodus 34:22).

9 c Hebrew sons of Judah; that is, most likely, sons of Yehudah, another name for Hodevah or Hodaviah; see Ezra 2:40 and Nehemiah 7:43.

11 d Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

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Adversaries Hinder the Work

1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”

4Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build. 5They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

6At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes,a an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

7And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.b

8Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:

9From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa, 10and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipalc deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.d

11(This is the text of the letter they sent to him.)

To King Artaxerxes,

From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:

12Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations.

13Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

14Now because we are in the service of the palacee and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king 15that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.

16We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.

The Decree of Artaxerxes

17Then the king sent this reply:

To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates:

Greetings.

18The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence. 19I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition. 20And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.

21Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. 22See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?

23When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.

24Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Footnotes:

6 a Hebrew Ahasuerus

7 b The original text of Ezra 4:8 through Ezra 6:18 is in Aramaic.

10 c Aramaic Osnappar, another name for Ashurbanipal

10 d Aramaic beyond the River; also in verses 11, 16, 17, and 20

14 e Literally because the salt of the palace is the salt we eat

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Temple Rebuilding Resumes
(Haggai 1:1–11)

1Later, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadaka rose up and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them.

3At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates,b Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”

4They also asked,c “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?”

5But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they were not stopped until a report was sent to Darius and written instructions about this matter were returned.

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

6This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius. 7The report they sent him read as follows:

To King Darius:

All peace.

8Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones, and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands.

9So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”

10We also asked for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leadersd for your information.

11And this is the answer they returned:

“We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed. 12But since our fathers angered the God of heaven, He delivered them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean who destroyed this temple and carried away the people to Babylon.

13In his first year, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. 14He also removed from the templee of Babylon the gold and silver articles belonging to the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken and carried there from the temple in Jerusalem. King Cyrus gave these articles to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he appointed governor 15and instructed, ‘Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.’

16So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.”

17Now, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

Footnotes:

2 a Jozadak is a variant of Jehozadak; see 1 Chronicles 6:14.

3 b Aramaic the governor beyond the River; also in verse 6

4 c LXX and Syriac; Aramaic Then we told them,

10 d Aramaic the names of the men at their heads

14 e Or palace

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The Decree of Darius

1Thus King Darius ordered a search of the archives stored in the treasury of Babylon. 2And a scroll was found in the fortress of Ecbatana, in the province of Media, with the following written on it:

Memorandum:

3In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem:

Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its foundations be firmly laid. It is to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide,a
4with three layers of cut stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid from the royal treasury.

5Furthermore, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, must also be returned to the temple in Jerusalem and deposited in the house of God.

6Therefore Darius decreed:

To Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates,b Shethar-bozenai, and your associates and officials in the region:

You must stay away from that place! 7Leave this work on the house of God alone. Let the governor and elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its original site.

8I hereby decree what you must do for these elders of the Jews who are rebuilding this house of God:

The cost is to be paid in full to these men from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces west of the Euphrates, so that the work will not be hindered. 9Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, as well as wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given to them daily without fail. 10Then they will be able to offer sacrifices of a sweet aroma to the God of heaven and to pray for the lives of the king and his sons.

11I also decree that if any man interferes with this directive, a beam is to be torn from his house and raised up, and he is to be impaled on it. And his own house shall be made a pile of rubble for this offense.c
12May God, who has caused His Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to alter this decree or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem.

I, Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out with diligence.

The Temple Completed

13In response, Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates diligently carried out what King Darius had decreed. 14So the Jewish elders built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo.

They finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. 15And this temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar,d in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

Dedication of the Temple

16Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.

17For the dedication of the house of God they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and a sin offering for all Israel of twelve male goats, one for each tribe of Israel.

18They also appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their groups to the service of God in Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.

The Returned Exiles Keep the Passover

19On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles kept the Passover. 20All the priests and Levites had purified themselves and were ceremonially clean.

And the Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their priestly brothers, and for themselves. 21The Israelites who had returned from exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoplese of the land to seek the LORD, the God of Israel.

22For seven days they kept the Feast of Unleavened Breadf with joy, because the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands in the work on the house of the God of Israel.

Footnotes:

3 a The house was to be approximately 90 feet or 27.4 meters in height and width; Syriac (see also 1 Kings 6:2) It is to be sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high.

6 b Aramaic governor beyond the River; similarly in verses 8 and 13

11 c Literally shall be made a dunghill because of this

15 d Adar is the twelfth month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of February and March.

21 e Or nations

22 f That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten; see Exodus 12:14–20.

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◀   ◀   Ezra 7   ▶   ▶

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Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem

1Many years later,a during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— 6this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given.

The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him. 7So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, he went up to Jerusalem with some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants.b

8Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9He had begun the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him. 10For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Artaxerxes’ Letter for Ezra

11This is the text of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and scribe, an expert in the commandments and statutes of the LORD to Israel:c

12Artaxerxes, king of kings.

To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven:

Greetings.d

13I hereby decree that any volunteers among the Israelites in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you to Jerusalem. 14You are sent by the king and his seven counselors to evaluate Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand.

15Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16together with all the silver and gold you may find in all the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem. 17With this money, therefore, you are to buy as many bulls, rams, and lambs as needed, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar at the house of your God in Jerusalem. 18You and your brothers may do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God.

19You must deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles given to you for the service of the house of your God. 20And if anything else is needed for the house of your God that you may have occasion to supply, you may pay for it from the royal treasury.

21I, King Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates:e Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it must be provided promptly, 22up to a hundred talents of silver,f a hundred cors of wheat,g a hundred baths of wine,h a hundred baths of olive oil,i and salt without limit. 23Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done diligently for His house. For why should wrath fall on the realm of the king and his sons? 24And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

25And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them. 26If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

Ezra Blesses God

27Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put into the heart of the king to so honor the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, 28and who has shown me favor before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officials.

And because the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, I took courage and gathered the leaders of Israel to return with me.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally After these things

7 b Hebrew Nethinim; also in verse 24

11 c The original text of Ezra 7:12–26 is in Aramaic.

12 d Aramaic Perfect now (probably a greeting)

21 e Aramaic beyond the River; also in verse 25

22 f 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver.

22 g 100 cors is approximately 624 bushels or 22,000 liters (probably about 19.2 tons or 17.4 metric tons of wheat).

22 h 100 baths is approximately 580 gallons or 2,200 liters of wine.

22 i Or 100 baths of oil; that is, approximately 580 gallons or 2,200 liters

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◀   ◀   Ezra 8   ▶   ▶

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The Exiles Who Returned with Ezra

1These are the family heads and genealogical records of those who returned with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:

2from the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom;
from the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel;
from the descendants of David, Hattush 3of the descendants of Shecaniah;
from the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men;

4from the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men;

5from the descendants of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel,a and with him 300 men;

6from the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men;

7from the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;

8from the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men;

9from the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men;

10from the descendants of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah,b and with him 160 men;

11from the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;

12from the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;

13from the laterc descendants of Adonikam, these were their names: Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;

14and from the descendants of Bigvai, both Uthai and Zaccur,d and with them 70 men.

Ezra Sends for the Levites

15Now I assembled these exiles at the canal that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. And when I searched among the people and priests, I found no Levites there.

16Then I summoned the leaders: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan,e Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, as well as the teachers Joiarib and Elnathan. 17And I sent them to Iddo, the leader at Casiphia, with a message for him and his kinsmen, the temple servantsf at Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.

18And since the gracious hand of our God was upon us, they brought us Sherebiah—a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel—along with his sons and brothers, 18 men; 19also Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah, from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and their sons, 20 men. 20They also brought 220 of the temple servants, all designated by name. David and the officials had appointed them to assist the Levites.

Fasting for Protection

21And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.”

23So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.

Priests to Guard the Offerings

24Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, together with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers, 25and I weighed out to them the contribution of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites there had offered for the house of our God.

26I weighed out into their hands 650 talents of silver,g articles of silver weighing 100 talents,h 100 talents of gold,i
2720 gold bowls valued at 1,000 darics,j and two articles of fine polished bronze, as precious as gold.

28Then I told them, “You are holy to the LORD, and these articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers. 29Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the LORD in Jerusalem before the leading priests, Levites, and heads of the Israelite families.”

30So the priests and Levites took charge of the silver and gold and sacred articles that had been weighed out to be taken to the house of our God in Jerusalem.

31On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem, and the hand of our God was upon us to protect us from the hands of the enemies and bandits along the way.

Arrival in Jerusalem

32So we arrived at Jerusalem and rested there for three days.

33On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out the silver and gold and sacred articles into the hand of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, along with the Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. 34Everything was verified by number and weight, and the total weight was recorded at that time.

35Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and a sin offering of 12 male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.

36They also delivered the king’s edicts to the royal satrapsk and governors of the region west of the Euphrates,l who proceeded to assist the people and the house of God.

Footnotes:

5 a Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Esdras 8:32); Hebrew from the descendants of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel

10 b Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Esdras 8:36); Hebrew from the descendants of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah

13 c Or the last

14 d LXX, Syriac, and an alternate MT reading; the other alternate reads Zabbud.

16 e Elnathan appears three times in verse, either as a repetition for emphasis or as a record of multiple men with this name.

17 f Hebrew the Nethinim; also in verse 20

26 g 650 talents is approximately 24.5 tons or 22.2 metric tons of silver.

26 h 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver articles.

26 i 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of gold.

27 j Or worth 1,000 drachmas; that is, approximately 18.5 pounds or 8.4 kilograms of gold

36 k A satrap was a Persian official.

36 l Hebrew governors beyond the River

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◀   ◀   Ezra 9   ▶   ▶

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Intermarriage with Neighboring Peoples
(Nehemiah 13:23–31)

1After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. 2Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”

3When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out some hair from my head and beard, and sat down in horror.

4Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.

Ezra’s Prayer of Confession

5At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God, 6and said:

“O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens. 7From the days of our fathers to this day, our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities, we and our kings and priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the earth and put to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation, as we are this day.

8But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stakea in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes. 9Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but He has extended to us grace in the sight of the kings of Persia, giving us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and giving us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.

10And now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commandments 11that You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the impurity of its peoples and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end. 12Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’

13After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this), 14shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not become so angry with us as to wipe us out, leaving no remnant or survivor?

15O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though because of it no one can stand before You.”

Footnotes:

8 a Or nail or foothold

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◀   ◀   Ezra 10   ▶   ▶

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Shecaniah’s Encouragement

1While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.

2Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel. 3So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. 4Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!”

5So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath.

The People’s Confession of Sin

6Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayeda there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

7And a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem. 8Whoever failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.

9So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain.

10Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel. 11Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.”

12And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice: “Truly we must do as you say! 13But there are many people here, and it is the rainy season. We are not able to stay out in the open. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter. 14Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”

15(Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this plan.)

16So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, each of them identified by name, to represent their families. On the first day of the tenth month they launched the investigation, 17and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.

Those Guilty of Intermarriage

18Among the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women were found these descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadakb and his brothers:

Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19They pledged to send their wives away, and for their guilt they presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.

20From the descendants of Immer:

Hanani and Zebadiah.

21From the descendants of Harim:

Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.

22From the descendants of Pashhur:

Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

23Among the Levites:

Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

24From the singers:

Eliashib.

From the gatekeepers:

Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

25And among the other Israelites, from the descendants of Parosh:

Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah,c and Benaiah.

26From the descendants of Elam:

Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.

27From the descendants of Zattu:

Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.

28From the descendants of Bebai:

Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

29From the descendants of Bani:

Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.

30From the descendants of Pahath-moab:

Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.

31From the descendants of Harim:

Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

33From the descendants of Hashum:

Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

34From the descendants of Bani:

Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.

38From the descendants of Binnui:

Shimei,d
39Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.

43And from the descendants of Nebo:

Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

44All these men had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives.e

Footnotes:

6 a Or went

18 b Jozadak is a variant of Jehozadak; see 1 Chronicles 6:14.

25 c Hebrew; LXX Hashabiah

38 d See LXX; Hebrew And Bani, and Binnui, (and) Shimei,

44 e Or and they sent them away with their children

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13)

Nehemiah’s Prayer
(Deuteronomy 30:1–10)

1These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:

In the month of Chislev,a in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

3And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

4When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

5Then I said:

“O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotionb with those who love Him and keep His commandments, 6let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites.

I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. 7We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.

8Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon,c I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’d

10They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand. 11O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servantse who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

(At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)

Footnotes:

1 a Chislev is the ninth month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of November and December.

5 b Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

9 c Or to the extremity of the heavens

9 d Deuteronomy 30:1–4

11 e Literally to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants

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Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem

1Now in the month of Nisan,a in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, 2so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart.”

I was overwhelmed with fear 3and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

4“What is your request?” replied the king.

So I prayed to the God of heaven 5and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city where my fathers are buried, so that I may rebuild it.”

6Then the king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time.

7I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates,b so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah. 8And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.”

And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

9Then I went to the governors west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

10But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.

Nehemiah Inspects the Walls

11After I had arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days, 12I set out at night with a few men. I did not tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal with me was the one on which I was riding.

13So I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Well of the Serpentc and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire.

14Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to get through; 15so I went up the valley by night and inspected the wall. Then I headed back and reentered through the Valley Gate.

16The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews or priests or nobles or officials or any other workers. 17Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”

18I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me.

“Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.

19But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

20So I answered them and said, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start rebuilding, but you have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem.”

Footnotes:

1 a Nisan is the first month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of March and April.

7 b Hebrew beyond the River; also in verse 9

13 c Or Dragon or Jackal

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◀   ◀   Nehemiah 3   ▶   ▶

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The Builders of the Walls

1At the Sheep Gate, Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated the wall. 2The men of Jericho built next to Eliashib, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them.

3The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. 4Next to them, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Next to him, Meshullam son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs; and next to him, Zadok son of Baana made repairs as well. 5Next to him, the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.a

6The Jeshanah Gateb was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. 7Next to them, repairs were made by Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of Gibeon and Mizpah, who were under the authority of the governor of the region west of the Euphrates.c
8Next to them, Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs, and next to him, Hananiah son of the perfumer made repairs. They fortified Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.

9Next to them, Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, made repairs; 10next to him, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house; and next to him, Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs. 11Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab repaired another section, as well as the Tower of the Ovens. 12And next to them, Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of the other half-district of Jerusalem, made repairs, with the help of his daughters.

13The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it, installed its doors, bolts, and bars, and repaired a thousand cubitsd of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.

14The Dung Gate was repaired by Malchijah son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem. He rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.

15The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallune son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofed it, and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Shelahf near the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that descend from the City of David.

16Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth-zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Mighty.

17Next to him, the Levites made repairs under Rehum son of Bani, and next to him, Hashabiah, ruler of a half-district of Keilah, made repairs for his district. 18Next to him, their countrymen made repairs under Binnuig son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. 19And next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the Ascent to the Armory, near the angle in the wall.

20Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai diligently repaired another section, from the angle to the doorway of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the doorway of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house. 22And next to him, the priests from the surrounding area made repairs.

23Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house, and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house. 24After him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the angle and the corner, 25and Palal son of Uzai made repairs opposite the angle and the tower that juts out from the upper palace of the king near the courtyard of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh 26and the temple servantsh living on the hill of Ophel made repairs opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the tower that juts out. 27And next to them, the Tekoites repaired another section, from a point opposite the great tower that juts out to the wall of Ophel.

28Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house. 29Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house, and next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard of the East Gate, made repairs.

30Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, as well as Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his own quarters. 31Next to him, Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the upper room above the corner. 32And between the upper room above the corner and the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.

Footnotes:

5 a Or their Lord or the governor

6 b Or The Old City Gate

7 c Hebrew the governor beyond the River

13 d 1,000 cubits is approximately 1,500 feet or 457.2 meters.

15 e Hebrew; Syriac Shallum

15 f Pool of Shelah is another name for the Pool of Siloam.

18 g Two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also LXX and Nehemiah 3:24); most Hebrew manuscripts Bavvai

26 h Hebrew the Nethinim; also in verse 31

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◀   ◀   Nehemiah 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Work Ridiculed

1Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews 2before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves?a Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”

3Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”

4Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. 5Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders.b

6So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

7When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious, 8and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance.

Discouragement Overcome

9So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.

10Meanwhile, the people of Judah said:c

“The strength of the laborer fails,
and there is so much rubble
that we will never be able
to rebuild the wall.”

11And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”

12At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

13So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows.

14After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

15When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall. 16And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor.

The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah 17who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. 18And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.

19Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is great and extensive, and we are spread out far from one another along the wall. 20Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!”

21So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.”

23So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.d

Footnotes:

2 a Or Will they commit themselves to God?

5 b Or have provoked You to anger before the builders

10 c Or Meanwhile, Judah said

23 d Or each carried his weapon in his right hand

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◀   ◀   Nehemiah 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed

1About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.

2Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.”

3Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.”

4Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

6When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry, 7and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!”

So I called a large assembly against them 8and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!”

But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.

9So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies? 10I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury. 11Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.”

12“We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.”

So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised. 13I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of His house and possession every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!”

The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

Nehemiah’s Generosity

14Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.

15The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver.a Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God. 16Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land.

17There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations. 18Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.

19Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.

Footnotes:

15 a 40 shekels is approximately 1 pound or 453.6 grams of silver.

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◀   ◀   Nehemiah 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Sanballat’s Conspiracy

1When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates— 2Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villagesa on the plainb of Ono.”

But they were planning to harm me.

3So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?”

4Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.

5The fifth time, Sanballat sent me this same message by his young servant, who had in his hand an unsealed letter 6that read:

“It is reported among the nations—and Geshemc agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king, 7and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together.”

8Then I sent him this reply: “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.”

9For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.”

But now, my God,d strengthen my hands.

10Later, I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his house. He said:

“Let us meet at the house of God
inside the temple.

Let us shut the temple doors
because they are coming to kill you—
by night they are coming to kill you!”

11But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go!”

12I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me.

14O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.

Completion of the Wall

15So the wall was completed in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth of Elul.e
16When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.

17Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came back to them. 18For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.

19Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

Footnotes:

2 a Or in Kephirim

2 b Or in the valley

6 c Hebrew Gashmu, a variant of Geshem; see verse 1.

9 d Hebrew But now; for clarity, my God has been included.

15 e Elul is the sixth month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of August and September.

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◀   ◀   Nehemiah 7   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Securing the City

1When the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed.

2Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most. 3And I told them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened. And appoint the residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their own homes.”

The List of Returning Exiles
(Ezra 2:1–67)

4Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. 5Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. I found the genealogical register of those who had first returned, and I found the following written in it:

6These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, 7accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.a

This is the count of the men of Israel:

8the descendants of Parosh, 2,172;

9the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;

10the descendants of Arah, 652;

11the descendants of Pahath-moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818;

12the descendants of Elam, 1,254;

13the descendants of Zattu, 845;

14the descendants of Zaccai, 760;

15the descendants of Binnui,b 648;

16the descendants of Bebai, 628;

17the descendants of Azgad, 2,322;

18the descendants of Adonikam, 667;

19the descendants of Bigvai, 2,067;

20the descendants of Adin, 655;

21the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98;

22the descendants of Hashum, 328;

23the descendants of Bezai, 324;

24the descendants of Hariph,c 112;

25the descendants of Gibeon,d 95;

26the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;

27the men of Anathoth, 128;

28the men of Beth-azmaveth,e 42;

29the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;

30the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;

31the men of Michmash, 122;

32the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;

33the men of the other Nebo,f 52;

34the descendants of the other Elam,g 1,254;

35the descendants of Harim, 320;

36the menh of Jericho, 345;

37the men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721;

38and the descendants of Senaah, 3,930.

39The priests:

the descendants of Jedaiah (through the house of Jeshua), 973;

40the descendants of Immer, 1,052;

41the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247;

42and the descendants of Harim, 1,017.

43The Levites:

the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel, through the line of Hodevahi), 74.

44The singers:

the descendants of Asaph, 148.

45The gatekeepers:

the descendants of Shallum,
the descendants of Ater,
the descendants of Talmon,
the descendants of Akkub,
the descendants of Hatita,
and the descendants of Shobai,

138 in all.

46The temple servants:j
the descendants of Ziha,
the descendants of Hasupha,
the descendants of Tabbaoth,

47the descendants of Keros,
the descendants of Sia,k
the descendants of Padon,

48the descendants of Lebanah,
the descendants of Hagabah,
the descendants of Shalmai,

49the descendants of Hanan,
the descendants of Giddel,
the descendants of Gahar,

50the descendants of Reaiah,
the descendants of Rezin,
the descendants of Nekoda,

51the descendants of Gazzam,
the descendants of Uzza,
the descendants of Paseah,

52the descendants of Besai,
the descendants of Meunim,
the descendants of Nephushesim,l

53the descendants of Bakbuk,
the descendants of Hakupha,
the descendants of Harhur,

54the descendants of Bazlith,m
the descendants of Mehida,
the descendants of Harsha,

55the descendants of Barkos,
the descendants of Sisera,
the descendants of Temah,

56the descendants of Neziah,
and the descendants of Hatipha.

57The descendants of the servants of Solomon:

the descendants of Sotai,
the descendants of Sophereth,
the descendants of Perida,n

58the descendants of Jaala,
the descendants of Darkon,
the descendants of Giddel,

59the descendants of Shephatiah,
the descendants of Hattil,
the descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim,
and the descendants of Amon.o

60The temple servants and descendants of the servants of Solomon numbered 392 in all.

61The following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon,p and Immer, but could not prove that their families were descended from Israel:

62the descendants of Delaiah,
the descendants of Tobiah,
and the descendants of Nekoda,

642 in all.

63And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah,
the descendants of Hakkoz,
and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).

64These men searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.q

66The whole assembly numbered 42,360, 67in addition to their 7,337 menservants and maidservants, as well as their 245 male and female singers. 68They had 736 horses, 245 mules,r
69435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

Offerings by the Exiles
(Exodus 38:21–31; Ezra 2:68–70)

70Some of the heads of the families contributed to the project. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold,s 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments. 71And some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the project 20,000 darics of goldt and 2,200 minas of silver.u
72The rest of the people gave a total of 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver,v and 67 priestly garments.

73So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with some of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. And by the seventh month the Israelites had settled in their towns.

Footnotes:

7 a Parallel text at Ezra 2:2 accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah

15 b Binnui is a variant of Bani; see Ezra 2:10.

24 c Hariph is a variant of Jorah; see Ezra 2:18.

25 d Gibeon is a variant of Gibbar; see Ezra 2:20.

28 e Beth-azmaveth is a variant of Azmaveth; see Ezra 2:24.

33 f Or of West Nebo

34 g Or of West Elam

36 h Literally the sons; here and in verse 37

43 i Hodevah is a variant of Hodaviah; see Ezra 2:40.

46 j Hebrew The Nethinim; also in verses 60 and 73

47 k Sia is a variant of Siaha; see Ezra 2:44.

52 l Nephushesim is a variant of Nephusim; see Ezra 2:50.

54 m Bazlith is a variant of Bazluth; see Ezra 2:52.

57 n Perida is a variant of Peruda; see Ezra 2:55.

59 o Amon is a variant of Ami; see Ezra 2:57.

61 p Addon is a variant of Addan; see Ezra 2:59.

65 q Literally Lights and Perfections

68 r Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Ezra 2:66); most Hebrew manuscripts do not include this verse.

70 s Or 1,000 gold drachmas; that is, approximately 18.5 pounds or 8.4 kilograms of gold coins

71 t Or 20,000 gold drachmas; that is, approximately 370.4 pounds or 168 kilograms of gold coins; also in verse 72

71 u Or 2,200 silver minas; that is, approximately 1.38 tons or 1.25 metric tons of silver

72 v Or 2,000 silver minas; that is, approximately 1.26 tons or 1.14 metric tons of silver

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◀   ◀   Nehemiah 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Ezra Reads the Law
(Deuteronomy 31:9–13)

1At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

2On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. 3So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand.

And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

4Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places. 8So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining ita and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read.

9Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.”

For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.

10Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

11And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.”

12Then all the people began to eat and drink, to send out portions, and to rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that had been made known to them.

The Feast of Tabernacles
(Leviticus 23:33–44; Zechariah 14:16–21)

13On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Law. 14And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in boothsb during the feast of the seventh month.

15So they proclaimed this message and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive,c myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”d

16And the people went out, brought back branches, and made booths on their own rooftops, in their courtyards, in the court of the house of God, and in the squares by the Water Gate and by the Gate of Ephraim. 17The whole assembly who had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshuae son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing.

18Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. The Israelites kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assembly, according to the ordinance.

Footnotes:

8 a Or translating it or paragraph by paragraph

14 b Or tabernacles or shelters; also in verses 15, 16, and 17

15 c Or pine; literally oil tree

15 d See Leviticus 23:37–40.

17 e Hebrew Jeshua, a variant of Joshua

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◀   ◀   Nehemiah 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The People Confess Their Sins

1On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads. 2Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.

3While they stood in their places, they read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and they spent another quarter of the day in confession and worship of the LORD their God.

4And the Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani—stood on the raised platform and cried out in a loud voice to the LORD their God. 5Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting:

Blessed be Your glorious name,
and may it be exalted
above all blessing and praise.

6You alone are the LORD.

You created the heavens,
the highest heavens with all their host,
the earth and all that is on it,
the seas and all that is in them.

You give life to all things,
and the host of heaven worships You.

7You are the LORD,
the God who chose Abram,
who brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans
and gave him the name Abraham.

8You found his heart faithful before You,
and made a covenant with him
to give the land of the Canaanites and Hittites,
of the Amorites and Perizzites,
of the Jebusites and Girgashites—
to give it to his descendants.

You have kept Your promise,
because You are righteous.

9You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt;

You heard their cry at the Red Sea.a

10You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh,
all his officials, and all the people of his land,
for You knew they had acted with arrogance
against our fathers.

You made a name for Yourself
that endures to this day.

11You divided the sea before them,
and they crossed through it on dry ground.

You hurled their pursuers into the depths
like a stone into raging waters.

12You led them with a pillar of cloud by day
and a pillar of fire by night,
to light for them the way
in which they should travel.

13You came down on Mount Sinai
and spoke with them from heaven.

You gave them just ordinances, true laws,
and good statutes and commandments.

14You revealed to them Your holy Sabbath
and gave them commandments and statutes and laws
through Your servant Moses.

15In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven;
in their thirst You brought them water from the rock.

You told them to go in and possess the land
which You had sworn to give them.

16But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked
and did not obey Your commandments.

17They refused to listen and failed to remember
the wonders You performed among them.

They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader
to return them to their bondage in Egypt.b

But You are a forgiving God,
gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in loving devotion,
and You did not forsake them.

18Even when they cast for themselves
an image of a calf and said,

‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’

and when they committed terrible blasphemies,

19You in Your great compassion
did not forsake them in the wilderness.

By day the pillar of cloud never turned away
from guiding them on their path;
and by the night the pillar of fire
illuminated the way they should go.

20You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them.

You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths,
and You gave them water for their thirst.

21For forty years You sustained them in the wilderness,
so that they lacked nothing.

Their clothes did not wear out
and their feet did not swell.

22You gave them kingdoms and peoples
and allotted to them every corner of the land.

So they took the land of Sihonc king of Heshbon
and of Og king of Bashan.

23You multiplied their descendants
like the stars of heaven
and brought them to the land

You had told their fathers to enter and possess.

24So their descendants went in and possessed the land;

You subdued before them the Canaanites dwelling in the land.

You delivered into their hands the kings and peoples of the land,
to do with them as they wished.

25They captured fortified cities and fertile land
and took houses full of all goods,
wells already dug,
vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance.

So they ate and were filled;
they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness.

26But they were disobedient and rebelled against You;
they flung Your law behind their backs.

They killed Your prophets,
who had admonished them to return to You.

They committed terrible blasphemies.

27So You delivered them into the hands
of enemies who oppressed them,
and in their time of distress they cried out to You.

From heaven You heard them,
and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers
who saved them from the hands of their enemies.

28But as soon as they had rest,
they again did evil in Your sight.

So You abandoned them to the hands of their enemies,
who had dominion over them.

When they cried out to You again,

You heard from heaven,
and You delivered them many times
in Your compassion.

29You admonished them to turn back to Your law,
but they were arrogant and disobeyed Your commandments.

They sinned against Your ordinances,
by which a man will live if he practices them.

They stubbornly shrugged their shoulders;
they stiffened their necks and would not obey.

30You were patient with them for many years,
and Your Spirit admonished them through Your prophets.

Yet they would not listen,
so You gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples.d

31But in Your great compassion,

You did not put an end to them;
nor did You forsake them,
for You are a gracious and compassionate God.

32So now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God
who keeps His gracious covenant,
do not view lightly all the hardship
that has come upon us,
and upon our kings and leaders,
our priests and prophets,
our ancestors and all Your people,
from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.

33You are just in all that has befallen us,
because You have acted faithfully,
while we have acted wickedly.

34Our kings and leaders and priests and fathers
did not obey Your law
or listen to Your commandments
and warnings that You gave them.

35For even while they were in their kingdom,
with the abundant goodness
that You had given them,
and in the spacious and fertile land
that You had set before them,
they would not serve You
or turn from their wicked ways.

36So here we are today as slaves
in the land You gave our fathers to enjoy its fruit and goodness—
here we are as slaves!

37Its abundant harvest goes to the kings

You have set over us because of our sins.

And they rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please.

We are in great distress.

38In view of all this, we make a binding agreement, putting it in writing and sealing it with the names ofe our leaders, Levites, and priests.”

Footnotes:

9 a Or the Sea of Reeds

17 b LXX and a few Hebrew manuscripts; MT to return them to their bondage in their rebellion

22 c One Hebrew manuscript and LXX; most Hebrew manuscripts Sihon, the country of the

30 d Literally into the hands of the peoples of the lands

38 e Hebrew does not include the names of.

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Signers of the Covenant

1Now these were the ones who sealed the document:

Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah,
and also Zedekiah,

2Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

3Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,

4Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

8Maaziah, Bilgai,a and Shemaiah.

These were the priests.

9The Levites:

Jeshua son of Azaniah,

Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,

10and their associates: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

14And the leaders of the people:

Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

17Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

18Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

21Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

24Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

26Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,

27Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

The Vows of the Covenant

28“The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants,b and all who had separated themselves from the people of the land to obey the Law of God—along with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand, 29hereby join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the Law of God given through His servant Moses and to carefully obey all the commandments, ordinances, and statutes of the LORD our Lord.

30We will not give our daughters in marriage to the people of the land, and we will not take their daughters for our sons.

31When the people of the land bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day. Every seventh year we will let the fields lie fallow, and will cancel every debt.

32We also place ourselves under the obligation to contribute a third of a shekelc yearly for the service of the house of our God: 33for the showbread, for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moons and appointed feasts, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the duties of the house of our God.

34We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.

35We will also bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the house of the LORD year by year. 36And we will bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as it is written in the Law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God.

37Moreover, we will bring to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God the firstfruits of our dough, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of our new wine and oil. A tenth of our produce belongs to the Levites, so that they shall receive tithes in all the towns where we labor. 38A priest of Aaron’s line is to accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of these tithes to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God. 39For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay.

Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.”

Footnotes:

8 a Bilgai is a variant of Bilgah; see Nehemiah 12:5.

28 b Hebrew Nethinim

32 c A third of a shekel is approximately 0.13 ounces or 3.8 grams, probably of silver.

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Jerusalem’s New Settlers

1Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the remaining ninea were to dwell in their own towns. 2And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

3These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. (In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants,b and descendants of Solomon’s servants— 4while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem.)

From the descendants of Judah:

Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez; 5and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah.c
6The descendants of Perez who settled in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of valor.

7From the descendants of Benjamin:

Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah; 8and his followers Gabbai and Sallai—928 men. 9Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the Second District of the city.d

10From the priests:

Jedaiah son of Joiarib;e Jachin; 11Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief official of the house of God; 12and their associates who did the work at the temple—822 men;

Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah; 13and his associates, the leaders of families—242 men;

Amashai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer; 14and his associatesf —128 mighty men of valor. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim was their overseer.

15From the Levites:

Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16Shabbethai and Jozabad, two leaders of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the house of God; 17Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18The Levites in the holy city totaled 284.

19And the gatekeepers:

Akkub, Talmon, and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.

Residents Outside Jerusalem

20The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance. 21The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, with Ziha and Gishpa over them.

22Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica.g He was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the singers in charge of the service of the house of God. 23For there was a command from the king concerning the singers, an ordinance regulating their daily activities. 24Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agenth in every matter concerning the people.

25As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, and their villages; 26in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth-pelet; 27in Hazar-shual; in Beersheba and its villages; 28in Ziklag; in Meconah and its villages; 29in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, 30Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages; in Lachish and its fields; and in Azekah and its villages. So they settled from Beersheba all the way to the Valley of Hinnom.

31The descendants of Benjamin from Geba lived in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel with its villages; 32in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35Lod, and Ono; and in the Valley of the Craftsmen.i

36And some divisions of the Levites of Judah settled in Benjamin.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew nine hands

3 b Hebrew Nethinim; also in verse 21

5 c Or of the Shilonite

9 d Or was over the Second Quarter of the city, a newer section of Jerusalem; or was second in command of the city

10 e Or Jedaiah; the son of Joiarib;

14 f Most LXX manuscripts; Hebrew their associates

22 g Mica is a variant of Micaiah; see Nehemiah 12:35.

24 h Hebrew hand

35 i Hebrew in Ge-harashim

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The Priests and Levites Who Returned

1Now these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua:

Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

2Amariah, Malluch,a Hattush,

3Shecaniah, Rehum,b Meremoth,

4Iddo, Ginnethon,c Abijah,

5Mijamin,d Maadiah,e Bilgah,f

6Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,

7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah.

These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Jeshua.

8The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who, with his associates, led the songs of thanksgiving. 9Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood across from them in the services.

10Jeshua was the father of Joiakim,

Joiakim was the father of Eliashib,

Eliashib was the father of Joiada,

11Joiada was the father of Jonathan,g
and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.

12In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families:

of the family of Seraiah, Meraiah;
of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

13of Ezra, Meshullam;
of Amariah, Jehohanan;

14of Malluchi,h Jonathan;
of Shebaniah,i Joseph;

15of Harim, Adna;
of Meraioth,j Helkai;

16of Iddo, Zechariah;
of Ginnethon, Meshullam;

17of Abijah, Zichri;
of Miniamin and of Moadiah,k Piltai;

18of Bilgah, Shammua;
of Shemaiah, Jonathan;

19of Joiarib, Mattenai;
of Jedaiah, Uzzi;

20of Sallai,l Kallai;
of Amok, Eber;

21of Hilkiah, Hashabiah;
and of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

22In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan,m and Jaddua, during the reign of Darius the Persian, the heads of the families of the Levites and priests were recorded.

23As for the descendants of Levi, the family heads up to the days of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the Book of the Chronicles.n
24The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel,o along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.

25Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26They served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak,p and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe.

The Dedication of the Wall

27At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres. 28The singers were also assembled from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites, 29from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for they had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

31Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and I appointed two great thanksgiving choirs. One was to proceed along the top of the wallq to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed, 33along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35and some of the priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah,r the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—with the musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession. 37At the Fountain Gate they climbed the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east.

38The second thanksgiving choir proceeded to the left, and I followed it with half the people along the top of the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate,s the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. And they stopped at the Gate of the Guard.

40The two thanksgiving choirs then stood in the house of God, as did I, along with the half of the officials accompanying me, 41as well as the priests with their trumpets—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah— 42and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. Then the choirs sang out under the direction of Jezrahiah.

43On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.

Provisions for Temple Worship

44And on that same day men were appointed over the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tithes. The portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites were gathered into these storerooms from the fields of the villages, because Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who were serving.

45They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. 46For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

47So in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for the descendants of Aaron.

Footnotes:

2 a Malluch is a variant of Malluchi; see verse 14.

3 b Rehum is a variant of Harim; see verse 15, Nehemiah 7:42, and Ezra 2:39.

4 c Many Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 16); most MT manuscripts Ginnethoi

5 d Mijamin is a variant of Miniamin; see verse 17.

5 e Maadiah is a variant of Moadiah; see verse 17.

5 f Bilgah is a variant of Bilgai; also in verse 18; see Nehemiah 10:8.

11 g Jonathan is a variant of Johanan; see verse 22.

14 h Malluchi is a variant of Malluch; see verse 2.

14 i Shebaniah is a variant of Shecaniah; see verse 3; see also Syriac and some Hebrew and LXX manuscripts.

15 j Meraioth is a variant of Meremoth; see verse 3 and also some LXX manuscripts.

17 k Moadiah is a variant of Maadiah; see verse 5.

20 l Sallai is a variant of Sallu; see verse 7.

22 m Johanan is a variant of Jonathan; see verse 11.

23 n Or the Book of the Annals or the Book of the Historical Events

24 o Or Sherebiah, Jeshua, Binnui, and Kadmiel

26 p Jozadak is a variant of Jehozadak; see 1 Chronicles 6:14.

31 q Or alongside the wall; also in verse 38

35 r Micaiah is a variant of Mica; see Nehemiah 11:22.

39 s Or the Old City Gate

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Foreigners Excluded

1At that time the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,a
2because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

3As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent.

The Temple Cleansed

4Now before this, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God 5and had prepared for Tobiah a large room where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the temple articles, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.

6While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to Artaxerxes king of Babylonb in the thirty-second year of his reign. Some time later I obtained leave from the king 7to return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of the house of God.

8And I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. 9Then I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored to them, along with the grain offerings and frankincense.

Tithes Restored
(Leviticus 27:30–34; Deuteronomy 14:22–29; Deuteronomy 26:1–15)

10I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields. 11So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?”

Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts, 12and all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storerooms. 13I appointed as treasurers over the storerooms Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.

14Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my deeds of loving devotion for the house of my God and for its services.

The Sabbath Restored
(Jeremiah 17:19–27)

15In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day. 16Additionally, men of Tyre who lived there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.

17Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day? 18Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”

19When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.

20Once or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, 21but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they did not return on the Sabbath. 22Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.

Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.

Intermarriage Forbidden
(Ezra 9:1–4)

23In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah. 25I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair.

Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! 26Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin. 27Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”

28Even one of the sons of Jehoiada son of Eliashib the high priest had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I drove him away from me.

29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

30Thus I purified the priests and Levites from everything foreign, and I assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites. 31I also arranged for contributions of wood at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits.

Remember me, O my God, with favor.

Footnotes:

1 a See Deuteronomy 23:3–6.

6 b Artaxerxes king of Persia is identified here as the king of Babylon because Persia had conquered the Babylonian Empire.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)

Xerxes’ Royal Feast

1This is what happened in the days of Xerxes,a who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.b
2In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.

3In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces. 4And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.

5At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest. 6Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

7Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty. 8By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

9Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

10On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas— 11to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.

12Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.

Queen Vashti Deposed

13Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice. 14His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom.

15“According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”

16And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes. 17For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbandsc and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’

18This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath.

19So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she. 20The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.”

21The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan had advised. 22He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaimingd that every man should be master of his own household.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew Ahasuerus; here and throughout Esther

1 b That is, the upper Nile region

17 c Or to disdain their husbands in their eyes

22 d Literally proclaiming in the language of his own people

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Seeking Vashti’s Successor

1Some time later, when the anger of King Xerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, and what had been decreed against her.

2Then the king’s attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king, 3and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments. 4Then let the young woman who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.”

This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly.

Esther Finds Favor

5Now there was at the citadel of Susa a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish. 6He had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon among those taken captive with Jeconiaha king of Judah.

7And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah (that is, Esther), the daughter of his uncle, because she did not have a father or mother. The young woman was lovely in form and appearance, and when her father and mother had died, Mordecai had taken her in as his own daughter.

8When the king’s command and edict had been proclaimed, many young women gathered at the citadel of Susa under the care of Hegai. Esther was also taken to the palace and placed under the care of Hegai, the custodian of the women. 9And the young woman pleased him and obtained his favor, so he quickly provided her with beauty treatments and the special diet. He assigned to her seven select maidservants from the palace and transferred her with them to the best place in the harem.

10Esther did not reveal her people or her lineage, because Mordecai had instructed her not to do so. 11And every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem to learn about Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her.

12In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months. 13When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14She would go there in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second haremb under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he delighted in her and summoned her by name.

15Now Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle from whom Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter. And when it was her turn to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king’s trusted official in charge of the harem, had advised. And Esther found favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her.

16She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal palace in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth,c in the seventh year of his reign.

Esther Becomes Queen

17And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all of the other virgins. So he placed the royal crown upon her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.

18Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.

19When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.d
20Esther still had not revealed her lineage or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed. She obeyed Mordecai’s command, as she had done under his care.

Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy

21In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthane and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, grew angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

22When Mordecai learned of the plot, he reported it to Queen Esther, and she informed the king on Mordecai’s behalf.

23After the report had been investigated and verified, both officials were hanged on the gallows. And all this was recorded in the Book of the Chroniclesf in the presence of the king.

Footnotes:

6 a Jeconiah is a variant of Jehoiachin; see 2 Kings 24:12.

14 b Or to another part of the harem

16 c Tebeth is the tenth month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of December and January.

19 d Or Mordecai had become a palace official

21 e Bigthan is a variant of Bigthana; see Esther 6:2.

23 f Or the Book of the Annals or the Book of the Historical Events

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Haman’s Plot against the Jews

1After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him. 2All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.

3Then the royal servants at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the command of the king?”

4Day after day they warned him, but he would not comply. So they reported it to Haman to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew.

5When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage. 6And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion ofa laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.

7In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan,b the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.c

8Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will deposit ten thousand talents of silverd into the royal treasury to pay those who carry it out.”

10So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11“Keep your money,” said the king to Haman. “These people are given to you to do with them as you please.”

12On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring.

13And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.

14A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on that day. 15The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

Footnotes:

6 a Hebrew he disdained in his eyes

7 b Nisan is the first month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of March and April.

7 c LXX were cast before Haman—a day and month—and the lot fell on the fourteenth of the month of Adar; Hebrew were cast before Haman a day and month—the twelfth, Adar; the month of Adar (also in verse 13) is the twelfth month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of February and March.

9 d 10,000 talents is approximately 377 tons or 342 metric tons of silver.

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Mordecai Appeals to Esther

1When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.

3In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

5Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why. 6So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate, 7and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury in order to destroy the Jews.

8Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.

9So Hathach went back and relayed Mordecai’s response to Esther.

10Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai, 11“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”

12When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai, 13he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews. 14For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

15Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!a”

17So Mordecai went and did all that Esther had instructed him.

Footnotes:

16 a Or if I am destroyed, then I will be destroyed!

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Esther Approaches the King

1On the third day, Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.

2As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

3“What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”

4“If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king.”

5“Hurry,” commanded the king, “and bring Haman, so we can do as Esther has requested.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”

7Esther replied, “This is my petition and my request: 8If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

Haman’s Plot against Mordecai

9That day Haman went out full of joy and glad of heart. At the king’s gate, however, he saw Mordecai, who did not rise or tremble in fear at his presence. And Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.

10Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. And calling for his friends and his wife Zeresh, 11Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.

12“What is more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she prepared, and I am invited back tomorrow along with the king. 13Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

14His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows fifty cubits high,a and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.”

The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.

Footnotes:

14 a 50 cubits is approximately 75 feet or 22.9 meters high.

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Mordecai Is Honored

1That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles,a to be brought in and read to him. 2And there it was found recorded that Mordecai had exposed Bigthanab and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance, when they had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

3The king inquired, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this act?”

“Nothing has been done for him,” replied the king’s attendants.

4“Who is in the court?” the king asked.

Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him. 5So the king’s attendants answered him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.”

“Bring him in,” ordered the king.

6Haman entered, and the king asked him, “What should be done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king be delighted to honor more than me?”

7And Haman told the king, “For the man whom the king is delighted to honor, 8have them bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden—one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9Let the robe and the horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them array the man the king wants to honor and parade him on the horse through the city square, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor!’ ”

10“Hurry,” said the king to Haman, “and do just as you proposed. Take the robe and the horse to Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything that you have suggested.”

11So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai, and paraded him through the city square, crying out before him, “This is what is done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor!”

12Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief.

13Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has begun, is Jewish, you will not prevail against him—for surely you will fall before him.”

14While they were still speaking with Haman, the king’s eunuchs arrived and rushed him to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Footnotes:

1 a Or the Book of Memorials, the Annals or the Book of Records of Historical Events

2 b Bigthana is a variant of Bigthan; see Esther 2:21.

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Esther Pleads for Her People

1So the king and Haman went to dine with Esther the queen, 2and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”

3Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life as my petition, and the lives of my people as my request. 4For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as menservants and maidservants, I would have remained silent, because no such distress would justify burdening the king.”

5Then King Xerxes spoke up and asked Queen Esther, “Who is this, and where is the one who would devisea such a scheme?”

6Esther replied, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked man—Haman!”

And Haman stood in terror before the king and queen.

The Hanging of Haman

7In his fury, the king arose from drinking his wine and went to the palace garden, while Haman stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life, for he realized that the king was planning a terrible fate for him.

8Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually assault the queen while I am in the palace?”

As soon as the words had left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

9Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said: “There is a gallows fifty cubits highb at Haman’s house. He had it built for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.”

“Hang him on it!” declared the king.

10So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided.

Footnotes:

5 a Hebrew whose heart has filled him to do

9 b 50 cubits is approximately 75 feet or 22.9 meters high.

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Esther Appeals for the Jews

1That same day King Xerxes awarded Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai entered the king’s presence because Esther had revealed his relation to her. 2The king removed the signet ring he had recovered from Haman and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over the estate of Haman.

3And once again, Esther addressed the king. She fell at his feet weeping and begged him to revoke the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

4The king extended the gold scepter toward Esther, and she arose and stood before the king.

5“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. 6For how could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”

The Decree of Xerxes

7So King Xerxes said to Esther the Queen and Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he was hanged on the gallows because he attacked the Jews. 8Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”

9At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivana), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cushb —writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.

10Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares.

11By these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to plunder their possessions. 12The single day appointed throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.c

13A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14The couriers rode out in haste on their royal horses, pressed on by the command of the king. And the edict was also issued in the citadel of Susa.

15Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

16For the Jews it was a time of light and gladness, of joy and honor. 17In every province and every city, wherever the king’s edict and decree reached, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many of the people of the land themselves became Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.

Footnotes:

9 a Sivan is the third month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of May and June.

9 b That is, to the upper Nile region

12 c Adar is the twelfth month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of February and March.

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◀   ◀   Esther 9   ▶   ▶

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The Jews Destroy Their Enemies

1On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar,a the king’s command and edict were to be executed. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but their plan was overturned and the Jews overpowered those who hated them. 2In each of the provinces of King Xerxes, the Jews assembled in their cities to attack those who sought to harm them. No man could withstand them, because the fear of them had fallen upon all peoples.

3And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen upon them. 4For Mordecai exercised great power in the palace, and his fame spread throughout the provinces as he became more and more powerful.

5The Jews put all their enemies to the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did as they pleased to those who hated them. 6In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men, 7including Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha. 10They killed these ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

Haman’s Sons Hanged

11On that day the number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king, 12who said to Queen Esther, “In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men, including Haman’s ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given to you. And what further do you request? It will be fulfilled.”

13Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, may the Jews in Susa also have tomorrow to carry out today’s edict, and may the bodies of Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.”

14So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they hanged the ten sons of Haman. 15On the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, the Jews in Susa came together again and put to death three hundred men there, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

16The rest of the Jews in the royal provinces also assembled to defend themselves and rid themselves of their enemies. They killed 75,000 who hated them, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. 17This was done on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested, making it a day of feasting and joy.

The Feast of Purim Instituted

18The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and the fourteenth days of the month. So they rested on the fifteenth day, making it a day of feasting and joy. 19This is why the rural Jews, who live in the villages, observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting. It is a holiday for sending gifts to one another.

20Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King Xerxes, both near and far, 21to establish among them an annual celebration on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22as the days on which the Jews gained rest from their enemies and the month in which their sorrow turned to joy and their mourning into a holiday. He wrote that these were to be days of feasting and joy, of sending gifts to one another and to the poor.

23So the Jews agreed to continue the custom they had started, as Mordecai had written to them. 24For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the Pur (that is, the lot) to crush and destroy them. 25But when it came before the king, he commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which Haman had devised against the Jews should come back upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

26Therefore these days are called Purim, from the word Pur.

Because of all the instructions in this letter, and because of all they had seen and experienced, 27the Jews bound themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should not fail to celebrate these two days at the appointed time each and every year, according to their regulation. 28These days should be remembered and celebrated by every generation, family, province, and city, so that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, nor should the memory of them fade from their descendants.

29So Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. 30And Mordecai sent letters with words of peace and truth to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Xerxes, 31in order to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established them and had committed themselves and their descendants to the times of fasting and lamentation.

32So Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, which were written into the record.

Footnotes:

1 a Adar is the twelfth month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of February and March; also in verses 15, 17, 19, and 21.

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Tribute to Xerxes and Mordecai

1Now King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the land, even to its farthest shores.

2And all of Mordecai’s powerful and magnificent accomplishments, together with the full account of the greatness to which the king had raised him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia? 3For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews and highly favored by his many kinsmen, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42)

Job’s Character and Wealth
(James 5:7–12)

1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil. 2He had seven sons and three daughters, 3and he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East.

4Job’s sons would take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

5And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

Satan’s First Attack

6One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satana also came with them.

7“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan.

“From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

8Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.”

9Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11But stretch out Your hand and strike all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

12“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Job Loses His Children and Possessions

13One day, while Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14a messenger came and reported to Job: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

16While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

17While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels, and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

18While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

20Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21saying:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will return.

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

22In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.

Footnotes:

6 a That is, the Accuser or the Adversary; here and throughout Job 1

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Job Loses His Health

1On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satana also came with them to present himself before Him.

2“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan.

“From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

3Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”

4“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life. 5But stretch out Your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

6“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.”

7So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. 8And Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes.

9Then Job’s wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curseb God and die!”

10“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?”

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Job’s Three Friends

11Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.

12When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head. 13Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, the Accuser or the Adversary; here and throughout Job 2

9 b Or Bless

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◀   ◀   Job 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job Laments His Birth

1After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2And this is what he said:

3“May the day of my birth perish,
and the night it was said,

‘A boy is conceived.’

4If only that day had turned to darkness!

May God above disregard it;
may no light shine upon it.

5May darkness and gloom reclaim it,
and a cloud settle over it;
may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.

6If only darkness had taken that night away!

May it not appear among the days of the year;
may it never be entered in any of the months.

7Behold, may that night be barren;
may no joyful voice come into it.

8May it be cursed by those who curse the daya —
those prepared to rouse Leviathan.

9May its morning stars grow dark;
may it wait in vain for daylight;
may it not see the breaking of dawn.

10For that night did not shut the doors of the womb
to hide the sorrow from my eyes.

11Why did I not perish at birth;
why did I not die as I came from the womb?

12Why were there knees to receive me,
and breasts that I should be nursed?

13For now I would be lying down in peace;

I would be asleep and at rest

14with kings and counselors of the earth,
who built for themselves cities now in ruins,

15or with princes who had gold,
who filled their houses with silver.

16Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child,
like an infant who never sees daylight?

17There the wicked cease from raging,
and there the weary find rest.

18The captives enjoy their ease;
they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

19Both small and great are there,
and the slave is freed from his master.

20Why is light given to the miserable,
and life to the bitter of soul,

21who long for death that does not come,
and search for it like hidden treasure,

22who rejoice and greatly exult
when they can find the grave?

23Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden,
whom God has hedged in?

24I sigh when food is put before me,
and my groans pour out like water.

25For the thing I feared has overtaken me,
and what I dreaded has befallen me.

26I am not at ease or quiet;

I have no rest, for trouble has come.”

Footnotes:

8 a Or curse the sea

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◀   ◀   Job 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Eliphaz: The Innocent Prosper

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

2“If one ventures a word with you, will you be wearied?

Yet who can keep from speaking?

3Surely you have instructed many,
and have strengthened their feeble hands.

4Your words have steadied those who stumbled;
you have braced the knees that were buckling.

5But now trouble has come upon you, and you are weary.

It strikes you, and you are dismayed.

6Is your reverence not your confidence,
and the uprightness of your ways your hope?

7Consider now, I plead:

Who, being innocent, has ever perished?

Or where have the upright been destroyed?

8As I have observed, those who plow iniquity
and those who sow trouble reap the same.

9By the breath of God they perish,
and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.

10The lion may roar, and the fierce lion may growl,
yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.

11The old lion perishes for lack of prey,
and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12Now a word came to me secretly;
my ears caught a whisper of it.

13In disquieting visions in the night,
when deep sleep falls on men,

14fear and trembling came over me
and made all my bones shudder.

15Then a spirita glided past my face,
and the hair on my body bristled.

16It stood still,
but I could not discern its appearance;
a form loomed before my eyes,
and I heard a whispering voice:

17‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God,
or a man more pure than his Maker?

18If God puts no trust in His servants,
and He charges His angels with error,

19how much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
whose foundations are in the dust,
who can be crushed like a moth!

20They are smashed to pieces from dawn to dusk;
unnoticed, they perish forever.

21Are not their tent cords pulled up,
so that they die without wisdom?’

Footnotes:

15 a Or a wind

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◀   ◀   Job 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Eliphaz Continues: God Blesses those Who Seek Him

1“Call out if you please, but who will answer?

To which of the holy ones will you turn?

2For resentment kills a fool,
and envy slays the simple.

3I have seen a fool taking root,
but suddenly his house was cursed.

4His sons are far from safety,
crushed in court without a defender.

5The hungry consume his harvest,
taking it even from the thorns,
and the thirsty pant after his wealth.a

6For distress does not spring from the dust,
and trouble does not sprout from the ground.

7Yet man is born to trouble
as surely as sparks fly upward.

8However, if I were you, I would appeal to God
and lay my cause before Him—

9the One who does great and unsearchable things,
wonders without number.

10He gives rain to the earth
and sends water upon the fields.

11He sets the lowly on high,
so that mourners are lifted to safety.

12He thwarts the schemes of the crafty,
so that their hands find no success.

13He catches the wise in their craftiness,b
and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.

14They encounter darkness by day
and grope at noon as in the night.

15He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth
and from the clutches of the powerful.

16So the poor have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth.

17Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects;
so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.c

18For He wounds, but He also binds;

He strikes, but His hands also heal.

19He will rescue you from six calamities;
no harm will touch you in seven.

20In famine He will redeem you from death,
and in battle from the stroke of the sword.

21You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
and will not fear havoc when it comes.

22You will laugh at destruction and famine,
and need not fear the beasts of the earth.

23For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field,
and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

24You will know that your tent is secure,
and find nothing amiss when inspecting your home.

25You will know that your offspring will be many,
your descendants like the grass of the earth.

26You will come to the grave in full vigor,
like a sheaf of grain gathered in season.

27Indeed, we have investigated, and it is true!

So hear it and know for yourself.”

Footnotes:

5 a Or and a snare snatches his wealth

13 b Cited in 1 Corinthians 3:19

17 c Hebrew Shaddai; here and throughout Job

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◀   ◀   Job 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just

1Then Job replied:

2“If only my grief could be weighed
and placed with my calamity on the scales.

3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—
no wonder my words have been rash.

4For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me;
my spirit drinks in their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

5Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass,
or an ox low over its fodder?

6Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
or is there flavor in the white of an egga?

7My soul refuses to touch them;
they are loathsome food to me.

8If only my request were granted
and God would fulfill my hope:

9that God would be willing to crush me,
to unleash His hand and cut me off!

10It still brings me comfort,
and joy through unrelenting pain,
that I have not denied
the words of the Holy One.

11What strength do I have, that I should still hope?

What is my future, that I should be patient?

12Is my strength like that of stone,
or my flesh made of bronze?

13Is there any help within me
now that success is driven from me?

14A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend,
even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

15But my brothers are as faithless as wadis,
as seasonal streams that overflow,

16darkened because of the ice
and the inflow of melting snow,

17but ceasing in the dry season
and vanishing from their channels in the heat.

18Caravans turn aside from their routes;
they go into the wasteland and perish.

19The caravans of Tema look for water;
the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.

20They are confounded because they had hoped;
their arrival brings disappointment.

21For now you are of no help;
you see terror, and you are afraid.

22Have I ever said, ‘Give me something;
offer me a bribe from your wealth;

23deliver me from the hand of the enemy;
redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?

24Teach me, and I will be silent.

Help me understand how I have erred.

25How painful are honest words!

But what does your argument prove?

26Do you intend to correct my words,
and treat as wind my cry of despair?

27You would even cast lots for an orphan
and barter away your friend.

28But now, please look at me.

Would I lie to your face?

29Reconsider; do not be unjust.

Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.

30Is there iniquity on my tongue?

Can my mouth not discern malice?

Footnotes:

6 a Or in the sap of the mallow plant

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◀   ◀   Job 7   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job Continues: Life Seems Futile

1“Is not man consigned to labor on earth?

Are not his days like those of a hired hand?

2Like a slave he longs for shade;
like a hireling he waits for his wages.

3So I am allotted months of futility,
and nights of misery are appointed me.

4When I lie down I think:

‘When will I get up?’

But the night drags on,
and I toss and turn until dawn.

5My flesh is clothed with worms
and encrusted with dirt;
my skin is cracked and festering.

6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle;
they come to an end without hope.

7Remember that my life is but a breath.

My eyes will never again see happiness.

8The eye that beholds me will no longer see me.

You will look for me, but I will be no more.

9As a cloud vanishes and is gone,
so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up.

10He never returns to his house;
his place remembers him no more.

11Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;

I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

12Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep,
that You must keep me under guard?

13When I think my bed will comfort me
and my couch will ease my complaint,

14then You frighten me with dreams
and terrify me with visions,

15so that I would prefer strangling and death
over my life in this body.

16I loathe my life! I would not live forever.

Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

17What is man that You should exalt him,
that You should set Your heart upon him,

18that You attend to him every morning,
and test him every moment?

19Will You never look away from me,
or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?

20If I have sinned, what have I done to You,

O watcher of mankind?

Why have You made me Your target,
so that I am a burden to Youa?

21Why do You not pardon my transgression
and take away my iniquity?

For soon I will lie down in the dust;

You will seek me, but I will be no more.”

Footnotes:

20 a LXX; Hebrew to myself

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◀   ◀   Job 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Bildad: Job Should Repent

1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

2“How long will you go on saying such things?

The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.

3Does God pervert justice?

Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

4When your children sinned against Him,

He gave them over to their rebellion.

5But if you would earnestly seek God
and ask the Almighty for mercy,

6if you are pure and upright,
even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf
and restore your righteous estate.

7Though your beginnings were modest,
your latter days will flourish.

8Please inquire of past generations
and consider the discoveries of their fathers.

9For we were born yesterday and know nothing;
our days on earth are but a shadow.

10Will they not teach you and tell you,
and speak from their understanding?

11Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh?

Do reeds flourish without water?

12While the shoots are still uncut,
they dry up quicker than grass.

13Such is the destiny of all who forget God;
so the hope of the godless will perish.

14His confidence is fragile;
his security is in a spider’s web.

15He leans on his web, but it gives way;
he holds fast, but it does not endure.

16He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
spreading its shoots over the garden.

17His roots wrap around the rock heap;
he looks for a home among the stones.

18If he is uprooted from his place,
it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’

19Surely this is the joy of his way;
yet others will spring from the dust.

20Behold, God does not reject the blameless,
nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.

21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter,
and your lips with a shout of joy.

22Your enemies will be clothed in shame,
and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

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◀   ◀   Job 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job: How Can I Contend with God?

1Then Job answered:

2“Yes, I know that it is so,
but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

3If one wished to contend with God,a
he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.

Who has resisted Him and prospered?

5He moves mountains without their knowledge
and overturns them in His anger.

6He shakes the earth from its place,
so that its foundations tremble.

7He commands the sun not to shine;b

He seals off the stars.

8He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads on the waves of the sea.

9He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,
of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

10He does great things beyond searching out,
and wonders without number.

11Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him;
were He to move, I would not recognize Him.

12If He takes away,c who can stop Him?

Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’

13God does not restrain His anger;
the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.

14How then can I answer Him
or choose my arguments against Him?

15For even if I were right, I could not answer.

I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

16If I summoned Him and He answered me,

I do not believe He would listen to my voice.

17For He would crush me with a tempest
and multiply my wounds without cause.

18He does not let me catch my breath,
but overwhelms me with bitterness.

19If it is a matter of strength,

He is indeed mighty!

If it is a matter of justice,
who can summon Himd?

20Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me;
if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.e

21Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself;

I despise my own life.

22It is all the same, and so I say,

‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

23When the scourge brings sudden death,

He mocks the despair of the innocent.

24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;

He blindfolds its judges.

If it is not He, then who is it?

25My days are swifter than a runner;
they flee without seeing good.

26They sweep by like boats of papyrus,
like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

27If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint
and change my expression and smile,’

28I would still dread all my sufferings;

I know that You will not acquit me.

29Since I am already found guilty,
why should I labor in vain?

30If I should wash myself with snowf
and cleanse my hands with lye,

31then You would plunge me into the pit,
and even my own clothes would despise me.

32For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him,
that we can take each other to court.

33Nor is there a mediator between us,
to lay his hand upon us both.

34Let Him remove His rod from me,
so that His terror will no longer frighten me.

35Then I would speak without fear of Him.

But as it is, I am on my own.

Footnotes:

3 a Or If God wished to contend with someone

7 b Or rise

12 c Or snatches someone in death

19 d See LXX; Hebrew me

20 e Or He would declare me guilty

30 f Or soap

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◀   ◀   Job 10   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job’s Plea to God

1“I loathe my own life;

I will express my complaint
and speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2I will say to God:

Do not condemn me!

Let me know why You prosecute me.

3Does it please You to oppress me,
to reject the work of Your hands
and favor the schemes of the wicked?

4Do You have eyes of flesh?

Do You see as man sees?

5Are Your days like those of a mortal,
or Your years like those of a man,

6that You should seek my iniquity
and search out my sin—

7though You know that I am not guilty,
and there is no deliverance from Your hand?

8Your hands shaped me and altogether formed me.

Would You now turn and destroy me?

9Please remember that You molded me like clay.

Would You now return me to dust?

10Did You not pour me out like milk,
and curdle me like cheese?

11You clothed me with skin and flesh,
and knit me together with bones and sinews.

12You have granted me life and loving devotion,a
and Your care has preserved my spirit.

13Yet You concealed these things in Your heart,
and I know that this was in Your mind:

14If I sinned, You would take note,
and would not acquit me of my iniquity.

15If I am guilty, woe to me!

And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head.

I am full of shame
and aware of my affliction.

16Should I hold my head high,

You would hunt me like a lion,
and again display Your power against me.

17You produce new witnesses against me
and multiply Your anger toward me.

Hardships assault me
in wave after wave.

18Why then did You bring me from the womb?

Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me!

19If only I had never come to be,
but had been carried from the womb to the grave.

20Are my days not few?

Withdraw from me, that I may have a little comfort,

21before I go—never to return—
to a land of darkness and gloom,

22to a land of utter darkness,
of deep shadow and disorder,
where even the light is like darkness.”

Footnotes:

12 a Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

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◀   ◀   Job 11   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Zophar Rebukes Job

1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2“Should this stream of words go unanswered
and such a speaker be vindicated?

3Should your babbling put others to silence?

Will you scoff without rebuke?

4You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound,
and I am pure in Your sight.’

5But if only God would speak
and open His lips against you,

6and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom has two sides.

Know then that God exacts from you
less than your iniquity deserves.

7Can you fathom the deep things of God
or discover the limits of the Almighty?

8They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?

They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

9Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.

10If He comes along to imprison you,
or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

11Surely He knows the deceit of men.

If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

12But a witless man can no more become wise
than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!a

13As for you, if you direct your heart
and lift up your hands to Him,

14if you put away the iniquity in your hand,
and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

15then indeed you will lift up your face without shame;
you will stand firm and unafraid.

16For you will forget your misery,
recalling it only as waters gone by.

17Your life will be brighter than noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.

18You will be secure, because there is hope,
and you will look around and lie down in safety.

19You will lie down without fear,
and many will court your favor.

20But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
and escape will elude them;
they will hope for their last breath.”

Footnotes:

12 a Or can be born tame

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◀   ◀   Job 12   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job Presents His Case

1Then Job answered:

2“Truly then you are the people
with whom wisdom itself will die!

3But I also have a mind;

I am not inferior to you.

Who does not know such things as these?

4I am a laughingstock to my friends,
though I called on God, and He answered.

The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

5The one at ease scorns misfortune
as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.

6The tents of robbers are safe,
and those who provoke God are secure—
those who carry their god in their hands.a

7But ask the animals, and they will instruct you;
ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.

8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
let the fish of the sea inform you.

9Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the LORD has done this?

10The life of every living thing is in His hand,
as well as the breath of all mankind.

11Does not the ear test words
as the tongue tastes its food?

12Wisdom is found with the elderly,
and understanding comes with long life.

13Wisdom and strength belong to God;
counsel and understanding are His.

14What He tears down cannot be rebuilt;
the man He imprisons cannot be released.

15If He holds back the waters, they dry up,
and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.

16True wisdom and power belong to Him.

The deceived and the deceiver are His.

17He leads counselors away barefoot
and makes fools of judges.

18He loosens the bonds placed by kings
and fastens a belt around their waists.

19He leads priests away barefoot
and overthrows the established.

20He deprives the trusted of speech
and takes away the discernment of elders.

21He pours out contempt on nobles
and disarms the mighty.

22He reveals the deep things of darkness
and brings deep shadows into light.

23He makes nations great and destroys them;

He enlarges nations, then disperses them.

24He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason
and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.

25They grope in the darkness without light;

He makes them stagger like drunkards.

Footnotes:

6 a Or though God keeps them in His power

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◀   ◀   Job 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job Prepares His Case

1“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this;
my ears have heard and understood.

2What you know, I also know;

I am not inferior to you.

3Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty
and argue my case before God.

4You, however, smear with lies;
you are all worthless physicians.

5If only you would remain silent;
for that would be your wisdom!

6Hear now my argument,
and listen to the plea of my lips.

7Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf
or speak deceitfully for Him?

8Would you show Him partiality
or argue in His defense?

9Would it be well when He examined you?

Could you deceive Him like a man?

10Surely He would rebuke you
if you secretly showed partiality.

11Would His majesty not terrify you?

Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?

12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.

13Be silent, and I will speak.

Then let come to me what may.

14Why do I put myself at riska
and take my life in my own hands?

15Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.b

I will still defend my ways to His face.

16Moreover, this will be my salvation,
for no godless man can appear before Him.

17Listen carefully to my words;
let my declaration ring in your ears.

18Behold, now that I have prepared my case,

I know that I will be vindicated.

19Can anyone indict me?

If so, I will be silent and die.

20Only grant these two things to me,
so that I need not hide from You:

21Withdraw Your hand from me,
and do not let Your terror frighten me.

22Then call me, and I will answer,
or let me speak, and You can reply.

23How many are my iniquities and sins?

Reveal to me my transgression and sin.

24Why do You hide Your face
and consider me as Your enemy?

25Would You frighten a windblown leaf?

Would You chase after dry chaff?

26For You record bitter accusations against me
and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.

27You put my feet in the stocks
and stand watch over all my paths;

You set a limit
for the soles of my feet.

28So man wastes away like something rotten,
like a moth-eaten garment.

Footnotes:

14 a Literally Why do I take my flesh in my teeth

15 b Or I have no other hope

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◀   ◀   Job 14   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job Laments the Finality of Death

1“Man, who is born of woman,
is short of days and full of trouble.

2Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away;
like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

3Do You open Your eyes to one like this?

Will You bring him into judgment before You?

4Who can bring out clean from unclean?

No one!

5Since his days are determined
and the number of his months is with You,
and since You have set limits
that he cannot exceed,

6look away from him and let him rest,
so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.

7For there is hope for a tree:

If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
and its tender shoots will not fail.

8If its roots grow old in the ground
and its stump dies in the soil,

9at the scent of water it will bud
and put forth twigs like a sapling.

10But a man dies and is laid low;
he breathes his last, and where is he?

11As water disappears from the sea
and a river becomes parched and dry,

12so a man lies down
and does not rise.

Until the heavens are no more,
he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.

13If only You would hide me in Sheol
and conceal me until Your anger has passed!

If only You would appoint a time for me
and then remember me!

14When a man dies, will he live again?

All the days of my hard service I will wait,
until my renewala comes.

15You will call, and I will answer;

You will desire the work of Your hands.

16For then You would count my steps,
but would not keep track of my sin.

17My transgression would be sealed in a bag,
and You would cover over my iniquity.

18But as a mountain erodes and crumbles
and a rock is dislodged from its place,

19as water wears away the stones
and torrents wash away the soil,
so You destroy a man’s hope.

20You forever overpower him, and he passes on;

You change his countenance and send him away.

21If his sons receive honor, he does not know it;
if they are brought low, he is unaware.

22He feels only the pain of his own body
and mourns only for himself.”

Footnotes:

14 a Or my change or my relief

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◀   ◀   Job 15   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Eliphaz: Job Does Not Fear God

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

2“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel
or fill his belly with the hot east wind?

3Should he argue with useless words
or speeches that serve no purpose?

4But you even undermine the fear of God
and hinder meditation before Him.

5For your iniquity instructs your mouth,
and you choose the language of the crafty.

6Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you;
your own lips testify against you.

7Were you the first man ever born?

Were you brought forth before the hills?

8Do you listen in on the council of God
or limit wisdom to yourself?

9What do you know that we do not?

What do you understand that is not clear to us?

10Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side—
men much older than your father.

11Are the consolations of God not enough for you,
even words spoken gently to you?

12Why has your heart carried you away,
and why do your eyes flash,a

13as you turn your spirit against God
and pour such words from your mouth?

14What is man, that he should be pure,
or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

15If God puts no trust in His holy ones,
if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,

16how much less man, who is vile and corrupt,
who drinks injustice like water?

17Listen to me and I will inform you.

I will describe what I have seen,

18what was declared by wise men
and was not concealed from their fathers,

19to whom alone the land was given
when no foreigner passed among them.

20A wicked man writhes in pain all his days;
only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.

21Sounds of terror fill his ears;
in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.

22He despairs of his return from darkness;
he is marked for the sword.

23He wanders about as food for vultures;
he knows the day of darkness is at hand.

24Distress and anguish terrify him,
overwhelming him like a king poised to attack.

25For he has stretched out his hand against God
and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,

26rushing headlong at Him
with a thick, studded shield.

27Though his face is covered with fat
and his waistline bulges with flesh,

28he will dwell in ruined cities,
in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.

29He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure.

His possessions will not overspread the land.

30He will not escape from the darkness;
the flame will wither his shoots,
and the breath of God’s mouth
will carry him away.

31Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness,
for emptiness will be his reward.

32It will be paid in full before his time,
and his branch will not flourish.

33He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,
like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.

34For the company of the godless will be barren,
and fire will consume the tents of bribery.

35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil;
their womb is pregnant with deceit.”

Footnotes:

12 a Or blink

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 16   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job Decries His Comforters

1Then Job answered:

2“I have heard many things like these;
miserable comforters are you all.

3Is there no end to your long-winded speeches?

What provokes you to continue testifying?

4I could also speak like you
if you were in my place;

I could heap up words against you
and shake my head at you.

5But I would encourage you with my mouth,
and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.

6Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved,
and if I hold back, how will it go away?

7Surely He has now exhausted me;

You have devastated all my family.

8You have bound me, and it has become a witness;
my frailty rises up and testifies against me.

9His anger has torn me and opposed me;

He gnashes His teeth at me.

My adversary pierces me with His eyes.

10They open their mouths against me
and strike my cheeks with contempt;
they join together against me.

11God has delivered me to unjust men;

He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.

12I was at ease, but He shattered me;

He seized me by the neck and crushed me.

He has set me up as His target;

13His archers surround me.

He pierces my kidneys without mercy
and spills my gall on the ground.

14He breaks me with wound upon wound;

He rushes me like a mighty warrior.

15I have sewn sackcloth over my skin;

I have buried my horn in the dust.

16My face is red with weeping,
and deep shadows ring my eyes;

17yet my hands are free of violence
and my prayer is pure.

18O earth, do not cover my blood;
may my cry for help never be laid to rest.

19Even now my witness is in heaven,
and my advocate is on high.

20My friends are my scoffers
as my eyes pour out tears to God.

21Oh, that a man might plead with God
as he pleads with his neighbor!

22For when only a few years are past

I will go the way of no return.

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 17   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job Prepares for Death

1“My spirit is broken; my days are extinguished;
the grave awaits me.

2Surely mockers surround me,
and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion.

3Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand.

Who else will be my guarantor?

4You have closed their minds to understanding;
therefore You will not exalt them.

5If a man denounces his friends for a price,
the eyes of his children will fail.

6He has made me a byword among the people,
a man in whose face they spit.

7My eyes have grown dim with grief,
and my whole body is but a shadow.

8The upright are appalled at this,
and the innocent are stirred against the godless.

9Yet a righteous one holds to his way,
and the one with clean hands grows stronger.

10But come back and try again, all of you.

For I will not find a wise man among you.

11My days have passed; my plans are broken off—
even the desires of my heart.

12They have turned night into day,
making light seem near in the face of darkness.

13If I look for Sheol as my home,
if I spread out my bed in darkness,

14and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’

and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

15where then is my hope?

Who can see any hope for me?

16Will it go down to the gates of Sheol?

Will we go down together into the dust?”

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 18   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Bildad: God Punishes the Wicked

1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

2“How long until you end these speeches?

Show some sense, and then we can talk.

3Why are we regarded as cattle,
as stupid in your sight?

4You who tear yourself in anger—
should the earth be forsaken on your account,
or the rocks be moved from their place?

5Indeed, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished;
the flame of his fire does not glow.

6The light in his tent grows dark,
and the lamp beside him goes out.

7His vigorous stride is shortened,
and his own schemes trip him up.

8For his own feet lead him into a net,
and he wanders into its mesh.

9A trap seizes his heel;
a snare grips him.

10A noose is hidden in the ground,
and a trap lies in his path.

11Terrors frighten him on every side
and harass his every step.

12His strength is depleted,
and calamity is ready at his side.

13It devours patches of his skin;
the firstborn of death devours his limbs.

14He is torn from the shelter of his tent
and is marched off to the king of terrors.

15Fire resides in his tent;
burning sulfur rains down on his dwelling.

16The roots beneath him dry up,
and the branches above him wither away.

17The memory of him perishes from the earth,
and he has no name in the land.

18He is driven from light into darkness
and is chased from the inhabited world.

19He has no offspring or posterity among his people,
no survivor where he once lived.

20Those in the west are appalled at his fate,
while those in the east tremble in horror.

21Surely such is the dwelling of the wicked
and the place of one who does not know God.”

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 19   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job: My Redeemer Lives

1Then Job answered:

2“How long will you torment me
and crush me with your words?

3Ten times now you have reproached me;
you shamelessly mistreat me.

4Even if I have truly gone astray,
my error concerns me alone.

5If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me
and use my disgrace against me,

6then understand that it is God who has wronged me
and drawn His net around me.

7Though I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;
though I call for help, there is no justice.

8He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;

He has veiled my paths with darkness.

9He has stripped me of my honor
and removed the crown from my head.

10He tears me down on every side until I am gone;

He uproots my hope like a tree.

11His anger burns against me,
and He counts me among His enemies.

12His troops advance together;
they construct a ramp against me
and encamp around my tent.

13He has removed my brothers from me;
my acquaintances have abandoned me.

14My kinsmen have failed me,
and my friends have forgotten me.

15My guests and maidservants count me as a stranger;

I am a foreigner in their sight.

16I call for my servant, but he does not answer,
though I implore him with my own mouth.

17My breath is repulsive to my wife,
and I am loathsome to my own family.

18Even little boys scorn me;
when I appear, they deride me.

19All my best friends despise me,
and those I love have turned against me.

20My skin and flesh cling to my bones;

I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

21Have pity on me, my friends, have pity,
for the hand of God has struck me.

22Why do you persecute me as God does?

Will you never get enough of my flesh?

23I wish that my words were recorded
and inscribed in a book,

24by an iron stylus on lead,
or chiseled in stone forever.

25But I know that my Redeemera lives,
and in the end He will stand upon the earth.b

26Even after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my fleshc I will see God.

27I will see Him for myself;
my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger.

How my heart yearnsd within me!

28If you say, ‘Let us persecute him,
since the root of the matter lies with him,e’

29then you should fear the sword yourselves,
because wrath brings punishment by the sword,
so that you may know there is a judgment.”

Footnotes:

25 a Or Vindicator

25 b Or on my grave

26 c Or without my flesh

27 d Hebrew my kidneys yearn

28 e Many Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts with me

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 20   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Zophar: Destruction Awaits the Wicked

1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer,
because of the turmoil within me.

3I have heard a rebuke that insults me,
and my understanding prompts a reply.

4Do you not know that from antiquity,
since man was placed on the earth,

5the triumph of the wicked has been brief
and the joy of the godless momentary?

6Though his arrogance reaches the heavens,
and his head touches the clouds,

7he will perish forever, like his own dung;
those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’

8He will fly away like a dream, never to be found;
he will be chased away like a vision in the night.

9The eye that saw him will see him no more,
and his place will no longer behold him.

10His sons will seek the favor of the poor,
for his own hands must return his wealth.

11The youthful vigor that fills his bones
will lie down with him in the dust.

12Though evil is sweet in his mouth
and he conceals it under his tongue,

13though he cannot bear to let it go
and keeps it in his mouth,

14yet in his stomach his food sours
into the venom of cobras within him.

15He swallows wealth but vomits it out;

God will force it from his stomach.

16He will suck the poison of cobras;
the fangs of a viper will kill him.

17He will not enjoy the streams,
the rivers flowing with honey and cream.

18He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it;
he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.

19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor;
he has seized houses he did not build.

20Because his appetite is never satisfied,
he cannot escape with his treasure.

21Nothing is left for him to consume;
thus his prosperity will not endure.

22In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed;
the full force of misery will come upon him.

23When he has filled his stomach,

God will vent His fury upon him,
raining it down on him as he eats.

24Though he flees from an iron weapon,
a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.

25It is drawn out of his back,
the gleaming point from his liver.a

Terrors come over him.

26Total darkness is reserved for his treasures.

A fire unfanned will consume him
and devour what is left in his tent.

27The heavens will expose his iniquity,
and the earth will rise up against him.

28The possessions of his house will be removed,
flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.

29This is the wicked man’s portion from God,
the inheritance God has appointed him.”

Footnotes:

25 a Literally from his gall

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 21   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job: God Will Punish the Wicked

1Then Job answered:

2“Listen carefully to my words;
let this be your consolation to me.

3Bear with me while I speak;
then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking.

4Is my complaint against a man?

Then why should I not be impatient?

5Look at me and be appalled;
put your hand over your mouth.

6When I remember, terror takes hold,
and my body trembles in horror.

7Why do the wicked live on,
growing old and increasing in power?

8Their descendants are established around them,
and their offspring before their eyes.

9Their homes are safe from fear;
no rod of punishment from God is upon them.

10Their bulls breed without fail;
their cows bear calves and do not miscarry.

11They send forth their little ones like a flock;
their children skip about,

12singing to the tambourine and lyre
and making merry at the sound of the flute.

13They spend their days in prosperity
and go down to Sheol in peace.a

14Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone!

For we have no desire to know Your ways.

15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him,
and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’

16Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands,
so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

17How often is the lamp of the wicked put out?

Does disaster come upon them?

Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?

18Are they like straw before the wind,
like chaff swept away by a storm?

19It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children.

Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.

20Let his eyes see his own destruction;
let him drink for himself the wrath of the Almighty.

21For what does he care about his household after him,
when the number of his months has run out?

22Can anyone teach knowledge to God,
since He judges those on high?

23One man dies full of vigor,
completely secure and at ease.

24His body is well nourished,b
and his bones are rich with marrow.

25Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul,
having never tasted prosperity.

26But together they lie down in the dust,
and worms cover them both.

27Behold, I know your thoughts full well,
the schemes by which you would wrong me.

28For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house,
and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’

29Have you never asked those who travel the roads?

Do you not accept their reports?

30Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity,
delivered from the day of wrath.

31Who denounces his behavior to his face?

Who repays him for what he has done?

32He is carried to the grave,
and watch is kept over his tomb.

33The clods of the valley are sweet to him;
everyone follows behind him,
and those before him are without number.

34So how can you comfort me with empty words?

For your answers remain full of falsehood.”

Footnotes:

13 a Or in an instant

24 b Literally His pails are full of milk

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 22   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Eliphaz: Can a Man Be of Use to God?

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

2“Can a man be of use to God?

Can even a wise man benefit Him?

3Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous?

Does He profit if your ways are blameless?

4Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you
and enters into judgment against you?

5Is not your wickedness great?

Are not your iniquities endless?

6For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers
and deprived the naked of their clothing.

7You gave no water to the weary
and withheld food from the famished,

8while the land belonged to a mighty man,
and a man of honor lived on it.

9You sent widows away empty-handed,
and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.

10Therefore snares surround you,
and sudden peril terrifies you;

11it is so dark you cannot see,
and a flood of water covers you.

12Is not God as high as the heavens?

Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!

13Yet you say: ‘What does God know?

Does He judge through thick darkness?

14Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us
as He traverses the vault of heaven.a’

15Will you stay on the ancient path
that wicked men have trod?

16They were snatched away before their time,
and their foundations were swept away by a flood.

17They said to God, ‘Depart from us.

What can the Almighty do to us?’

18But it was He who filled their houses with good things;
so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

19The righteous see it and are glad;
the innocent mock them:

20‘Surely our foes are destroyed,
and fire has consumed their excess.’

21Reconcile now and be at peace with Him;
thereby good will come to you.

22Receive instruction from His mouth,
and lay up His words in your heart.

23If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored.

If you remove injustice from your tents

24and consign your gold to the dust
and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,

25then the Almighty will be your gold
and the finest silver for you.

26Surely then you will delight in the Almighty
and lift up your face to God.

27You will pray to Him, and He will hear you,
and you will fulfill your vows.

28Your decisions will be carried out,
and light will shine on your ways.

29When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’

then He will save the lowly.

30He will deliver even one who is not innocent,
rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”

Footnotes:

14 a Or heaven’s horizon or the circle of the sky

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◀   ◀   Job 23   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job Longs for God

1Then Job answered:

2“Even today my complaint is bitter.

His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3If only I knew where to find Him,
so that I could go to His seat.

4I would plead my case before Him
and fill my mouth with arguments.

5I would learn how He would answer,
and consider what He would say.

6Would He contend with me in His great power?

No, He would certainly take note of me.

7Then an upright man could reason with Him,
and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8If I go east, He is not there,
and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

9When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him;
when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

10Yet He knows the way I have taken;
when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

11My feet have followed in His tracks;

I have kept His way without turning aside.

12I have not departed from the command of His lips;

I have treasured the words of His mouth
more than my daily bread.

13But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him?

He does what He desires.

14For He carries out His decree against me,
and He has many such plans.

15Therefore I am terrified in His presence;
when I consider this, I fear Him.

16God has made my heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me.

17Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,
by the thick darkness that covers my face.

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 24   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job: Judgment for the Wicked

1“Why does the Almighty not reserve times for judgment?

Why may those who know Him never see His days?

2Men move boundary stones;
they pasture stolen flocks.

3They drive away the donkey of the fatherless
and take the widow’s ox in pledge.

4They push the needy off the road
and force all the poor of the land into hiding.

5Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert,
the poor go to work foraging for food;
the wasteland is food for their children.

6They gather fodder in the fields
and glean the vineyards of the wicked.

7Without clothing, they spend the night naked;
they have no covering against the cold.

8Drenched by mountain rains,
they huddle against the rocks for want of shelter.

9The fatherless infant is snatched from the breast;
the nursing child of the poor is seized for a debt.

10Without clothing, they wander about naked.

They carry the sheaves, but still go hungry.

11They crush olives within their walls;
they tread the winepresses, but go thirsty.

12From the city, men groan,
and the souls of the wounded cry out,
yet God charges no one with wrongdoing.

13Then there are those who rebel against the light,
not knowing its ways or staying on its paths.

14When daylight is gone, the murderer rises
to kill the poor and needy;
in the night he is like a thief.

15The eye of the adulterer watches for twilight.

Thinking, ‘No eye will see me,’ he covers his face.

16In the dark they dig through houses;
by day they shut themselves in,
never to experience the light.

17For to them, deep darkness is their morning;
surely they are friends with the terrors of darkness!

18They are but foam on the surface of the water;
their portion of the land is cursed,
so that no one turns toward their vineyards.

19As drought and heat consume the melting snow,
so Sheol steals those who have sinned.

20The womb forgets them;
the worm feeds on them;
they are remembered no more.

So injustice is like a broken tree.

21They prey on the barren and childless,
and show no kindness to the widow.

22Yet by His power, God drags away the mighty;
though rising up, they have no assurance of life.

23He gives them a sense of security,
but His eyes are on their ways.

24They are exalted for a moment,
then they are gone;
they are brought low and gathered up like all others;
they are cut off like heads of grain.

25If this is not so, then who can prove me a liar
and reduce my words to nothing?”

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 25   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Bildad: Man Cannot Be Righteous

1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

2“Dominion and awe belong to God;

He establishes harmony in the heights of heaven.

3Can His troops be numbered?

On whom does His light not rise?

4How then can a man be just before God?

How can one born of woman be pure?

5If even the moon does not shine,
and the stars are not pure in His sight,

6how much less man, who is but a maggot,
and the son of man, who is but a worm!”

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 26   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job: Who Can Understand God’s Majesty?

1Then Job answered:

2“How you have helped the powerless
and saved the arm that is feeble!

3How you have counseled the unwise
and provided fully sound insight!

4To whom have you uttered these words?

And whose spirit spoke through you?

5The dead tremble—
those beneath the waters and those who dwell in them.

6Sheol is naked before God,
and Abaddona has no covering.

7He stretches out the north over empty space;

He hangs the earth upon nothing.

8He wraps up the waters in His clouds,
yet the clouds do not burst under their own weight.

9He covers the face of the full moon,b
spreading over it His cloud.

10He has inscribed a horizon on the face of the waters
at the boundary between light and darkness.

11The foundations of heaven quake,
astounded at His rebuke.

12By His power He stirredc the sea;
by His understanding He shattered Rahab.

13By His breath the skies were cleared;

His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.d

14Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways;
how faint is the whisper we hear of Him!

Who then can understand
the thunder of His power?”

Footnotes:

6 a Abaddon means Destruction.

9 b Or of His throne

12 c Or stilled

13 d Hebrew nachash; translated in most cases as snake

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 27   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job Affirms His Integrity

1Job continued his discourse:

2“As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice—
the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—

3as long as my breath is still within me
and the breath of God remains in my nostrils,

4my lips will not speak wickedness,
and my tongue will not utter deceit.

5I will never say that you are right;

I will maintain my integrity until I die.

6I will cling to my righteousness and never let go.

As long as I live, my conscience will not accuse me.

The Wicked Man’s Portion

7May my enemy be like the wicked
and my opponent like the unjust.

8For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off,
when God takes away his life?

9Will God hear his cry
when distress comes upon him?

10Will he delight in the Almighty?

Will he call upon God at all times?

11I will instruct you in the power of God.

I will not conceal the ways of the Almighty.

12Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves.

Why then do you keep up this empty talk?

13This is the wicked man’s portion from God—
the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.

14Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword;
and his offspring will never have enough food.

15His survivors will be buried by the plague,
and their widows will not weep for them.

16Though he heaps up silver like dust
and piles up a wardrobe like clay,

17what he lays up, the righteous will wear,
and his silver will be divided by the innocent.

18The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon,
like a hut set up by a watchman.

19He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more;
when he opens his eyes, all is gone.

20Terrors overtake him like a flood;
a tempest sweeps him away in the night.

21The east wind carries him away, and he is gone;
it sweeps him out of his place.

22It hurls itself against him without mercy
as he flees headlong from its power.

23It claps its hands at him
and hisses him out of his place.

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 28   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Where Can Wisdom Be Found?

1“Surely there is a mine for silver
and a place where gold is refined.

2Iron is taken from the earth,
and copper is smelted from ore.

3Man puts an end to the darkness;
he probes the farthest recesses
for ore in deepest darkness.

4Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft
in places forgotten by the foot of man.

Far from men he dangles and sways.

5Food may come from the earth,
but from below it is transformed as by fire.

6Its rocks are the source of sapphires,
containing flecks of gold.

7No bird of prey knows that path;
no falcon’s eye has seen it.

8Proud beasts have never trodden it;
no lion has ever prowled over it.

9The miner strikes the flint;
he overturns mountains at their base.

10He hews out channels in the rocks,
and his eyes spot every treasure.

11He stops upa the sources of the streams
to bring what is hidden to light.

12But where can wisdom be found,
and where does understanding dwell?

13No man can know its value,
nor is it found in the land of the living.

14The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’

while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’

15It cannot be bought with gold,
nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

16It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,
in precious onyx or sapphire.

17Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it,
nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.

18Coral and quartz are unworthy of mention;
the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.

19Topaz from Cushb cannot compare to it,
nor can it be valued in pure gold.

20From where then does wisdom come,
and where does understanding dwell?

21It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing
and concealed from the birds of the air.

22Abaddonc and Death say,

‘We have heard a rumor about it.’

23But God understands its way,
and He knows its place.

24For He looks to the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.

25When God fixed the weight of the wind
and measured out the waters,

26when He set a limit for the rain
and a path for the thunderbolt,

27then He looked at wisdom and appraised it;

He established it and searched it out.

28And He said to man, ‘Behold,
the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ ”

Footnotes:

11 a Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate He searches

19 b That is, the upper Nile region

22 c Abaddon means Destruction.

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 29   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job’s Former Blessings

1And Job continued his discourse:

2“How I long for the months gone by,
for the days when God watched over me,

3when His lamp shone above my head,
and by His light I walked through the darkness,

4when I was in my prime,a
when the friendship of God rested on my tent,

5when the Almighty was still with me
and my children were around me,

6when my steps were bathed in cream
and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

7When I went out to the city gate
and took my seat in the public square,

8the young men saw me and withdrew,
and the old men rose to their feet.

9The princes refrained from speaking
and covered their mouths with their hands.

10The voices of the nobles were hushed,
and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

11For those who heard me called me blessed,
and those who saw me commended me,

12because I rescued the poor who cried out
and the fatherless who had no helper.

13The dying man blessed me,
and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
justice was my robe and my turban.

15I served as eyes to the blind
and as feet to the lame.

16I was a father to the needy,
and I took up the case of the stranger.

17I shattered the fangs of the unjust
and snatched the prey from his teeth.

18So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest
and multiply my days as the sand.

19My roots will spread out to the waters,
and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.

20My glory is ever new within me,
and my bow is renewed in my hand.’

21Men listened to me with expectation,
waiting silently for my counsel.

22After my words, they spoke no more;
my speech settled on them like dew.

23They waited for me as for rain
and drank in my words like spring showers.

24If I smiled at them, they did not believe it;
the light of my countenance was precious.

25I chose their course and presided as chief.

So I dwelt as a king among his troops,
as a comforter of the mourners.

Footnotes:

4 a Hebrew in the time of my harvest

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 30   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job’s Honor Turned to Contempt

1“But now they mock me,
men younger than I am,
whose fathers I would have refused
to entrust with my sheep dogs.

2What use to me was the strength of their hands,
since their vigor had left them?

3Gaunt from poverty and hunger,
they gnawed the dry land,
and the desolate wasteland by night.

4They plucked mallow among the shrubs,
and the roots of the broom tree were their food.a

5They were banished from among men,
shouted down like thieves,

6so that they lived on the slopes of the wadis,
among the rocks and in holes in the ground.

7They cried out among the shrubs
and huddled beneath the nettles.

8A senseless and nameless brood,
they were driven off the land.

9And now they mock me in song;

I have become a byword among them.

10They abhor me and keep far from me;
they do not hesitate to spit in my face.

11Because God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me,
they have cast off restraintb in my presence.

12The rabble arises at my right;
they lay snares for my feet
and build siege ramps against me.

13They tear up my path;
they profit from my destruction,
with no one to restrain them.c

14They advance as through a wide breach;
through the ruins they keep rolling in.

Job’s Prosperity Becomes Calamity

15Terrors are turned loose against me;
they drive away my dignity as by the wind,
and my prosperity has passed like a cloud.

16And now my soul is poured out within me;
days of affliction grip me.

17Night pierces my bones,
and my gnawing pains never rest.

18With great force He grasps my garment;d

He seizes me by the collar of my tunic.

19He throws me into the mud,
and I have become like dust and ashes.

20I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer;
when I stand up, You merely look at me.

21You have ruthlessly turned on me;

You oppose me with Your strong hand.

22You snatch me up into the wind
and drive me before it;

You toss me aboute in the storm.

23Yes, I know that You will bring me down to death,
to the place appointed for all the living.

24Yet no one stretches out his hand to a ruined man
when he cries for help in his distress.

25Have I not wept for those in trouble?

Has my soul not grieved for the needy?

26But when I hoped for good, evil came;
when I looked for light, darkness fell.

27I am churning within and cannot rest;
days of affliction confront me.

28I go about blackened, but not by the sun.

I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.

29I have become a brother of jackals,f
a companion of ostriches.g

30My skin grows black and peels,
and my bones burn with fever.

31My harp is tuned to mourning
and my flute to the sound of weeping.

Footnotes:

4 a Or their fuel

11 b Hebrew the bridle

13 c Or with no one to assist them

18 d LXX; Hebrew He becomes like a garment to me or my garment is disfigured

22 e Or You dissolve me

29 f Or serpents or dragons

29 g Literally of daughters of an ostrich or of daughters of an owl

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 31   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Job’s Final Appeal

1“I have made a covenant with my eyes.

How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?

2For what is the allotment of God from above,
or the heritage from the Almighty on high?

3Does not disaster come to the unjust
and calamity to the workers of iniquity?

4Does He not see my ways
and count my every step?

5If I have walked in falsehood
or my foot has rushed to deceit,

6let God weigh me with honest scales,
that He may know my integrity.

7If my steps have turned from the path,
if my heart has followed my eyes,
or if impurity has stuck to my hands,

8then may another eat what I have sown,
and may my crops be uprooted.

9If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife,
or I have lurked at his door,

10then may my own wife grind grain for another,
and may other men sleep with her.

11For that would be a heinous crime,
an iniquity to be judged.

12For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon;a
it would root out my entire harvest.

13If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant
when they made a complaint against me,

14what will I do when God rises to judge?

How will I answer when called to account?

15Did not He who made me in the womb also make them?

Did not the same One form us in the womb?

16If I have denied the desires of the poor
or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,

17if I have eaten my morsel alone,
not sharing it with the fatherless—

18though from my youth I reared him as would a father,
and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—

19if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing,
or a needy man without a cloak,

20if his heart has not blessed meb
for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,

21if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless
because I saw that I had support in the gate,

22then may my arm fall from my shoulder
and be torn from its socket.

23For calamity from God terrifies me,
and His splendor I cannot overpower.

24If I have put my trust in gold
or called pure gold my security,

25if I have rejoiced in my great wealth
because my hand had gained so much,

26if I have beheld the sunc in its radiance
or the moon moving in splendor,

27so that my heart was secretly enticed
and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,

28this would also be an iniquity to be judged,
for I would have denied God on high.

29If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin,
or exulted when evil befell him—

30I have not allowed my mouth to sin
by asking for his life with a curse—

31if the men of my house have not said,

‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—

32but no stranger had to lodge on the street,
for my door has been open to the traveler—

33if I have covered my transgressions like Adamd
by hiding my guilt in my heart,

34because I greatly feared the crowds
and the contempt of the clans terrified me,
so that I kept silent
and would not go outside—

35(Oh, that I had one to hear me!

Here is my signature.

Let the Almighty answer me;
let my accuser compose an indictment.

36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder
and wear it like a crown.

37I would give account of all my steps;

I would approach Him like a prince.)—

38if my land cries out against me
and its furrows weep together,

39if I have devoured its produce without payment
or broken the spirit of its tenants,

40then let briers grow instead of wheat
and stinkweed instead of barley.”

Thus conclude the words of Job.

Footnotes:

12 a Abaddon means Destruction.

20 b Hebrew if his loins have not blessed me

26 c Hebrew the light

33 d Or like men

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 32   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends

1So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

2This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God, 3and he burned with anger against Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.

4Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he. 5But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled. 6So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared:

“I am young in years,
while you are old;
that is why I was timid and afraid
to tell you what I know.

7I thought that age should speak,
and many years should teach wisdom.

8But there is a spirita in a man,
the breath of the Almighty,
that gives him understanding.

9It is not only the oldb who are wise,
or the elderly who understand justice.

10Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;

I too will declare what I know.’

11Indeed, I waited while you spoke;

I listened to your reasoning;
as you searched for words,

12I paid you full attention.

But no one proved Job wrong;
not one of you rebutted his arguments.

13So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom;
let God, not man, refute him.’

14But Job has not directed his words against me,
and I will not answer him with your arguments.

15Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say;
words have escaped them.

16Must I wait, now that they are silent,
now that they stand and no longer reply?

17I too will answer;
yes, I will declare what I know.

18For I am full of words,
and my spirit within me compels me.

19Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
it is about to burst like a new wineskin.

20I must speak and find relief;

I must open my lips and respond.

21I will be partial to no one,
nor will I flatter any man.

22For I do not know how to flatter,
or my Maker would remove me in an instant.

Footnotes:

8 a Or the Spirit; also in verse 18

9 b Or many or great

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 33   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Elihu Rebukes Job

1“But now, O Job, hear my speech,
and listen to all my words.

2Behold, I will open my mouth;
my address is on the tip of my tongue.

3My words are from an upright heart,
and my lips speak sincerely what I know.

4The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5Refute me if you can;
prepare your case and confront me.

6I am just like you before God;

I was also formed from clay.

7Surely no fear of me should terrify you;
nor will my hand be heavy upon you.

8Surely you have spoken in my hearing,
and I have heard these very words:

9‘I am pure, without transgression;

I am clean, with no iniquity in me.

10Yet God finds occasions against me;

He counts me as His enemy.

11He puts my feet in the stocks;

He watches over all my paths.’

12Behold, you are not right in this matter.

I will answer you, for God is greater than man.

13Why do you complain to Him
that He answers nothing a man asks?a

14For God speaks in one way and in another,
yet no one notices.

15In a dream,
in a vision in the night,
when deep sleep falls upon men
as they slumber on their beds,

16He opens their ears
and terrifies them with warnings

17to turn a man from wrongdoing
and keep him from pride,

18to preserve his soul from the Pit
and his life from perishing by the sword.

19A man is also chastened on his bed
with pain and constant distress in his bones,

20so that he detests his bread,
and his soul loathes his favorite food.

21His flesh wastes away from sight,
and his hidden bones protrude.

22He draws near to the Pit,
and his life to the messengers of death.

23Yet if there is a messenger on his side,
one mediator in a thousand,
to tell a man what is right for him,

24to be gracious to him and say,

‘Spare him from going down to the Pit;

I have found his ransom,’

25then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s;
he returns to the days of his youth.

26He prays to God and finds favor;
he sees God’s face and shouts for joy,
and God restores His righteousness
to that man.

27Then he sings beforeb men
with these words:

‘I have sinned and perverted what was right;
yet I did not get what I deserved.

28He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,
and I will live to see the light.’

29Behold, all these things God does to a man,
two or even three times,

30to bring back his soul from the Pit,
that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

31Pay attention, Job, and listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.

32But if you have something to say, answer me;
speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.

33But if not, then listen to me;
be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Footnotes:

13 a Or that He answers for none of His actions

27 b Or Then he looks upon

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 34   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Elihu Confirms God’s Justice

1Then Elihu continued:

2“Hear my words, O wise men;
give ear to me, O men of learning.

3For the ear tests words
as the mouth tastes food.

4Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.

5For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous,
yet God has deprived me of justice.

6Would I lie about my case?

My wound is incurable,
though I am without transgression.’

7What man is like Job,
who drinks up derision like water?

8He keeps company with evildoers
and walks with wicked men.

9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
that he should delight in God.’

10Therefore listen to me,

O men of understanding.

Far be it from God to do wrong,
and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him;
according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly,
and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

13Who gave Him charge over the earth?

Who appointed Him over the whole world?

14If He were to set His heart to it
and withdraw His Spirit and breath,

15all flesh would perish together
and mankind would return to the dust.

16If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to my words.

17Could one who hates justice govern?

Will you condemn the just and mighty One,

18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’

and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

19who is not partial to princes
and does not favor rich over poor?

For they are all the work of His hands.

20They die in an instant,
in the middle of the night.

The people convulse and pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.

21For His eyes are on the ways of a man,
and He sees his every step.

22There is no darkness or deep shadow
where the workers of iniquity can hide.

23For God need not examine a man further
or have him approach for judgment.

24He shatters the mighty without inquiry
and sets up others in their place.

25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds;

He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

26He strikes them for their wickedness
in full view,

27because they turned aside from Him
and had no regard for any of His ways.

28They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him,
and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

29But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him?

When He hides His face, who can see Him?

Yet He watches over both man and nation,

30that godless men should not rule
or lay snares for the people.

31Suppose someone says to God,

‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.

32Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’

33Should God repay you on your own terms
when you have disavowed His?

You must choose, not I;
so tell me what you know.

34Men of understanding will declare to me,
and the wise men who hear me will say:

35‘Job speaks without knowledge;
his words lack insight.’

36If only Job were tried to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin;
he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 35   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Elihu Recalls God’s Justice

1And Elihu went on to say:

2“Do you think this is just?

You say, ‘I am more righteous than God.’a

3For you ask, ‘What does it profit me,
and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’

4I will reply to you
and to your friends as well.

5Look to the heavens and see;
gaze at the clouds high above you.

6If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him?

If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him?

7If you are righteous, what do you give Him,
or what does He receive from your hand?

8Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself,
and your righteousness only a son of man.

9Men cry out under great oppression;
they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.

10But no one asks, ‘Where is God my Maker,
who gives us songs in the night,

11who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth
and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’

12There they cry out, but He does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men.

13Surely God does not listen to empty pleas,
and the Almighty does not take note of it.

14How much less, then, when you say that you do not see Him,
that your case is before Him and you must wait for Him,

15and further, that in His anger He has not punished
or taken much notice of folly!

16So Job opens his mouth in vain
and multiplies words without knowledge.”

Footnotes:

2 a Or ‘I am righteous before God.’

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 36   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Elihu Describes God’s Power

1And Elihu continued:

2“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you
that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.

3I get my knowledge from afar,
and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.

4For truly my words are free of falsehood;
one perfect in knowledge is with you.

5Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one;

He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6He does not keep the wicked alive,
but He grants justice to the afflicted.

7He does not take His eyes off the righteous,
but He enthrones them with kings
and exalts them forever.

8And if men are bound with chains,
caught in cords of affliction,

9then He tells them their deeds
and how arrogantly they have transgressed.

10He opens their ears to correction
and commands that they turn from iniquity.

11If they obey and serve Him,
then they end their days in prosperity
and their years in happiness.

12But if they do not obey,
then they perish by the sworda
and die without knowledge.

13The godless in heart harbor resentment;
even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.

14They die in their youth,
among the male shrine prostitutes.

15God rescues the afflicted by their afflictionb
and opens their ears in oppression.

16Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious and broad place,
to a table full of richness.

17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;
judgment and justice have seized you.

18Be careful that no one lures you with riches;
do not let a large bribe lead you astray.

19Can your wealthc or all your mighty effort
keep you from distress?

20Do not long for the night,
when people vanish from their homes.

21Be careful not to turn to iniquity,
for this you have preferred to affliction.

22Behold, God is exalted in His power.

Who is a teacher like Him?

23Who has appointed His way for Him,
or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?

24Remember to magnify His work,
which men have praised in song.

25All mankind has seen it;
men behold it from afar.

26Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge;
the number of His years is unsearchable.

27For He draws up drops of water
which distill the rain from the mist,

28which the clouds pour out
and shower abundantly on mankind.

29Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out,
how the thunder roars from His pavilion?

30See how He scatters His lightning around Him
and covers the depths of the sea.

31For by these He judgesd the nations
and provides food in abundance.

32He fills His hands with lightning
and commands it to strike its mark.

33The thunder declares His presence;
even the cattle regard the rising storm.

Footnotes:

12 a Or they will cross the river of death

15 b Or in their affliction

19 c Or your cry for help

31 d Or governs or nourishes

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 37   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

1“At this my heart also pounds
and leaps from its place.

2Listen closely to the thunder of His voice
and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.

3He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky
and sends it to the ends of the earth.

4Then there comes a roaring sound;

He thunders with His majestic voice.

He does not restrain the lightning
when His voice resounds.

5God thunders wondrously with His voice;

He does great things we cannot comprehend.

6For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’

and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’

7He seals up the hand of every man,
so that all men may know His work.

8The wild animals enter their lairs;
they settle down in their dens.

9The tempest comes from its chamber,
and the cold from the driving north winds.

10By the breath of God the ice is formed
and the watery expanses are frozen.

11He loads the clouds with moisture;

He scatters His lightning through them.

12They swirl about,
whirling at His direction,
accomplishing all that He commands
over the face of all the earth.

13Whether for punishment or for His land,

He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.

14Listen to this, O Job;
stand still and consider the wonders of God.

15Do you know how God dispatches the clouds
or makes the lightning flash?

16Do you understand how the clouds float,
those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?

17You whose clothes get hot
when the land lies hushed under the south wind,

18can you, like Him, spread out the skies
to reflect the heat like a mirror of bronze?

19Teach us what we should say to Him;
we cannot draw up our case when our faces are in darkness.

20Should He be told that I want to speak?

Would a man ask to be swallowed upa?

21Now no one can gaze at the sun
when it is bright in the skies
after the wind has swept them clean.

22Out of the north He comes in golden splendor;
awesome majesty surrounds Him.

23The Almighty is beyond our reach;

He is exalted in power!

In His justice and great righteousness

He does not oppress.

24Therefore, men fear Him,
for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”

Footnotes:

20 a Or speak without being swallowed up

(Home)

◀   ◀   Job 38   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Challenges Job

1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

2“Who is this who obscures My counsel
by words without knowledge?a

3Now brace yourselfb like a man;

I will question you, and you shall inform Me.c

4Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell Me, if you have understanding.

5Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know!

Or who stretched a measuring line across it?

6On what were its foundations set,
or who laid its cornerstone,d

7while the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8Who enclosed the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,

9when I made the clouds its garment
and thick darkness its blanket,

10when I fixed its boundaries
and set in place its bars and doors,

11and I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther;
here your proud waves must stop’?

12In your days, have you commanded the morning
or assigned the dawn its place,

13that it might spread to the ends of the earth
and shake the wicked out of it?

14The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
its hills stand out like the folds of a garment.

15Light is withheld from the wicked,
and their upraised arm is broken.

16Have you journeyed to the vents of the sea
or walked in the trenches of the deep?

17Have the gates of death been revealed to you?

Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

18Have you surveyed the extent of the earth?

Tell Me, if you know all this.

19Where is the way to the home of light?

Do you know where darkness resides,

20so you can lead it back to its border?

Do you know the paths to its home?

21Surely you know, for you were already born!

And the number of your days is great!

22Have you entered the storehouses of snow
or observed the storehouses of hail,

23which I hold in reserve for times of trouble,
for the day of war and battle?

24In which direction is the lightning dispersed,
or the east wind scattered over the earth?

25Who cuts a channel for the flood
or clears a path for the thunderbolt,

26to bring rain on a barren land,
on a desert where no man lives,

27to satisfy the parched wasteland
and make it sprout with tender grass?

28Does the rain have a father?

Who has begotten the drops of dew?

29From whose womb does the ice emerge?

Who gives birth to the frost from heaven,

30when the waters become hard as stone
and the surface of the deep is frozen?

31Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades
or loosen the belt of Orion?

32Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasonse
or lead out the Bearf and her cubs?

33Do you know the laws of the heavens?

Can you set their dominion over the earth?

34Can you command the clouds
so that a flood of water covers you?

35Can you send the lightning bolts on their way?

Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?

36Who has put wisdom in the heartg
or given understanding to the mind?

37Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?

Or who can tilt the water jars of the heavens

38when the dust hardens into a mass
and the clods of earth stick together?

39Can you hunt the prey for a lioness
or satisfy the hunger of young lions

40when they crouch in their dens
and lie in wait in the thicket?

41Who provides food for the raven
when its young cry out to God
as they wander about for lack of food?

Footnotes:

2 a Cited in Job 42:3

3 b Hebrew gird up your loins

3 c Cited in Job 42:4

6 d Or who set its core in place

32 e Or bring forth Mazzaroth in its season

32 f Or Leo or Arcturus

36 g Or Who has given the ibis wisdom, that is, wisdom about the flooding of the Nile

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◀   ◀   Job 39   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Speaks of His Creation

1“Do you know when mountain goats give birth?

Have you watched the doe bear her fawn?

2Can you count the months they are pregnant?

Do you know the time they give birth?

3They crouch down and bring forth their young;
they deliver their newborn.

4Their young ones thrive and grow up in the open field;
they leave and do not return.

5Who set the wild donkey free?

Who released the swift donkey from the harness?

6I made the wilderness his home
and the salt flats his dwelling.

7He scorns the tumult of the city
and never hears the shouts of a driver.

8He roams the mountains for pasture,
searching for any green thing.

9Will the wild ox consent to serve you?

Will he stay by your manger at night?

10Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness?

Will he plow the valleys behind you?

11Can you rely on his great strength?

Will you leave your hard work to him?

12Can you trust him to bring in your grain
and gather it to your threshing floor?

13The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,
but cannot match the pinionsa and feathers of the stork.

14For she leaves her eggs on the ground
and lets them warm in the sand.

15She forgets that a foot may crush them,
or a wild animal may trample them.

16She treats her young harshly, as if not her own,
with no concern that her labor was in vain.

17For God has deprived her of wisdom;

He has not endowed her with understanding.

18Yet when she proudly spreads her wings,
she laughs at the horse and its rider.

19Do you give strength to the horse
or adorn his neck with a mane?

20Do you make him leap like a locust,
striking terror with his proud snorting?

21He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength;
he charges into battle.

22He laughs at fear, frightened of nothing;
he does not turn back from the sword.

23A quiver rattles at his side,
along with a flashing spear and lance.b

24Trembling with excitement, he devours the distance;
he cannot stand still when the ram’s horn sounds.

25At the blast of the horn, he snorts with fervor.c

He catches the scent of battle from afar—
the shouts of captains and the cry of war.

26Does the hawk take flight by your understanding
and spread his wings toward the south?

27Does the eagle soar at your command
and make his nest on high?

28He dwells on a cliff and lodges there;
his stronghold is on a rocky crag.

29From there he spies out food;
his eyes see it from afar.

30His young ones feast on blood;
and where the slain are, there he is.”

Footnotes:

13 a Pinions are the outer parts of a bird’s wings, including the flight feathers.

23 b Or javelin

25 c Or he snorts, ‘Aha!’

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◀   ◀   Job 40   ▶   ▶

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Job Humbles Himself before the LORD

1And the LORD said to Job:

2“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

Let him who argues with God give an answer.”

3Then Job answered the LORD:

4“Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You?

I place my hand over my mouth.

5I have spoken once, but I have no answer—
twice, but I have nothing to add.”

The LORD Challenges Job Again

6Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

7“Now brace yourselfa like a man;

I will question you, and you shall inform Me.b

8Would you really annul My justice?

Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?

9Do you have an arm like God’s?

Can you thunder with a voice like His?

10Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
and clothe yourself with honor and glory.

11Unleash the fury of your wrath;
look on every proud man and bring him low.

12Look on every proud man and humble him;
trample the wicked where they stand.

13Bury them together in the dust;
imprison them in the grave.c

14Then I will confess to you
that your own right hand can save you.

15Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you.

He feeds on grass like an ox.

16See the strength of his loins
and the power in the muscles of his belly.

17His tail sways like a cedar;
the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.

18His bones are tubes of bronze;
his limbs are rods of iron.

19He is the foremost of God’s works;d
only his Maker can draw the sword against him.

20The hills yield him their produce,
while all the beasts of the field play nearby.

21He lies under the lotus plants,e
hidden among the reeds of the marsh.

22The lotus plants conceal him in their shade;
the willowsf of the brook surround him.

23Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid;
he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.

24Can anyone capture him as he looks on,
or pierce his nose with a snare?

Footnotes:

7 a Hebrew gird up your loins

7 b Cited in Job 42:4

13 c Or in the hidden place

19 d Hebrew ways

21 e Or bramble bushes; also in verse 22

22 f Or poplars

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◀   ◀   Job 41   ▶   ▶

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The LORD’s Power Shown in Leviathan

1“Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook
or tie down his tongue with a rope?

2Can you put a cord through his nose
or pierce his jaw with a hook?

3Will he beg you for mercy
or speak to you softly?

4Will he make a covenant with you
to take him as a slave for life?

5Can you pet him like a bird
or put him on a leash for your maidens?

6Will traders barter for him
or divide him among the merchants?

7Can you fill his hide with harpoons
or his head with fishing spears?

8If you lay a hand on him,
you will remember the battle and never repeat it!

9Surely hope of overcoming him is false.

Is not the sight of him overwhelming?

10No one is so fierce as to rouse Leviathan.

Then who is able to stand against Me?

11Who has given to Me that I should repay him?a

Everything under heaven is Mine.

12I cannot keep silent about his limbs,
his power and graceful form.

13Who can strip off his outer coat?

Who can approach him with a bridle?b

14Who can open his jaws,
ringed by his fearsome teeth?

15His rows of scales are his pride,
tightly sealed together.

16One scale is so near to another
that no air can pass between them.

17They are joined to one another;
they clasp and cannot be separated.

18His snorting flashes with light,
and his eyes are like the rays of dawn.

19Firebrands stream from his mouth;
fiery sparks shoot forth!

20Smoke billows from his nostrils
as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.

21His breath sets coals ablaze,
and flames pour from his mouth.

22Strength resides in his neck,
and dismay leaps before him.

23The folds of his flesh are tightly joined;
they are firm and immovable.

24His chest is as hard as a rock,
as hard as a lower millstone!

25When Leviathan rises up, the mighty are terrified;
they withdraw before his thrashing.

26The sword that reaches him has no effect,
nor does the spear or dart or arrow.

27He regards iron as straw
and bronze as rotten wood.

28No arrow can make him flee;
slingstones become like chaff to him.

29A club is regarded as straw,
and he laughs at the sound of the lance.c

30His undersides are jagged potsherds,
spreading out the mud like a threshing sledge.

31He makes the depths seethe like a cauldron;
he makes the sea like a jar of ointment.

32He leaves a glistening wake behind him;
one would think the deep had white hair!

33Nothing on earth is his equal—
a creature devoid of fear!

34He looks down on all the haughty;
he is king over all the proud.”

Footnotes:

11 a Cited in Romans 11:35

13 b Or Who can come within his double mail?

29 c Or javelin

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◀   ◀   Job 42   ▶   ▶

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Job Submits Himself to the LORD

1Then Job replied to the LORD:

2“I know that You can do all things
and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.

3You asked, ‘Who is this
who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’a

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.

4You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak.

I will question you, and you shall inform Me.’b

5My ears had heard of You,
but now my eyes have seen You.

6Therefore I retract my words,
and I repent in dust and ashes.”

The LORD Rebukes Job’s Friends

7After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken about Me accurately, as My servant Job has. 8So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.”

9So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD had told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s request.

The LORD Blesses Job

10After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions. 11All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And each one gave him a piece of silverc and a gold ring.

12So the LORD blessed Job’s latter days more than his first. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13And he also had seven sons and three daughters. 14He named his first daughter Jemimah, his second Keziah, and his third Keren-happuch. 15No women as beautiful as Job’s daughters could be found in all the land, and their father granted them an inheritance among their brothers.

16After this, Job lived 140 years and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17And so Job died, old and full of years.

Footnotes:

3 a Job 38:2

4 b Job 38:3 and Job 40:7

11 c Hebrew a kesitah; the value or weight of the kesitah is no longer known.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150)

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

The Two Paths
(Matthew 5:3–12; Luke 6:20–23)

1Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
or set foot on the path of sinners,
or sit in the seat of mockers.

2But his delight is in the Law of the LORD,
and on His law he meditates day and night.

3He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
yielding its fruit in season,
whose leaf does not wither,
and who prospers in all he does.

4Not so the wicked!

For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.

5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6For the LORD guards the path of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 2   ▶   ▶

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The Triumphant Messiah
(Acts 4:23–31)

1Why do the nations ragea
and the peoples plot in vain?

2The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together,
against the LORD
and against His Anointed One:b

3“Let us break Their chains
and cast away Their cords.”

4The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord taunts them.

5Then He rebukes them in His anger,
and terrifies them in His fury:

6“I have installed My King on Zion,
upon My holy mountain.”

7I will proclaim the decree
spoken to Me by the LORD:

“You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father.c

8Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance,
the ends of the earth Your possession.

9You will break themd with an iron scepter;

You will shatter them like pottery.e”

10Therefore be wise, O kings;
be admonished, O judges of the earth.

11Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.

12Kiss the Son, lest He be angry
and you perish in your rebellion,
when His wrath ignites in an instant.

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

Footnotes:

1 a Or noisily assemble; see Revelation 11:18.

2 b Cited in Acts 4:25–26

7 c Literally today I have begotten You; cited in Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5, and Hebrews 5:5

9 d LXX You will rule them or You will shepherd them

9 e Cited in Revelation 2:27; see also Revelation 12:5 and Revelation 19:15.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 3   ▶   ▶

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Deliver Me, O LORD!
(2 Samuel 15:13–29)

A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.

1O LORD, how my foes have increased!

How many rise up against me!

2Many say of me,

“God will not deliver him.”

Selaha

3But You, O LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the One who lifts my head.

4To the LORD I cry aloud,
and He answers me from His holy mountain.

Selah

5I lie down and sleep;

I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.

6I will not fear the myriads
set against me on every side.

7Arise, O LORD!

Save me, O my God!

Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.

8Salvation belongs to the LORD;
may Your blessing be on Your people.

Selah

Footnotes:

2 a Selah or Interlude is probably a musical or literary term; here and throughout the Psalms.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 4   ▶   ▶

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Answer Me When I Call!

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

1Answer me when I call,

O God of my righteousness!

You have relieved my distress;
show me grace and hear my prayer.

2How long, O men, will my honor be maligned?

How long will you love vanity and seek after liesa?

Selah

3Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself;
the LORD hears when I call to Him.

4Be angry, yet do not sin;b
on your bed, search your heart and be still.

Selah

5Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the LORD.

6Many ask, “Who can show us the good?”

Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD.

7You have filled my heart with more joy
than when grain and new wine abound.

8I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Footnotes:

2 a Or false gods

4 b Or In your anger do not sin or Tremble and do not sin; cited in Ephesians 4:26

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◀   ◀   Psalm 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Give Ear to My Words

For the choirmaster, to be accompanied by flutes. A Psalm of David.

1Give ear to my words, O LORD;
consider my groaning.

2Attend to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to You I pray.

3In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice;
at daybreak I lay my plea before You
and wait in expectation.

4For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
no evil can dwell with You.

5The boastful cannot stand in Your presence;

You hate all workers of iniquity.

6You destroy those who tell lies;
the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.

7But I will enter Your house
by the abundance of Your loving devotion;a
in reverence I will bow down
toward Your holy temple.

8Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make straight Your way before me.

9For not a word they speak can be trusted;
destruction lies within them.

Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.b

10Declare them guilty, O God;
let them fall by their own devices.

Drive them out for their many transgressions,
for they have rebelled against You.

11But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them ever shout for joy.

May You shelter them,
that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.

12For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous;

You surround them with the shield of Your favor.

Footnotes:

7 a Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

9 b Or flattery; cited in Romans 3:13

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◀   ◀   Psalm 6   ▶   ▶

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Do Not Rebuke Me in Your Anger
(Psalm 38:1–22)

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments, according to Sheminith.a A Psalm of David.

1O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath.

2Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am frail;
heal me, O LORD, for my bones are in agony.

3My soul is deeply distressed.

How long, O LORD, how long?

4Turn, O LORD, and deliver my soul;
save me because of Your loving devotion.

5For there is no mention of You in death;
who can praise You from Sheol?

6I am weary from groaning;
all night I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.

7My eyes fail from grief;
they grow dim because of all my foes.

8Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity,
for the LORD has heard my weeping.

9The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer.

10All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed;
they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

Footnotes:

1 a Sheminith is probably a musical term; here and in 1 Chronicles 15:21 and Psalm 12:1.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 7   ▶   ▶

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I Take Refuge in You

A Shiggaiona of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

1O LORD my God, I take refuge in You;
save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,

2or they will shred my soul like a lion
and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3O LORD my God, if I have done this,
if injustice is on my hands,

4if I have rewarded my allyb with evil,
if I have plundered my foe without cause,

5then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me;
may he trample me to the ground
and leave my honor in the dust.

Selah

6Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
rise up against the fury of my enemies.

Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.

7Let the assembled peoples gather around You;
take Your seat over them on high.

8The LORD judges the peoples;
vindicate me, O LORD,
according to my righteousness and integrity.

9Put an end to the evil of the wicked,
but establish the righteous,

O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.c

10My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.

11God is a righteous judge
and a God who feels indignation each day.

12If one does not repent,

God will sharpen His sword;

He has bent and strung His bow.

13He has prepared His deadly weapons;

He ordains His arrows with fire.

14Behold, the wicked man travails with evil;
he conceives trouble and births falsehood.

15He has dug a hole and hollowed it out;
he has fallen into a pit of his own making.

16His trouble recoils on himself,
and his violence falls on his own head.

17I will thank the LORD for His righteousness
and sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Footnotes:

1 a Shiggaion is probably a musical or liturgical term.

4 b Hebrew the one at peace with me

9 c Hebrew hearts and kidneys

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◀   ◀   Psalm 8   ▶   ▶

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How Majestic Is Your Name!

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith.a A Psalm of David.

1O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

You have set Your glory
above the heavens.

2From the mouths of children and infants

You have ordained praiseb
on account of Your adversaries,
to silence the enemy and avenger.

3When I behold Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which You have set in place—

4what is man that You are mindful of him,
or the son of man that You care for him?

5You made him a little lower than the angels;c

You crowned him with glory and honor.

6You made him ruler of the works of Your hands;

You have placed everything under his feet:d

7all sheep and oxen,
and even the beasts of the field,

8the birds of the air and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Footnotes:

1 a Gittith is probably a musical or liturgical term; here and in Psalms 81 and 84.

2 b Literally You have ordained strength; LXX You have prepared praise; cited in Matthew 21:16

5 c Or than God or than the heavenly beings; see also LXX.

6 d Cited in 1 Corinthians 15:27 and Hebrews 2:6–8

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◀   ◀   Psalm 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

I Will Give Thanks to the LORD

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A Psalm of David.a

1I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart;

I will recount all Your wonders.

2I will be glad and rejoice in You;

I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

3When my enemies retreat,
they stumble and perish before You.

4For You have upheld my just cause;

You sit on Your throne judging righteously.

5You have rebuked the nations;

You have destroyed the wicked;

You have erased their name forever and ever.

6The enemy has come to eternal ruin,
and You have uprooted their cities;
the very memory of them has vanished.

7But the LORD abides forever;

He has established His throne for judgment.

8He judges the world with justice;

He governs the people with equity.

9The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.

10Those who know Your name trust in You,
for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

11Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion;
proclaim His deeds among the nations.

12For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers;

He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

13Be merciful to me, O LORD;
see how my enemies afflict me!

Lift me up from the gates of death,

14that I may declare all Your praises—
that within the gates of Daughter Zion

I may rejoice in Your salvation.

15The nations have fallen into a pit of their making;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

16The LORD is known by the justice He brings;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.

Higgaion Selahb

17The wicked will return to Sheol—
all the nations who forget God.

18For the needy will not always be forgotten;
nor the hope of the oppressed forever dashed.

19Rise up, O LORD, do not let man prevail;
let the nations be judged in Your presence.

20Lay terror upon them, O LORD;
let the nations know they are but men.

Selah

Footnotes:

1 a Psalms 9 and 10 together follow an acrostic pattern, each stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the LXX they form one psalm.

16 b Higgaion Selah or quiet interlude is probably a musical or liturgical term.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 10   ▶   ▶

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The Perils of the Pilgrim

1Why, O LORD, do You stand far off?

Why do You hide in times of trouble?

2In pride the wicked pursue the needy;
let them be caught in the schemes they devise.

3For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

4In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him;
in all his schemes there is no God.

5He is secure in his ways at all times;

Your lofty judgments are far from him;
he sneers at all his foes.

6He says to himself, “I will not be moved;
from age to age I am free of distress.”

7His mouth is full of cursing, deceit,a and violence;
trouble and malice are under his tongue.

8He lies in wait near the villages;
in ambush he slays the innocent;
his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.

9He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket;
he lurks to seize the oppressed;
he catches the lowly in his net.

10They are crushed and beaten down;b
the hapless fall prey to his strength.

11He says to himself, “God has forgotten;

He hides His face and never sees.”

12Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God!

Do not forget the helpless.

13Why has the wicked man renounced God?

He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”

14But You have regarded trouble and grief;

You see to repay it by Your hand.

The victim entrusts himself to You;

You are the helper of the fatherless.

15Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
call him to account for his wickedness
until none is left to be found.

16The LORD is King forever and ever;
the nations perish from His land.

17You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble;

You will strengthen their hearts.

You will incline Your ear,

18to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed,
that the men of the earth
may strike terror no more.

Footnotes:

7 a LXX bitterness; cited in Romans 3:14

10 b Or He crouches and lies low

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◀   ◀   Psalm 11   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

In the LORD I Take Refuge
(Habakkuk 1:12–17)

For the choirmaster. Of David.

1In the LORD I take refuge.

How then can you say to me:

“Flee like a bird to your mountain!

2For behold, the wicked bend their bows.

They set their arrow on the string
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

3If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”

4The LORD is in His holy temple;
the LORD is on His heavenly throne.

His eyes are watching closely;
they examine the sons of men.

5The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked;

His soul hates the lover of violence.

6On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their portion.

7For the LORD is righteous; He loves justice.

The upright will see His face.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 12   ▶   ▶

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The Godly Are No More

For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith.a A Psalm of David.

1Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more;
the faithful have vanished from among men.

2They lie to one another;
they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

3May the LORD cut off all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue.

4They say, “With our tongues we will prevail.

We own our lips—who can be our master?”

5“For the cause of the oppressed
and for the groaning of the needy,

I will now arise,” says the LORD.

“I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

6The words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver refined in a furnace,
like gold purified sevenfold.b

7You, O LORD, will keep us;

You will forever guard us from this generation.

8The wicked wander freely,
and vileness is exalted among men.

Footnotes:

1 a Sheminith is probably a musical term; here and in 1 Chronicles 15:21 and Psalm 6:1.

6 b Probable reading; MT like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified sevenfold

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◀   ◀   Psalm 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

How Long, O LORD?

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1How long, O LORD?

Will You forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?

2How long must I wrestle in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart each day?

How long will my enemy dominate me?

3Consider me and respond, O LORD my God.

Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,

4lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,”

and my foes rejoice when I fall.

5But I have trusted in Your loving devotion;
my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.

6I will sing to the LORD,
for He has been good to me.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 14   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Fool Says There Is No God
(Psalm 53:1–6; Isaiah 59:1–17; Romans 3:9–20)

For the choirmaster. Of David.

1The foola says in his heart,

“There is no God.”

They are corrupt; their acts are vile.

There is no one who does good.

2The LORD looks down from heaven
upon the sons of men
to see if any understand,
if any seek God.

3All have turned away,
they have together become corrupt;b
there is no one who does good,
not even one.c

4Will the workers of iniquity never learn?

They devour my people like bread;
they refuse to call upon the LORD.

5There they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is in the company of the righteous.

6You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
yet the LORD is their shelter.

7Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion!

When the LORD restores His captive people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!

Footnotes:

1 a The Hebrew words rendered fool throughout the Psalms denote one who is morally deficient.

3 b LXX worthless

3 c Cited in Romans 3:10–12

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◀   ◀   Psalm 15   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Who May Dwell on Your Holy Mountain?

A Psalm of David.

1O LORD, who may abide in Your tent?

Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?

2He who walks with integrity
and practices righteousness,
who speaks the truth from his heart,

3who has no slander on his tongue,
who does no harm to his neighbor,
who casts no scorn on his friend,

4who despises the vile
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who does not revise a costly oath,

5who lends his money without interest
and refuses a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things
will never be shaken.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 16   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Presence of the LORD
(Acts 2:14–36)

A Miktama of David.

1Preserve me, O God,
for in You I take refuge.

2I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
apart from You I have no good thing.”

3As for the saints in the land,
they are the excellence
in whom all my delight resides.

4Sorrows will multiply
to those who chase other gods.

I will not pour out their libations of blood,
or speak their names with my lips.

5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;

You have made my lot secure.

6The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places;
surely my inheritance is delightful.

7I will bless the LORD who counsels me;
even at night my conscience instructs me.b

8I have setc the LORD always before me.

Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will dwell securely.d

10For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.e

11You have made known to me the path of life;

You will fill me with joy in Your presence,f
with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

Footnotes:

1 a Miktam is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalm 16 and Psalms 56–60.

7 b Or my heart instructs me; Hebrew my kidneys instruct me

8 c LXX I foresaw

9 d LXX will dwell in hope

10 e Cited in Acts 13:35

11 f Cited in Acts 2:25–28

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◀   ◀   Psalm 17   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Hear My Righteous Plea

A prayer of David.

1Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
listen to my cry.

Give ear to my prayer—
it comes from lips free of deceit.

2May my vindication come from Your presence;
may Your eyes see what is right.

3You have tried my heart;

You have visited me in the night.

You have tested me and found no evil;

I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.

4As for the deeds of men—
by the word of Your lips

I have avoided the ways of the violent.

5My steps have held to Your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

6I call on You, O God,
for You will answer me.

Incline Your ear to me;
hear my words.

7Show the wonders of Your loving devotion,

You who save by Your right hand
those who seek refuge from their foes.

8Keep me as the apple ofa Your eye;
hide me in the shadow of Your wings

9from the wicked who assail me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.

10They have closed their callous hearts;
their mouths speak with arrogance.

11They have tracked us down, and now surround us;
their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,

12like a lion greedy for prey,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.

13Arise, O LORD, confront them!

Bring them to their knees;
deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,

14from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—
from men of the world
whose portion is in this life.

May You fill the bellies of Your treasured onesb and satisfy their sons,
so they leave their abundance to their children.

15As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.

Footnotes:

8 a Literally as the pupil, the daughter of

14 b Or May what You have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies

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◀   ◀   Psalm 18   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Is My Rock
(2 Samuel 22:1–51)

For the choirmaster. Of David the servant of the LORD, who sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

1I love You, O LORD, my strength.

2The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.

3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
so shall I be saved from my enemies.

4The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.

5The cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.

6In my distress I called upon the LORD;

I cried to my God for help.

From His temple He heard my voice,
and my cry for His help reached His ears.

7Then the earth shook and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains trembled;
they were shaken because He burned with anger.

8Smoke rose from His nostrils,
and consuming fire came from His mouth;
glowing coals blazed forth.

9He parted the heavens and came down
with dark clouds beneath His feet.

10He mounted a cherub and flew;

He soared on the wings of the wind.

11He made darkness His hiding place,
and storm clouds a canopy around Him.

12From the brightness of His presence

His clouds advanced—
hailstones and coals of fire.a

13The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded—
hailstones and coals of fire.b

14He shot His arrows and scattered the foes;

He hurled lightning and routed them.

15The channels of the sea appeared,
and the foundations of the world were exposed,
at Your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16He reached down from on high and took hold of me;

He drew me out of deep waters.

17He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from foes too mighty for me.

18They confronted me in my day of calamity,
but the LORD was my support.

19He brought me out into the open;

He rescued me because He delighted in me.

20The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness;

He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.

21For I have kept the ways of the LORD
and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22For all His ordinances are before me;

I have not disregarded His statutes.

23And I have been blameless before Him
and kept myself from iniquity.

24So the LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

25To the faithful You show Yourself faithful,
to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;

26to the pure You show Yourself pure,
but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.

27For You save an afflicted people,
but You humble those with haughty eyes.

28For You, O LORD, light my lamp;
my God lights up my darkness.

29For in You I can charge an army,
and with my God I can scale a wall.

30As for God, His way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.

He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

31For who is God besides the LORD?

And who is the Rock except our God?

32It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way clear.

33He makes my feet like those of a deer
and stations me upon the heights.

34He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35You have given me Your shield of salvation;

Your right hand upholds me,
and Your gentleness exalts me.c

36You broaden the path beneath me
so that my ankles do not give way.

37I pursued my enemies and overtook them;

I did not turn back until they were consumed.

38I crushed them so they could not rise;
they have fallen under my feet.

39You have armed me with strength for battle;

You have subdued my foes beneath me.

40You have made my enemies retreat before me;

I put an end to those who hated me.

41They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the LORD, but He did not answer.

42I ground them as dust in the face of the wind;

I trampled themd like mud in the streets.

43You have delivered me from the strife of the people;

You have made me the head of nations;
a people I had not known shall serve me.

44When they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cower before me.

45Foreigners lose heart
and come trembling from their strongholds.

46The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock!

And may the God of my salvation be exalted—

47the God who avenges me
and subdues nations beneath me,

48who delivers me from my enemies.

You exalt me above my foes;

You rescue me from violent men.

49Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations;

I will sing praises to Your name.e

50Great salvation He brings to His king.

He shows loving devotion to His anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.

Footnotes:

12 a Or bolts of lightning; also in verse 13

13 b Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX do not include —hailstones and coals of fire; see 2 Samuel 22:14.

35 c Or and Your help exalts me or and You stoop down to make me great

42 d Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac (see also 2 Samuel 22:43); MT I poured them out

49 e Cited in Romans 15:9

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◀   ◀   Psalm 19   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

2Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.

3Without speech or language,
without a sound to be heard,a

4their voiceb has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.c

In the heavens He has pitched
a tent for the sun.

5Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course,

6it rises at one end of the heavens
and runs its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

7The Law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

8The precepts of the LORD are right,
bringing joy to the heart;
the commandments of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

9The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the judgments of the LORD are true,
being altogether righteous.

10They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

11By them indeed Your servant is warned;
in keeping them is great reward.

12Who can discern his own errors?

Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

13Keep Your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.

Then I will be blameless
and cleansed of great transgression.

14May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in Your sight,

O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Footnotes:

3 a Or There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard

4 b LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew their measuring line

4 c Cited in Romans 10:18

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◀   ◀   Psalm 20   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Day of Trouble

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

2May He send you help from the sanctuary
and sustain you from Zion.

3May He remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.

Selah

4May He give you the desires of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

5May we shout for joy at your victory
and raise a banner in the name of our God.

May the LORD grant all your petitions.

6Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;

He answers him from His holy heaven
with the saving power of His right hand.

7Some trust in chariots and others in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

8They collapse and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.

9O LORD, savea the king.

Answer us on the day we call.

Footnotes:

9 a Or give victory to

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◀   ◀   Psalm 21   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

After the Battle
(Proverbs 21:1–31)

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1O LORD, the king rejoices in Your strength.

How greatly he exults in Your salvation!

2You have granted his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips.

Selah

3For You welcomed him with rich blessings;

You placed on his head a crown of pure gold.

4He asked You for life, and You granted it—
length of days, forever and ever.

5Great is his glory in Your salvation;

You bestow on him splendor and majesty.

6For You grant him blessings forever;

You cheer him with joy in Your presence.

7For the king trusts in the LORD;
through the loving devotion of the Most High,
he will not be shaken.

8Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies;

Your right hand will seize those who hate You.

9You will place them in a fiery furnace
at the time of Your appearing.

In His wrath the LORD will engulf them,
and the fire will consume them.

10You will wipe their descendants from the earth,
and their offspring from the sons of men.

11Though they intend You harm,
the schemes they devise will not prevail.

12For You will put them to flight
when Your bow is trained upon them.

13Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength;
we will sing and praise Your power.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 22   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Psalm of the Cross
(Matthew 27:32–56; Mark 15:21–41; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–30)

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.

1My God, my God,
why have You forsaken me?a

Why are You so far from saving me,
so far from my words of groaning?

2I cry out by day, O my God,
but You do not answer,
and by night,
but I have no rest.

3Yet You are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.

4In You our fathers trusted;
they trusted and You delivered them.

5They cried out to You and were set free;
they trusted in You and were not disappointed.

6But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.

7All who see me mock me;
they sneer and shake their heads:

8“He trusts in the LORD,
let the LORD deliver him;
let the LORD rescue him,
since He delights in him.”b

9Yet You brought me forth from the womb;

You made me secure at my mother’s breast.

10From birth I was cast upon You;
from my mother’s womb You have been my God.

11Be not far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

12Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

13They open their jaws against me
like lions that roar and maul.

14I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are disjointed.

My heart is like wax;
it melts away within me.

15My strengthc is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

You lay me in the dust of death.

16For dogs surround me;
a band of evil men encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet.d

17I can count all my bones;
they stare and gloat over me.

18They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.e

19But You, O LORD, be not far off;

O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

20Deliver my soul from the sword,
my precious life from the power of wild dogs.

21Save me from the mouth of the lion;
at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!

22I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;

I will praise You in the assembly.f

23You who fear the LORD, praise Him!

All descendants of Jacob, honor Him!

All offspring of Israel, revere Him!

24For He has not despised or detested
the torment of the afflicted.

He has not hidden His face from him,
but has attended to his cry for help.

25My praise for You resounds in the great assembly;

I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.

26The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise Him.

May your hearts live forever!

27All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD.

All the families of the nations
will bow down before Him.

28For dominion belongs to the LORD
and He rules over the nations.

29All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him—
even those unable to preserve their lives.

30Posterity will serve Him;
they will declare the Lord to a new generation.

31They will come and proclaim His righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
all that He has done.

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34

8 b Cited in Matthew 27:43

15 c MT; or My mouth, a possible reading of the original Hebrew text

16 d DSS, LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac; most MT like a lion at my hands and feet

18 e Cited in John 19:24; see also Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, and Luke 23:34

22 f LXX I will sing Your praises in the assembly; cited in Hebrews 2:12.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 23   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Is My Shepherd
(Ezekiel 34:11–24; John 10:1–21)

A Psalm of David.

1The LORD is my shepherd;a

I shall not want.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

3He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness
for the sake of His name.

4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,b

I will fear no evil,
for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6Surely goodness and mercy will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Footnotes:

1 a See Revelation 7:17.

4 b Or the valley of deep darkness

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◀   ◀   Psalm 24   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Earth Is the LORD’s

A Psalm of David.

1The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof,a
the world and all who dwell therein.

2For He has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.

3Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?

Who may stand in His holy place?

4He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idolb
or swear deceitfully.

5He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from the God of his salvation.

6Such is the generation of those who seek Him,
who seek Your face, O God of Jacob.c

Selah

7Lift up your heads, O gates!

Be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of Glory may enter!

8Who is this King of Glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.

9Lift up your heads, O gates!

Be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of Glory may enter!

10Who is He, this King of Glory?

The LORD of Hosts—

He is the King of Glory.

Selah

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in 1 Corinthians 10:26

4 b Or to falsehood or to vanity

6 c LXX, Syriac, and two Hebrew manuscripts; MT who seek your face, O Jacob

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◀   ◀   Psalm 25   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

To You I Lift Up My Soul

Of David.a

1To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

2in You, my God, I trust.

Do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.

3Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame;
but those who are faithless without cause will be disgraced.

4Show me Your ways, O LORD;
teach me Your paths.

5Guide me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are the God of my salvation;
all day long I wait for You.

6Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and loving devotion,
for they are from age to age.

7Remember not the sins of my youth,
nor my rebellious acts;
remember me according to Your loving devotion,
because of Your goodness, O LORD.

8Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore He shows sinners the way.

9He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them His way.

10All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful
to those who keep His covenant and His decrees.

11For the sake of Your name, O LORD,
forgive my iniquity, for it is great.

12Who is the man who fears the LORD?

He will instruct him in the path chosen for him.

13His soul will dwell in prosperity,
and his descendants will inherit the land.

14The LORD confides in those who fear Him,
and reveals His covenant to them.

15My eyes are always on the LORD,
for He will free my feet from the mesh.

16Turn to me and be gracious,
for I am lonely and afflicted.

17The troubles of my heart increase;
free me from my distress.

18Consider my affliction and trouble,
and take away all my sins.

19Consider my enemies, for they are many,
and they hate me with vicious hatred.

20Guard my soul and deliver me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in You.

21May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
because I wait for You.b

22Redeem Israel, O God,
from all its distress.

Footnotes:

1 a This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

21 b Or because my hope is in You; LXX because I wait for You, O Lord

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◀   ◀   Psalm 26   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Vindicate Me, O LORD

Of David.

1Vindicate me, O LORD!

For I have walked with integrity;

I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

2Test me, O LORD, and try me;
examine my hearta and mind.

3For Your loving devotion is before my eyes,
and I have walked in Your truth.

4I do not sit with deceitful men,
nor keep company with hypocrites.

5I hate the mob of evildoers,
and refuse to sit with the wicked.

6I wash my hands in innocence
that I may go about Your altar, O LORD,

7to raise my voice in thanksgiving
and declare all Your wonderful works.

8O LORD, I love the house where You dwell,
the place where Your glory resides.

9Do not take my soul away with sinners,
or my life with men of bloodshed,

10in whose hands are wicked schemes,
whose right hands are full of bribes.

11But I will walk with integrity;
redeem me and be merciful to me.

12My feet stand on level ground;
in the congregations I will bless the LORD.

Footnotes:

2 a Hebrew my kidneys

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◀   ◀   Psalm 27   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Is My Salvation

Of David.

1The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
whom shall I dread?

2When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh,
my enemies and foes stumbled and fell.

3Though an army encamps around me,
my heart will not fear;
though a war breaks out against me,

I will keep my trust.

4One thing I have asked of the LORD;
this is what I desire:

to dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and seek Him in His temple.

5For in the day of trouble

He will hide me in His shelter;

He will conceal me under the cover of His tent;

He will set me high upon a rock.

6Then my head will be held high
above my enemies around me.

At His tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the LORD.

7Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call;
be merciful and answer me.

8My heart said, “Seek His face.”

Your face, O LORD, I will seek.

9Hide not Your face from me,
nor turn away Your servant in anger.

You have been my helper;
do not leave me or forsake me,

O God of my salvation.

10Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.

11Teach me Your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path,
because of my oppressors.

12Do not hand me over to the will of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.

13Still I am certain to see
the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.

14Wait patiently for the LORD;
be strong and courageous.

Wait patiently for the LORD!

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◀   ◀   Psalm 28   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Is My Strength

Of David.

1To You, O LORD, I call;
be not deaf to me, O my Rock.

For if You remain silent,

I will be like those descending to the Pit.

2Hear my cry for mercy
when I call to You for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward Your holy sanctuary.a

3Do not drag me away with the wicked,
and with the workers of iniquity,
who speak peace to their neighbors
while malice is in their hearts.

4Repay them according to their deeds
and for their works of evil.

Repay them for what their hands have done;
bring back on them what they deserve.

5Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD
or what His hands have done,

He will tear them down
and never rebuild them.

6Blessed be the LORD,
for He has heard my cry for mercy.

7The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.

Therefore my heart rejoices,
and I give thanks to Him with my song.

8The LORD is the strength of His people,
a stronghold of salvation for His anointed.

9Save Your people and bless Your inheritance;
shepherd them and carry them forever.

Footnotes:

2 a Or Your innermost sanctuary or Your Most Holy Place

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◀   ◀   Psalm 29   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Ascribe Glory to the LORD

A Psalm of David.

1Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,a
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.b

3The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders;
the LORD is heard over many waters.

4The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.

5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
and Sirionc like a young wild ox.

7The voice of the LORD
strikes with flames of fire.

8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
the LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.

9The voice of the LORD twists the oaksd
and strips the forests bare.

And in His temple all cry, “Glory!”

10The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.

11The LORD gives His people strength;
the LORD blesses His people with peace.

Footnotes:

1 a Or sons of God or sons of might

2 b Or in holy attire

6 c That is, Mount Hermon

9 d Or LORD makes the deer to calve

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◀   ◀   Psalm 30   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

You Turned My Mourning into Dancing

A Psalm. A song for the dedication of the temple. Of David.

1I will exalt You, O LORD,
for You have lifted me up
and have not allowed my foes
to rejoice over me.

2O LORD my God, I cried to You for help,
and You healed me.

3O LORD, You pulled me up from Sheol;

You spared me from descending into the Pit.

4Sing to the LORD, O you His saints,
and praise His holy name.a

5For His anger is fleeting,
but His favor lasts a lifetime.

Weeping may stay the night,
but joy comes in the morning.

6In prosperity I said,

“I will never be shaken.”

7O LORD, You favored me;

You made my mountain stand strong.

When You hid Your face,

I was dismayed.

8To You, O LORD, I called,
and I begged my Lord for mercy:

9“What gain is there in my bloodshed,b
in my descent to the Pit?c

Will the dust praise You?

Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?

10Hear me, O LORD, and have mercy;

O LORD, be my helper.”

11You turned my mourning into dancing;

You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

12that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent.

O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever.

Footnotes:

4 a Or and praise the memorial of His holiness; see Exodus 3:15.

9 b Or in my destruction

9 c Or to corruption

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◀   ◀   Psalm 31   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit
(Luke 23:44–49)

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
save me by Your righteousness.

2Incline Your ear to me;
come quickly to my rescue.

Be my rock of refuge,
the stronghold of my deliverance.

3For You are my rock and my fortress;
lead me and guide me for the sake of Your name.

4You free me from the net laid out for me,
for You are my refuge.

5Into Your hands I commit my spirit;a

You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.

6I hateb those who cling to worthless idols,
but in the LORD I trust.

7I will be glad and rejoice in Your loving devotion,
for You have seen my affliction;

You have known the anguish of my soul.

8You have not delivered me to the enemy;

You have set my feet in the open.

9Be merciful to me, O LORD,
for I am in distress;
my eyes fail from sorrow,
my soul and body as well.

10For my life is consumed with grief
and my years with groaning;
my iniquity has drained my strength,
and my bones are wasting away.

11Among all my enemies I am a disgrace,
and among my neighbors even more.

I am dreaded by my friends—
they flee when they see me on the street.

12I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind.

I am like a broken vessel.

13For I hear the slander of many;
there is terror on every side.

They conspire against me
and plot to take my life.

14But I trust in You, O LORD;

I say, “You are my God.”

15My times are in Your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.

16Make Your face shine on Your servant;
save me by Your loving devotion.

17O LORD, let me not be ashamed,
for I have called on You.

Let the wicked be put to shame;
let them lie silent in Sheol.

18May lying lips be silenced—
lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous,
full of pride and contempt.

19How great is Your goodness
which You have laid up for those who fear You,
which You have bestowed before the sons of men
on those who take refuge in You!

20You hide them in the secret place of Your presence
from the schemes of men.

You conceal them in Your shelter
from accusing tongues.

21Blessed be the LORD,
for He has shown me His loving devotion
in a city under siege.

22In my alarm I said,

“I am cut off from Your sight!”

But You heard my plea for mercy
when I called to You for help.

23Love the LORD, all His saints.

The LORD preserves the faithful,
but fully repays the arrogant.

24Be strong and courageous,
all you who hope in the LORD.

Footnotes:

5 a Cited in Luke 23:46

6 b MT; one Hebrew manuscript, LXX, and Syriac You hate

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◀   ◀   Psalm 32   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Joy of Forgiveness
(Romans 4:1–12)

Of David. A Maskil.a

1Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.b

2Blessed is the man
whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him,c
in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3When I kept silent, my bones became brittle
from my groaning all day long.

4For day and night

Your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was drainedd
as in the summer heat.

Selah

5Then I acknowledged my sin to You
and did not hide my iniquity.

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”

and You forgave the guilt of my sin.

Selah

6Therefore let all the godly pray to You
while You may be found.

Surely when great waters rise,
they will not come near.

7You are my hiding place.

You protect me from trouble;

You surround me with songs of deliverance.

Selah

8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;

I will give you counsel and watch over you.

9Do not be like the horse or mule,
which have no understanding;
they must be controlled with bit and bridle
to make them come to you.

10Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.

11Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous ones;
shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Footnotes:

1 a Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

1 b LXX Blessed is he whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered; cited in Romans 4:7

2 c LXX Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him; cited in Romans 4:8

4 d Or my vitality was turned

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◀   ◀   Psalm 33   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Praise to the Creator
(Psalm 148:1–14)

1Rejoice in the LORD, O righteous ones;
it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.

2Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to Him with ten strings.

3Sing to Him a new song;
play skillfully with a shout of joy.

4For the word of the LORD is upright,
and all His work is trustworthy.

5The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of His loving devotion.

6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.

7He piles up the waters of the sea;

He puts the depths into storehouses.

8Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere Him.

9For He spoke, and it came to be;

He commanded, and it stood firm.

10The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations;

He thwarts the devices of the peoples.

11The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the purposes of His heart to all generations.

12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people He has chosen as His inheritance!

13The LORD looks down from heaven;

He sees all the sons of men.

14From His dwelling place He gazes
on all who inhabit the earth.

15He shapes the hearts of each;

He considers all their works.

16No king is saved by his vast army;
no warrior is delivered by his great strength.

17A horse is a vain hope for salvation;
even its great strength cannot save.

18Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him,
on those whose hope is in His loving devotion

19to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.

20Our soul waits for the LORD;

He is our help and our shield.

21For our hearts rejoice in Him,
since we trust in His holy name.

22May Your loving devotion rest on us, O LORD,
as we put our hope in You.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 34   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Taste and See That the LORD Is Good
(1 Samuel 21:8–15)

Of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech,a so that the king drove him away.b

1I will bless the LORD at all times;

His praise will always be on my lips.

2My soul boasts in the LORD;
let the oppressed hear and rejoice.

3Magnify the LORD with me;
let us exalt His name together.

4I sought the LORD, and He answered me;

He delivered me from all my fears.

5Those who look to Him are radiant with joy;
their faces shall never be ashamed.

6This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him;

He saved him from all his troubles.

7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
and he delivers them.

8Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

9Fear the LORD, you His saints,
for those who fear Him lack nothing.

10Young lions go lacking and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11Come, children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12Who is the man who delights in life,
who desires to see good days?

13Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceitful speech.

14Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and His ears are inclined to their cry.c

16But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,d
to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.

17The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears;

He delivers them from all their troubles.

18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted;

He saves the contrite in spirit.

19Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him from them all.

20He protects all his bones;
not one of them will be broken.e

21Evil will slay the wicked,
and the haters of the righteous will be condemned.

22The LORD redeems His servants,
and none who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

Footnotes:

1 a Abimelech is another name for Achish; see 1 Samuel 21–29 and 1 Kings 2:39.

1 b This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

15 c LXX to their prayer

16 d Cited in 1 Peter 3:10–12

20 e Cited in John 19:36

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◀   ◀   Psalm 35   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Contend with My Opponents, O LORD

Of David.

1Contend with my opponents, O LORD;
fight against those who fight against me.

2Take up Your shield and buckler;
arise and come to my aid.

3Draw the spear and javelina against my pursuers;
say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”

4May those who seek my life
be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plan to harm me
be driven back and confounded.

5May they be like chaff in the wind,
as the angel of the LORD drives them away.

6May their path be dark and slick,
as the angel of the LORD pursues.

7For without cause they laid their net for me;
without reason they dug a pit for my soul.

8May ruin befall them by surprise;
may the net they hid ensnare them;
may they fall into the hazard they created.

9Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD
and exult in His salvation.

10All my bones will exclaim,

“Who is like You, O LORD,
who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor,
the poor and needy from the robber?”

11Hostile witnesses come forward;
they make charges I know nothing about.

12They repay me evil for good,
to the bereavement of my soul.

13Yet when they were ill,

I put on sackcloth;

I humbled myself with fasting,
but my prayers returned unanswered.b

14I paced about
as for my friend or brother;

I was bowed down with grief,
like one mourning for his mother.

15But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee;
they gathered together against me.

Assailants I did not know
slandered me without ceasing.

16Like godless jesters at a feast,c
they gnashed their teeth at me.

17How long, O Lord, will You look on?

Rescue my soul from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.

18Then I will give You thanks in the great assembly;

I will praise You among many people.

19Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause,
nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.d

20For they do not speak peace,
but they devise deceitful schemes
against those who live quietly in the land.

21They gape at me and say,

“Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen!”

22O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent.

O Lord, be not far from me.

23Awake and rise to my defense,
to my cause, my God and my Lord!

24Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God,
and do not let them gloat over me.

25Let them not say in their hearts,

“Aha, just what we wanted!”

Let them not say,

“We have swallowed him up!”

26May those who gloat in my distress
be ashamed and confounded;
may those who exalt themselves over me
be clothed in shame and reproach.

27May those who favor my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “Exalted be the LORD
who delights in His servant’s well-being.”

28Then my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness
and Your praises all day long.

Footnotes:

3 a Or and close the way

13 b Literally returned to my bosom

16 c Or Like a godless circle of mockers,

19 d See John 15:25.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 36   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Transgression of the Wicked

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD.

1An oracle is in my heart
regarding the transgression of the wicked man:

There is no fear of God
before his eyes.a

2For his eyes are too full of conceit
to detect or hate his own sin.

3The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful;
he has ceased to be wise and well-doing.

4Even on his bed he plots wickedness;
he sets himself on a path that is not good;
he fails to reject evil.

5Your loving devotion, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,

Your faithfulness to the clouds.

6Your righteousness is like the highest mountains;

Your judgments are like the deepest sea.

O LORD, You preserve man and beast.

7How precious is Your loving devotion, O God,
that the children of men take refuge
in the shadow of Your wings!

8They feast on the abundance of Your house,
and You give them drink from Your river of delights.

9For with You is the fountain of life;
in Your light we see light.

10Extend Your loving devotion to those who know You,
and Your righteousness to the upright in heart.

11Let not the foot of the proud come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

12There the evildoers lie fallen,
thrown down and unable to rise.

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in Romans 3:18

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◀   ◀   Psalm 37   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Delight Yourself in the LORD
(1 Kings 2:1–9)

Of David.a

1Do not fret over those who do evil;
do not envy those who do wrong.

2For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender plants.

3Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

4Delight yourself in the LORD,
and He will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in Him, and He will do it.

6He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday sun.

7Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for Him;
do not fret when men prosper in their ways,
when they carry out wicked schemes.

8Refrain from anger and abandon wrath;
do not fret—it can only bring harm.

9For the evildoers will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.

11But the meek will inherit the landb
and delight in abundant prosperity.

12The wicked scheme against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them,

13but the Lord laughs,
seeing that their day is coming.

14The wicked have drawn the sword
and bent the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.

15But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

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

17For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
and their inheritance will last forever.

19In the time of evil they will not be ashamed,
and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.

20But the wicked and enemies of the LORD
will perish like the glory of the fields.

They will vanish;
like smoke they will fade away.

21The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous are gracious and giving.

22Surely those He blesses will inherit the land,
but the cursed will be destroyed.

23The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD
who takes delight in his journey.

24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
for the LORD is holding his hand.c

25I once was young and now am old,
yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned
or their children begging for bread.

26They are ever generous and quick to lend,
and their children are a blessing.

27Turn away from evil and do good,
so that you will abide forever.

28For the LORD loves justice
and will not forsake His saints.

They are preserved forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.

29The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.

30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.

31The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.

32Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
and seek to slay them,

33the LORD will not leave them in their power
or let them be condemned under judgment.

34Wait for the LORD and keep His way,
and He will raise you up to inherit the land.

When the wicked are cut off,
you will see it.

35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man
flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,

36yet he passed away and was no more;
though I searched, he could not be found.

37Consider the blameless and observe the upright,
for posterity awaits the man of peace.d

38But the transgressors will all be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.

39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;

He is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40The LORD helps and delivers them;

He rescues and saves them from the wicked,
because they take refuge in Him.

Footnotes:

1 a This psalm is an acrostic poem, each stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

11 b Or the earth; see Matthew 5:5.

24 c Or upholds him with His hand

37 d Or for there is a future for the man of peace

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◀   ◀   Psalm 38   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Do Not Rebuke Me in Your Anger
(Psalm 6:1–10)

A Psalm of David, for remembrance.

1O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath.

2For Your arrows have pierced me deeply,
and Your hand has pressed down on me.

3There is no soundness in my body
because of Your anger;
there is no rest in my bones
because of my sin.

4For my iniquities have overwhelmed me;
they are a burden too heavy to bear.

5My wounds are foul and festering
because of my sinful folly.

6I am bent and brought low;
all day long I go about mourning.

7For my loins are full of burning pain,
and no soundness remains in my body.

8I am numb and badly crushed;

I groan in anguish of heart.

9O Lord, my every desire is before You;
my groaning is not hidden from You.

10My heart pounds, my strength fails,
and even the light of my eyes has faded.

11My beloved and friends shun my disease,
and my kinsmen stand at a distance.

12Those who seek my life lay snares;
those who wish me harm speak destruction,
plotting deceit all day long.

13But like a deaf man, I do not hear;
and like a mute man, I do not open my mouth.

14I am like a man who cannot hear,
whose mouth offers no reply.

15I wait for You, O LORD;

You will answer, O Lord my God.

16For I said, “Let them not gloat over me—
those who taunt me when my foot slips.”

17For I am ready to fall,
and my pain is ever with me.

18Yes, I confess my iniquity;

I am troubled by my sin.

19Many are my enemies without cause,a
and many hate me without reason.b

20Those who repay my good with evil
attack me for pursuing the good.

21Do not forsake me, O LORD;
be not far from me, O my God.

22Come quickly to help me,

O Lord my Savior.

Footnotes:

19 a One DSS manuscript; MT My enemies are vigorous and strong

19 b See John 15:25

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◀   ◀   Psalm 39   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

I Will Watch My Ways

For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1I said, “I will watch my ways
so that I will not sin with my tongue;

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle
as long as the wicked are present.”

2I was speechless and still;

I remained silent, even from speaking good,
and my sorrow was stirred.

3My heart grew hot within me;
as I mused, the fire burned.

Then I spoke with my tongue:

4“Show me, O LORD, my end
and the measure of my days.

Let me know how fleeting my life is.

5You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths,
and my lifetime as nothing before You.

Truly each man at his best
exists as but a breath.

Selah

6Surely every man goes about like a phantom;
surely he bustles in vain;
he heaps up riches
not knowing who will haul them away.

7And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?

My hope is in You.

8Deliver me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the reproach of fools.

9I have become mute;

I do not open my mouth
because of what You have done.

10Remove Your scourge from me;

I am perishing by the force of Your hand.

11You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity,
consuming like a moth what he holds dear;
surely each man is but a vapor.

Selah

12Hear my prayer, O LORD,
and give ear to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.

For I am a foreigner dwelling with You,
a stranger like all my fathers.

13Turn Your gaze away from me,
that I may again be cheered
before I depart and am no more.”

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◀   ◀   Psalm 40   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

I Waited Patiently for the LORD
(Psalm 70:1–5; Hebrews 10:1–18)

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1I waited patiently for the LORD;

He inclined to me and heard my cry.

2He lifted me up from the pit of despair,
out of the miry clay;

He set my feet upon a rock,
and made my footsteps firm.

3He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.

4Blessed is the man
who has made the LORD his trust,
who has not turned to the proud,
nor to those who lapse into falsehood.a

5Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders You have done,
and the plans You have for us—
none can compare to You—
if I proclaim and declare them,
they are more than I can count.

6Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
but my ears You have opened.b

Burnt offerings and sin offerings

You did not require.

7Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll:

8I delight to do Your will, O my God;c

Your law is within my heart.”

9I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
behold, I do not seal my lips,
as You, O LORD, do know.

10I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart;

I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation;

I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness
from the great assembly.

11O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me;

Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me.

12For evils without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see.

They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart has failed within me.

13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me;
hurry, O LORD, to help me.

14May those who seek my life
be ashamed and confounded;
may those who wish me harm
be repelled and humiliated.

15May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

be appalled at their own shame.

16May all who seek You
rejoice and be glad in You;
may those who love Your salvation
always say, “The LORD be magnified!”

17But I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.

You are my helper and deliverer;

O my God, do not delay.

Footnotes:

4 a Or who turn aside to false gods or who run after lies

6 b Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts but a body You prepared for me

8 c Cited in Hebrews 10:5–7

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◀   ◀   Psalm 41   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Victory over Betrayal
(John 13:18–30)

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1Blessed is the one who cares for the poor;
the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.

2The LORD will protect and preserve him;

He will bless him in the land
and refuse to surrender him
to the will of his foes.

3The LORD will sustain him on his bed of illness
and restore him from his bed of sickness.

4I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me;
heal me, for I have sinned against You.”

5My enemies say with malice:

“When will he die and be forgotten?”

6My visitor speaks falsehood;
he gathers slander in his heart;
he goes out and spreads it abroad.

7All who hate me whisper against me;
they imagine the worst for me:

8“A vile disease has been poured into him;
he will never get up from where he lies!”

9Even my close friend whom I trusted,
the one who shared my bread,
has lifted up his heel against me.a

10But You, O LORD, be gracious to me and raise me up,
that I may repay them.

11By this I know that You delight in me,
for my enemy does not triumph over me.

12In my integrity You uphold me
and set me in Your presence forever.

13Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.

Footnotes:

9 a Cited in John 13:18

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◀   ◀   Psalm 42   ▶   ▶

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BOOK II

Psalms 42–72

As the Deer Pants for the Water

For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.a

1As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul longs after You, O God.

2My soul thirsts for God, the living God.

When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?b

3My tears have been my food
both day and night,
while men ask me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

4These things come to mind as I pour out my soul:

how I walked with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God
with shouts of joy and praise.

5Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why the unease within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him
for the salvation of His presence.

6O my God, my soul despairs within me.

Therefore I remember You
from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon—
even from Mount Mizar.

7Deep calls to deep
in the roar of Your waterfalls;
all Your breakers and waves
have rolled over me.

8The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day,
and at night His song is with me
as a prayer to the God of my life.

9I say to God my Rock,

“Why have You forgotten me?

Why must I walk in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?”

10Like the crushing of my bones,
my enemies taunt me,
while they say to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

11Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why the unease within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God.

Footnotes:

1 a In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm. Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

2 b Or and see the face of God?

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◀   ◀   Psalm 43   ▶   ▶

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Send Out Your Light

1Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case
against an ungodly nation;
deliver me from deceitful and unjust men.

2For You are the God of my refuge.

Why have You rejected me?

Why must I walk in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?

3Send out Your light and Your truth;
let them lead me.

Let them bring me to Your holy mountain,
and to the place where You dwell.

4Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God, my greatest joy.

I will praise You with the harp,

O God, my God.

5Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why the unease within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 44   ▶   ▶

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Redeem Us, O God
(Romans 8:35–39)

For the choirmaster. A Maskila of the sons of Korah.

1We have heard with our ears, O God;
our fathers have told us
the work You did in their days,
in the days of old.

2With Your hand You drove out the nations
and planted our fathers there;

You crushed the peoples
and cast them out.

3For it was not by their sword that they took the land;
their arm did not bring them victory.

It was by Your right hand,

Your arm, and the light of Your face,
because You favored them.

4You are my King, O God,
who ordains victories for Jacob.

5Through You we repel our foes;
through Your name we trample our enemies.

6For I do not trust in my bow,
nor does my sword save me.b

7For You save us from our enemies;

You put those who hate us to shame.

8In God we have boasted all day long,
and Your name we will praise forever.

Selah

9But You have rejected and humbled us;

You no longer go forth with our armies.

10You have made us retreat from the foe,
and those who hate us have plundered us.

11You have given us up as sheep to be devoured;

You have scattered us among the nations.

12You sell Your people for nothing;
no profit do You gain from their sale.

13You have made us a reproach to our neighbors,
a mockery and derision to those around us.

14You have made us a byword among the nations,
a laughingstockc among the peoples.

15All day long my disgrace is before me,
and shame has covered my face,

16at the voice of the scorner and reviler,
because of the enemy, bent on revenge.

17All this has come upon us,
though we have not forgotten You
or betrayed Your covenant.

18Our hearts have not turned back;
our steps have not strayed from Your path.

19But You have crushed us in the lair of jackals;d

You have covered us with deepest darkness.

20If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

21would not God have discovered,
since He knows the secrets of the heart?

22Yet for Your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.e

23Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping?

Arise! Do not reject us forever.

24Why do You hide Your face
and forget our affliction and oppression?

25For our soul has sunk to the dust;
our bodies cling to the earth.

26Rise up; be our help!

Redeem us on account of Your loving devotion.

Footnotes:

1 a Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

6 b Or give me victory; similarly in verse 7

14 c Literally a shaking of the head

19 d Or serpents or dragons

22 e Cited in Romans 8:36

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◀   ◀   Psalm 45   ▶   ▶

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My Heart Is Stirred by a Noble Theme
(1 Kings 3:1–15; 2 Chronicles 1:1–13; Psalm 72:1–20)

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies.” A Maskila of the sons of Korah. A love song.

1My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses to the king;b
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

2You are the most handsome of men;
grace has anointed your lips,
since God has blessed you forever.

3Strap your sword at your side, O mighty warrior;
appear in your majesty and splendor.

4In your splendor ride forth in victory
on behalf of truth and humility and justice;
may your right hand show your awesome deeds.

5Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s foes;
the nations fall beneath your feet.

6Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever,
and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.

7You have loved righteousness
and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
above your companions with the oil of joy.c

8All your garments are fragrant
with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from palaces of ivory the harps make you glad.

9The daughters of kings are among your honored women;
the queen stands at your right hand,
adorned with the gold of Ophir.

10Listen, O daughter! Consider and incline your ear:

Forget your people and your father’s house,

11and the king will desire your beauty;
bow to him, for he is your lord.

12The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift;
men of wealth will seek your favor.

13All glorious is the princess in her chamber;
her gown is embroidered with gold.

14In colorful garments she is led to the king;
her virgin companions are brought before you.

15They are led in with joy and gladness;
they enter the palace of the king.

16Your sons will succeed your fathers;
you will make them princes throughout the land.

17I will commemorate your name through all generations;
therefore the nations will praise you forever and ever.

Footnotes:

1 a Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

1 b Or King; here and throughout Psalm 45

7 c Cited in Hebrews 1:8–9

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◀   ◀   Psalm 46   ▶   ▶

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God Is Our Refuge and Strength
(2 Kings 18:13–16; 2 Chronicles 32:1–8)

For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.a A song.

1God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in times of trouble.

2Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth is transformed
and the mountains are toppled
into the depths of the seas,

3though their waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake in the surge.

Selah

4There is a river whose streams delight the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5God is within her; she will not be moved.

God will help her when morning dawns.

6Nations rage, kingdoms crumble;
the earth melts when He lifts His voice.

7The LORD of Hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

8Come, see the works of the LORD,
who brings devastation upon the earth.

9He makes wars to cease throughout the earth;

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

He burns the shieldsb in the fire.

10“Be still and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted over the earth.”

11The LORD of Hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

Footnotes:

1 a Alamoth is probably a musical or liturgical term; here and in 1 Chronicles 15:20.

9 b Or chariots

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◀   ◀   Psalm 47   ▶   ▶

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Clap Your Hands, All You Peoples

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

1Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout unto God with a voice of triumph.

2How awesome is the LORD Most High,
the great King over all the earth!

3He subdues nations beneath us,
and peoples under our feet.

4He chooses our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob, whom He loves.

Selah

5God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the LORD with the sound of the horn.

6Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises!

7For God is King of all the earth;
sing profound praises to Him.a

8God reigns over the nations;

God is seated on His holy throne.

9The nobles of the nations have assembled
as the people of the God of Abraham;
for the shields of the earth belong to God;

He is highly exalted.

Footnotes:

7 a Or sing a Maskil of praise or sing praises with understanding

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◀   ◀   Psalm 48   ▶   ▶

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Broken Bondage

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

1Great is the LORD,
and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God,

His holy mountain.

2Beautiful in loftiness,
the joy of all the earth,
like the peaks of Zaphona is Mount Zion,
the city of the great King.

3God is in her citadels;

He has shown Himself to be a fortress.

4For behold, the kings assembled;
they all advanced together.

5They saw and were astounded;
they fled in terror.

6Trembling seized them there,
anguish like a woman in labor.

7With a wind from the east

You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.b

8As we have heard, so we have seen
in the city of the LORD of Hosts,
in the city of our God:

God will establish her forever.

Selah

9Within Your temple, O God,
we contemplate Your loving devotion.

10Your name, O God, like Your praise,
reaches to the ends of the earth;

Your right hand is full of righteousness.

11Mount Zion is glad,
the daughtersc of Judah rejoice,
on account of Your judgments.

12March around Zion, encircle her,
count her towers,

13consider her ramparts, tour her citadels,
that you may tell the next generation.

14For this God is our God forever and ever;

He will be our guide even till death.d

Footnotes:

2 a Or in the far north; the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites was Zaphon

7 b Or a fleet of trading ships

11 c Or the villages

14 d Or He will guide us beyond death

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◀   ◀   Psalm 49   ▶   ▶

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The Evanescence of Wealth
(Ecclesiastes 5:8–20)

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

1Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all inhabitants of the world,

2both low and high,
rich and poor alike.

3My mouth will impart wisdom,
and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.

4I will incline my ear to a proverb;

I will express my riddle with the harp:

5Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when wicked usurpers surround me?

6They trust in their wealth
and boast in their great riches.

7No man can possibly redeem his brothera
or pay his ransom to God.

8For the redemption of his soul is costly,
and never can payment suffice,

9that he should live on forever
and not see decay.

10For it is clear that wise men die,
and the foolish and the senseless both perish
and leave their wealth to others.

11Their gravesb are their eternal homes—
their dwellings for endless generations—
even though their lands were their namesakes.

12But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure;
he is like the beasts that perish.

13This is the fate of the self-confidentc
and their followers who endorse their sayings.

Selah

14Like sheep they are destined for Sheol.

Death will be their shepherd.

The upright will rule them in the morning,
and their form will decay in Sheol,
far from their lofty abode.

15But God will redeem my life from Sheol,
for He will surely take me to Himself.

Selah

16Do not be amazed when a man grows rich,
when the splendor of his house increases.

17For when he dies, he will carry nothing away;
his abundance will not follow him down.

18Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—
and men praise you when you prosper—

19he will join the generation of his fathers,
who will never see the light of day.

20A man who has riches without understanding
is like the beasts that perish.

Footnotes:

7 a Or redeem another

11 b LXX, Syriac, and Aramaic Targum; Hebrew Their inward thoughts

13 c Or the way of the foolish

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◀   ◀   Psalm 50   ▶   ▶

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The Mighty One Calls

A Psalm of Asaph.

1The Mighty One, God the LORD,
speaks and summons the earth
from where the sun rises to where it sets.

2From Zion, perfect in beauty,

God shines forth.

3Our God approaches and will not be silent!

Consuming fire precedes Him,
and a tempest rages around Him.

4He summons the heavens above,
and the earth, that He may judge His people:

5“Gather to Me My saints,
who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

6And the heavens proclaim His righteousness,
for God Himself is Judge.a

Selah

7“Hear, O My people, and I will speak,

O Israel, and I will testify against you:

I am God, your God.

8I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices,
and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.

9I have no need for a bull from your stall
or goats from your pens,

10for every beast of the forest is Mine—
the cattle on a thousand hills.

11I know every bird in the mountains,
and the creatures of the field are Mine.

12If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.

13Do I eat the flesh of bulls,
or drink the blood of goats?

14Sacrifice a thank offering to God,
and fulfill your vows to the Most High.

15Call upon Me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

16To the wicked, however, God says,

“What right have you to recite My statutes
and to bear My covenant on your lips?

17For you hate My instruction
and cast My words behind you.

18When you see a thief, you befriend him,
and throw in your lot with adulterers.

19You unleash your mouth for evil
and unharness your tongue for deceit.

20You sit and malign your brother;
you slander your own mother’s son.

21You have done these things, and I kept silent;
you thought I wasb just like you.

But now I rebuke you
and accuse you to your face.c

22Now consider this, you who forget God,
lest I tear you to pieces,
with no one to rescue you:

23He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me,
and to him who rights his way,

I will show the salvation of God.”

Footnotes:

6 a Or He is a God of justice

21 b Or you thought the ‘I AM’ was

21 c Literally and I set it in order before your eyes

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◀   ◀   Psalm 51   ▶   ▶

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Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
(2 Samuel 12:1–12)

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba.

1Have mercy on me,a O God,
according to Your loving devotion;
according to Your great compassion,
blot out my transgressions.

2Wash me clean of my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4Against You, You only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You may be proved right when You speak
and blameless when You judge.b

5Surely I was brought forth in iniquity;

I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

6Surely You desire truth in the inmost being;

You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

9Hide Your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquities.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.

11Cast me not away from Your presence;
take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
and sustain me with a willing spirit.

13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
and sinners will return to You.

14Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

15O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare Your praise.

16For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and a contrite heart,

O God, You will not despise.

18In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
in whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

Footnotes:

1 a Or Be gracious to me

4 b LXX and victorious when You judge; cited in Romans 3:4

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◀   ◀   Psalm 52   ▶   ▶

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Why Do You Boast of Evil?
(1 Samuel 22:6–23)

For the choirmaster. A Maskila of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”

1Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?

The loving devotion of God endures all day long.

2Your tongue devises destruction
like a sharpened razor,

O worker of deceit.

3You love evil more than good,
falsehood more than speaking truth.

Selah

4You love every word that devours,

O deceitful tongue.

5Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin;

He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent;

He will uproot you from the land of the living.

Selah

6The righteous will see and fear;
they will mock the evildoer, saying,

7“Look at the man
who did not make God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his wealth
and strengthened himself by destruction.”

8But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;

I trust in the loving devotion of God
forever and ever.

9I will praise You forever,
because You have done it.

I will wait on Your name—
for it is good—
in the presence of Your saints.

Footnotes:

1 a Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 53   ▶   ▶

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The Fool Says There Is No God
(Psalm 14:1–7; Isaiah 59:1–17; Romans 3:9–20)

For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath.a A Maskilb of David.

1The fool says in his heart,

“There is no God.”

They are corrupt; their ways are vile.

There is no one who does good.

2God looks down from heaven
upon the sons of men
to see if any understand,
if any seek God.

3All have turned away,
they have together become corrupt;c
there is no one who does good,
not even one.d

4Will the workers of iniquity never learn?

They devour my people like bread;
they refuse to call upon God.

5There they are, overwhelmed with dread,
where there was nothing to fear.

For God has scattered the bones
of those who besieged you.

You put them to shame,
for God has despised them.

6Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion!

When God restores His captive people,e
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!

Footnotes:

1 a Mahalath is probably a musical or liturgical term; see also Psalm 88:1.

1 b Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

3 c LXX worthless

3 d Cited in Romans 3:10–12

6 e Or the fortunes of His people

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◀   ◀   Psalm 54   ▶   ▶

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Save Me by Your Name
(1 Samuel 23:7–29)

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskila of David. When the Ziphites went to Saul and said, “Is David not hiding among us?”

1Save me, O God, by Your name,
and vindicate me by Your might!

2Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to the words of my mouth.

3For strangers rise up against me,
and ruthless men seek my life—
men with no regard for God.

Selah

4Surely God is my helper;
the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.

5He will reward my enemies with evil.

In Your faithfulness, destroy them.

6Freely I will sacrifice to You;

I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good.

7For He has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eyes have stared down my foes.

Footnotes:

1 a Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 55   ▶   ▶

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Cast Your Burden upon the LORD
(2 Samuel 17:15–29)

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskila of David.

1Listen to my prayer, O God,
and do not ignore my plea.

2Attend to me and answer me.

I am restless in my complaint,
and distraught 3at the voice of the enemy,
at the pressure of the wicked.

For they release disaster upon me
and revile me in their anger.

4My heart murmurs within me,
and the terrors of death assail me.

5Fear and trembling grip me,
and horror has overwhelmed me.

6I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!

I would fly away and find rest.

7How far away I would flee!

In the wilderness I would remain.

Selah

8I would hurry to my shelter,
far from this raging tempest.”

9O Lord, confuse and confound their speech,
for I see violence and strife in the city.

10Day and night they encircle the walls,
while malice and trouble lie within.

11Destruction is within;
oppression and deceit never leave the streets.

12For it is not an enemy who insults me;
that I could endure.

It is not a foe who rises against me;
from him I could hide.

13But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion and close friend.

14We shared sweet fellowship together;
we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

15Let death seize them by surprise;
let them go down to Sheol alive,
for evil is with them in their homes.

16But I call to God,
and the LORD saves me.

17Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress,
and He hears my voice.

18He redeems my soul in peace
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.

19God will hear and humiliate them—
the One enthroned for the ages—

Selah
because they do not change
and they have no fear of God.

20My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.

21His speech is smooth as butter,
but war is in his heart.

His words are softer than oil,
yet they are swords unsheathed.

22Cast your burden upon the LORD
and He will sustain you;

He will never let the righteous be shaken.

23But You, O God, will bring them down
to the Pit of destruction;
men of bloodshed and deceit
will not live out half their days.

But I will trust in You.

Footnotes:

1 a Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 56   ▶   ▶

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Be Merciful to Me, O God
(1 Samuel 21:8–15)

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktama of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

1Be merciful to me, O God,
for men are hounding me;
all day they press their attack.

2My enemies pursue me all day long,
for many proudly assail me.

3When I am afraid,

I put my trust in You.

4In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust.

I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

5All day long they twist my words;
all their thoughts are on my demise.

6They conspire, they lurk,
they watch my steps
while they wait to take my life.

7In spite of such sin, will they escape?b

In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations.

8You have taken account of my wanderings.c

Put my tears in Your bottle—
are they not in Your book?

9Then my enemies will retreat
on the day I cry for help.

By this I will know that God is on my side.

10In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise,

11in God I trust; I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

12Your vows are upon me, O God;

I will render thank offerings to You.

13For You have delivered my soul from death,
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.

Footnotes:

1 a Miktam is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 16 and 56–60.

7 b Or do not let them escape; MT does not include do not.

8 c Or sorrows

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◀   ◀   Psalm 57   ▶   ▶

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In You My Soul Takes Refuge
(1 Samuel 22:1–5; Psalm 108:1–13; Psalm 142:1–7)

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktama of David, when he fled from Saul into the cave.

1Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy,
for in You my soul takes refuge.

In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter
until the danger has passed.

2I cry out to God Most High,b
to God who fulfills His purpose for me.

3He reaches down from heaven and saves me;

He rebukes those who trample me.

Selah

God sends forth

His loving devotion and His truth.

4My soul is among the lions;

I lie down with ravenous beasts—
with men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.

5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
may Your glory cover all the earth.

6They spread a net for my feet;
my soul was despondent.

They dug a pit before me,
but they themselves have fallen into it!

Selah

7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast.

I will sing and make music.

8Awake, my glory!c

Awake, O harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.

9I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations;

I will sing Your praises among the peoples.

10For Your loving devotion reaches to the heavens,
and Your faithfulness to the clouds.

11Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
may Your glory cover all the earth.

Footnotes:

1 a Miktam is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 16 and 56–60.

2 b Hebrew Elohim-Elyon

8 c Or Awake, my soul!

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◀   ◀   Psalm 58   ▶   ▶

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God Judges the Earth

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktama of David.

1Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers?

Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?

2No, in your hearts you devise injustice;
with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.

3The wicked are estranged from the womb;
the liars go astray from birth.

4Their venom is like the venom of a snake,
like a cobra that shuts its ears,

5refusing to hear the tune of the charmer
who skillfully weaves his spell.

6O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths;

O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.

7May they vanish
like water that runs off;
when they draw the bow,
may their arrows be blunted.b

8Like a slug that dissolves in its slime,
like a woman’s stillborn child,
may they never see the sun.

9Before your pots can feel the burning thorns—
whether green or dry—

He will sweep them away.

10The righteous will rejoice
when they see they are avenged;
they will wash their feet
in the blood of the wicked.

11Then men will say,

“There is surely a reward for the righteous!

There is surely a God who judges the earth!”

Footnotes:

1 a Miktam is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 16 and 56–60.

7 b Or when they are trodden down, may they wither like grass

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◀   ◀   Psalm 59   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Deliver Me from My Enemies
(1 Samuel 19:1–24)

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktama of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.

1Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
protect me from those who rise against me.

2Deliver me from workers of iniquity,
and save me from men of bloodshed.

3See how they lie in wait for me.

Fierce men conspire against me
for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.

4For no fault of my own,
they move swiftly to attack me.

Arise to help me, and take notice.

5O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel,
rouse Yourself to punish all the nations;
show no mercy to the wicked traitors.

Selah

6They return in the evening, snarling like dogs
and prowling around the city.

7See what they spew from their mouths—
sharp words from their lips:

“For who can hear us?”

8But You, O LORD, laugh at them;

You scoff at all the nations.

9I will keep watch for You, O my strength,
because You, O God, are my fortress.

10My God of loving devotion will come to meet me;

God will let me stare down my foes.

11Do not kill them,
or my people will forget.

Scatter them by Your power,
and bring them down,

O Lord, our shield.

12By the sins of their mouths
and the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride,
in the curses and lies they utter.

13Consume them in wrath;
consume them till they are no more,
so it may be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.

Selah

14They return in the evening,
snarling like dogs
and prowling around the city.

15They scavenge for food,
and growl if they are not satisfied.

16But I will sing of Your strength
and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning.

For You are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.

17To You, O my strength, I sing praises,
for You, O God, are my fortress,
my God of loving devotion.

Footnotes:

1 a Miktam is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 16 and 56–60.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 60   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Victory with God
(2 Samuel 8:1–14; 1 Chronicles 18:1–13; Psalm 108:1–13)

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A Miktama of David for instruction. When he fought Aram-naharaimb and Aram-zobah,c and Joab returned and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1You have rejected us, O God;

You have broken us;

You have been angry;
restore us!

2You have shaken the land
and torn it open.

Heal its fractures,
for it is quaking.

3You have shown Your people hardship;
we are staggered from the wine You made us drink.

4You have raised a banner for those who fear You,
that they may flee the bow.d

Selah

5Respond and save us with Your right hand,
that Your beloved may be delivered.

6God has spoken from His sanctuary:e

“I will triumph!

I will parcel out Shechem
and apportion the Valley of Succoth.

7Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;

Ephraim is My helmet, Judah is My scepter.

8Moab is My washbasin;
upon Edom I toss My sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

9Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

10Have You not rejected us, O God?

Will You no longer march out, O God, with our armies?

11Give us aid against the enemy,
for the help of man is worthless.

12With God we will perform with valor,
and He will trample our enemies.

Footnotes:

1 a Miktam is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 16 and 56–60.

1 b That is, Mesopotamia; Aram-naharaim means Aram of the two rivers, likely the region between the Euphrates and Balih Rivers in northwestern Mesopotamia.

1 c That is, the land northeast of Damascus

4 d Or that it may be displayed because of truth

6 e Or in His holiness

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◀   ◀   Psalm 61   ▶   ▶

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You Have Heard My Vows

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. Of David.

1Hear my cry, O God;
attend to my prayer.

2From the ends of the earth I call out to You
whenever my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I.

3For You have been my refuge,
a tower of strength against the enemy.

4Let me dwell in Your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.

Selah

5For You have heard my vows, O God;

You have given me the inheritance
reserved for those who fear Your name.

6Increase the days of the king’s life;
may his years span many generations.

7May he sit enthroned in God’s presence forever;
appoint Your loving devotion
and Your faithfulness to guard him.

8Then I will ever sing praise to Your name
and fulfill my vows day by day.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 62   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Waiting on God

For the choirmaster. According to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1In God alone my soul finds rest;
my salvation comes from Him.

2He alone is my rock and my salvation.

He is my fortress;

I will never be shaken.

3How long will you threaten a man?

Will all of you throw him down
like a leaning wall
or a tottering fence?

4They fully intend to cast him down from his lofty perch;
they delight in lies;
with their mouths they bless,
but inwardly they curse.

Selah

5Rest in God alone, O my soul,
for my hope comes from Him.

6He alone is my rock and my salvation;

He is my fortress; I will not be shaken.

7My salvation and my honor rest on God, my strong rock;
my refuge is in God.

8Trust in Him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts before Him.

God is our refuge.

Selah

9Lowborn men are but a vapor,
the exalted but a lie.

Weighed on the scale, they go up;
together they are but a vapor.

10Place no trust in extortion,
or false hope in stolen goods.

If your riches increase,
do not set your heart upon them.

11God has spoken once;

I have heard this twice:

that power belongs to God,

12and loving devotion to You, O Lord.

For You will repay each man
according to his deeds.a

Footnotes:

12 a Cited in Romans 2:6

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◀   ◀   Psalm 63   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Thirsting for God
(2 Samuel 15:30–37)

A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah.

1O God, You are my God.

Earnestly I seek You;
my soul thirsts for You.

My body yearns for You
in a dry and weary land without water.

2So I have seen You in the sanctuary
and beheld Your power and glory.

3Because Your loving devotion is better than life,
my lips will glorify You.

4So I will bless You as long as I live;
in Your name I will lift my hands.

5My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with joyful lips my mouth will praise You.

6When I remember You on my bed,

I think of You through the watches of the night.

7For You are my help;

I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings.

8My soul clings to You;

Your right hand upholds me.

9But those who seek my life to destroy it
will go into the depths of the earth.

10They will fall to the power of the sword;
they will become a portion for foxes.

11But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by Him will exult,
for the mouths of liars will be shut.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 64   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Hurtful Tongue
(James 3:1–12)

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1Hear, O God, my voice of complaint;
preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

2Hide me from the scheming of the wicked,
from the mob of workers of iniquity,

3who sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim their bitter words like arrows,

4ambushing the innocent in seclusion,
shooting suddenly, without fear.

5They hold fast to their evil purpose;
they speak of hiding their snares.

“Who will see them?” they say.

6They devise injustice and say,

“We have perfected a secret plan.”

For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.

7But God will shoot them with arrows;
suddenly they will be wounded.

8They will be made to stumble,
their own tongues turned against them.

All who see will shake their heads.

9Then all mankind will fear
and proclaim the work of God;
so they will ponder what He has done.

10Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD
and take refuge in Him;
let all the upright in heart exult.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 65   ▶   ▶

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Praise Awaits God in Zion

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song.

1Praise awaits You, O God, in Zion;
to You our vows will be fulfilled.

2O You who listen to prayer,
all people will come to You.

3When iniquities prevail against me,

You atone for our transgressions.

4Blessed is the one You choose
and bring near to dwell in Your courts!

We are filled with the goodness of Your house,
the holiness of Your temple.

5With awesome deeds of righteousness You answer us,

O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas.

6You formed the mountains by Your power,
having girded Yourself with might.

7You stilled the roaring of the seas,
the pounding of their waves,
and the tumult of the nations.

8Those who live far away fear Your wonders;

You make the dawn and sunset shout for joy.a

9You attend to the earth and water it;b
with abundance You enrich it.

The streams of God are full of water,
for You prepare our grain
by providing for the earth.c

10You soak its furrows and level its ridges;

You soften it with showers and bless its growth.

11You crown the year with Your bounty,
and Your paths overflow with plenty.

12The pastures of the wilderness overflow;
the hills are robed with joy.

13The pastures are clothed with flocks,
and the valleys are decked with grain.

They shout in triumph;
indeed, they sing.

Footnotes:

8 a Or where morning dawns and evening fades You call forth songs of joy.

9 b Or and make it overflow

9 c Or to provide the people with grain, for so You have ordained it

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◀   ◀   Psalm 66   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Make a Joyful Noise
(Psalm 100:1–5)

For the choirmaster. A song. A Psalm.

1Make a joyful noise to God,
all the earth!

2Sing the glory of His name;
make His praise glorious.

3Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds!

So great is Your power
that Your enemies cower before You.

4All the earth bows down to You;
they sing praise to You;
they sing praise to Your name.”

Selah

5Come and see the works of God;
how awesome are His deeds toward mankind.

6He turned the sea into dry land;
they passed through the waters on foot;
there we rejoiced in Him.

7He rules forever by His power;

His eyes watch the nations.

Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves.

Selah

8Bless our God, O peoples;
let the sound of His praise be heard.

9He preserves our lives
and keeps our feet from slipping.

10For You, O God, have tested us;

You have refined us like silver.

11You led us into the net;

You laid burdens on our backs.

12You let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but You brought us into abundance.

13I will enter Your house with burnt offerings;

I will fulfill my vows to You—

14the vows that my lips promised
and my mouth spoke in my distress.

15I will offer You fatlings as burnt offerings,
with the fragrant smoke of rams;

I will offer bulls and goats.

Selah

16Come and listen, all you who fear God,
and I will declare what He has done for me.

17I cried out to Him with my mouth
and praised Him with my tongue.a

18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.

19But God has surely heard;

He has attended to the sound of my prayer.

20Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld from me His loving devotion!

Footnotes:

17 a Or and His praise was on my tongue

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◀   ◀   Psalm 67   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

May God Cause His Face to Shine upon Us

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song.

1May God be gracious to us and bless us,
and cause His face to shine upon us,

Selah

2that Your ways may be known on earth,

Your salvation among all nations.

3Let the peoples praise You, O God;
let all the peoples praise You.

4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for You judge the peoples justly
and lead the nations of the earth.

Selah

5Let the peoples praise You, O God;
let all the peoples praise You.

6The earth has yielded its harvest;

God, our God, blesses us.

7God blesses us,
that all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 68   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

God’s Enemies Are Scattered

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song.

1God arises. His enemies are scattered,
and those who hate Him flee His presence.

2As smoke is blown away,

You will drive them out;
as wax melts before the fire,
the wicked will perish in the presence of God.

3But the righteous will be glad
and rejoice before God;
they will celebrate with joy.

4Sing to God!

Sing praises to His name.

Exalt Him who rides on the cloudsa—

His name is the LORD—
and rejoice before Him.

5A father of the fatherless,
and a defender of the widows,
is God in His holy habitation.

6God settles the lonely in families;

He leads the prisoners out to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.

7O God, when You went out before Your people,
when You marched through the wasteland,

Selah

8the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain
before God, the One on Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.

9You sent abundant rain, O God;

You refreshed Your weary inheritance.

10Your flock settled therein;

O God, from Your bounty You provided for the poor.

11The Lord gives the command;
a great company of women proclaim it:

12“Kings and their armies flee in haste;
she who waits at home divides the plunder.

13Though you lie down among the sheepfolds,
the wings of the dove are covered with silver,
and her feathers with shimmering gold.”

14When the Almightyb scattered the kings in the land,
it was like the snow falling on Zalmon.

15A mountain of God is Mount Bashan;
a mountain of many peaks is Mount Bashan.

16Why do you gaze in envy, O mountains of many peaks?

This is the mountain God chose for His dwelling,
where the LORD will surely dwell forever.

17The chariots of God are tens of thousands—
thousands of thousands are they;
the Lord is in His sanctuary
as He was at Sinai.c

18You have ascended on high;

You have led captives away.

You have received gifts from men,d
even from the rebellious,
that the LORD God may dwell there.

19Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears our burden,
the God of our salvation.

Selah

20Our God is a God of deliverance;
the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.

21Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies,
the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways.

22The Lord said, “I will retrieve them from Bashan,

I will bring them up from the depths of the sea,

23that your foot may be dipped
in the blood of your foes—
the tongues of your dogs in the same.”

24They have seen Your procession, O God—
the march of my God and King into the sanctuary.

25The singers lead the way,
the musicians follow after,
among the maidens playing tambourines.

26Bless God in the great congregation;
bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel.

27There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them,
the princes of Judah in their company,
the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

28Summon Your power, O God;e
show Your strength, O God,
which You have exerted on our behalf.

29Because of Your temple at Jerusalem
kings will bring You gifts.

30Rebuke the beast in the reeds,
the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations,
until it submits, bringing bars of silver.

Scatter the nations who delight in war.

31Envoys will arrive from Egypt;

Cushf will stretch out her hands to God.

32Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
sing praises to the Lord—

Selah

33to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old;
behold, His mighty voice resounds.

34Ascribe the power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
whose strength is in the skies.

35O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary;
the God of Israel Himself
gives strength and power to His people.

Blessed be God!

Footnotes:

4 a Or rides through the deserts

14 b Hebrew Shaddai

17 c Or the Lord has come from Sinai in His holiness

18 d Cited in Ephesians 4:8

28 e LXX and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts Your God has summoned your power

31 f That is, the upper Nile region

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◀   ◀   Psalm 69   ▶   ▶

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The Waters Are up to My Neck

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.

1Save me, O God,
for the waters are up to my neck.

2I have sunk into the miry depths,
where there is no footing;

I have drifted into deep waters,
where the flood engulfs me.

3I am weary from my crying;
my throat is parched.

My eyes fail,
looking for my God.

4Those who hate me without cause
outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are those who would destroy me—
my enemies for no reason.a

Though I did not steal,

I must repay.

5You know my folly, O God,
and my guilt is not hidden from You.

6May those who hope in You not be ashamed through me,

O Lord GOD of Hosts;
may those who seek You not be dishonored through me,

O God of Israel.

7For I have endured scorn for Your sake,
and shame has covered my face.

8I have become a stranger to my brothers
and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

9because zeal for Your house has consumed me,b
and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.c

10I wept and fasted,
but it brought me reproach.

11I made sackcloth my clothing,
and I was sport to them.

12Those who sit at the gate mock me,
and I am the song of drunkards.

13But my prayer to You, O LORD,
is for a time of favor.

In Your abundant loving devotion, O God,
answer me with Your sure salvation.

14Rescue me from the mire
and do not let me sink;
deliver me from my foes
and out of the deep waters.

15Do not let the floods engulf me
or the depths swallow me up;
let not the Pit close its mouth over me.

16Answer me, O LORD,
for Your loving devotion is good;
turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.

17Hide not Your face from Your servant,
for I am in distress.

Answer me quickly!

18Draw near to my soul and redeem me;
ransom me because of my foes.

19You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace.

All my adversaries are before You.

20Insults have broken my heart,
and I am in despair.

I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
for comforters, but I found no one.

21They poisoned my food with gall
and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

22May their table become a snare;
may it be a retribution and a trap.d

23May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.e

24Pour out Your wrath upon them,
and let Your burning anger overtake them.

25May their place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in their tents.f

26For they persecute the one You struck
and recount the pain of those You wounded.

27Add iniquity to their iniquity;
let them not share in Your righteousness.

28May they be blotted out of the Book of Life
and not listed with the righteous.

29But I am in pain and distress;
let Your salvation protect me, O God.

30I will praise God’s name in song
and exalt Him with thanksgiving.

31And this will please the LORD more than an ox,
more than a bull with horns and hooves.

32The humble will see and rejoice.

You who seek God, let your hearts be revived!

33For the LORD listens to the needy
and does not despise His captive people.

34Let heaven and earth praise Him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.

35For God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah,
that they may dwell there and possess it.

36The descendants of His servants will inherit it,
and those who love His name will settle in it.

Footnotes:

4 a See John 15:25

9 b Cited in John 2:17

9 c Cited in Romans 15:3

22 d A slight revocalization of the Hebrew (see also LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate); literally may their prosperity be a trap; cited in Romans 11:9

23 e LXX; Hebrew and may their loins tremble continually; cited in Romans 11:10

25 f Cited in Acts 1:20

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◀   ◀   Psalm 70   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Hurry, O LORD, to Help Me!
(Psalm 40:1–17; Psalm 141:1–10)

For the choirmaster. Of David. To bring remembrance.

1Make haste, O God, to deliver me!

Hurry, O LORD, to help me!

2May those who seek my life
be ashamed and confounded;
may those who wish me harm
be repelled and humiliated.

3May those who say, “Aha, aha!”

retreat because of their shame.

4May all who seek You
rejoice and be glad in You;
may those who love Your salvation always say,

“Let God be magnified!”

5But I am poor and needy;
hurry to me, O God.

You are my help and my deliverer;

O LORD, do not delay.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 71   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Be My Rock of Refuge

1In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.

2In Your justice, rescue and deliver me;
incline Your ear and save me.

3Be my rock of refuge,
where I can always go.

Give the command to save me,
for You are my rock and my fortress.

4Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless.

5For You are my hope, O Lord GOD,
my confidence from my youth.

6I have leaned on You since birth;

You pulled me from my mother’s womb.

My praise is always for You.

7I have become a portent to many,
but You are my strong refuge.

8My mouth is filled with Your praise
and with Your splendor all day long.

9Do not discard me in my old age;
do not forsake me when my strength fails.

10For my enemies speak against me,
and those who lie in wait for my life conspire,

11saying, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for there is no one to rescue him.”

12Be not far from me, O God.

Hurry, O my God, to help me.

13May the accusers of my soul
be ashamed and consumed;
may those who seek my harm
be covered with scorn and disgrace.

14But I will always hope
and will praise You more and more.

15My mouth will declare Your righteousness
and Your salvation all day long,
though I cannot know their full measure.

16I will enter in the strength of the Lord GOD;

I will proclaim Your righteousness—Yours alone.

17O God, You have taught me from my youth,
and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.

18Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
until I proclaim Your power to the next generation,

Your might to all who are to come.

19Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God,

You who have done great things.

Who, O God, is like You?

20Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes,

You will revive me once again.

Even from the depths of the earth

You will bring me back up.

21You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.

22So I will praise You with the harp
for Your faithfulness, O my God;

I will sing praise to You with the lyre,

O Holy One of Israel.

23When I sing praise to You
my lips will shout for joy,
along with my soul,
which You have redeemed.

24My tongue will indeed proclaim

Your righteousness all day long,
for those who seek my harm
are disgraced and confounded.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 72   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Endow the King with Your Justice
(1 Kings 3:1–15; 2 Chronicles 1:1–13; Psalm 45:1–17)

Of Solomon.

1Endow the king with Your justice, O God,
and the son of the king with Your righteousness.

2May he judge Your people with righteousness
and Your afflicted with justice.

3May the mountains bring peace to the people,
and the hills bring righteousness.

4May he vindicate the afflicted among the people;
may he save the children of the needy
and crush the oppressor.

5May they fear hima as long as the sun shines,
as long as the moon remains,
through all generations.

6May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass,
like spring showers that water the earth.

7May the righteous flourish in his days
and prosperity abound,
until the moon is no more.

8May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the Euphratesb to the ends of the earth.

9May the nomads bow before him,
and his enemies lick the dust.

10May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

11May all kings bow down to him
and all nations serve him.

12For he will deliver the needy who cry out
and the afflicted who have no helper.

13He will take pity on the poor and needy
and save the lives of the oppressed.

14He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
for their blood is precious in his sight.

15Long may he live!

May gold from Sheba be given him.

May people ever pray for him;
may they bless him all day long.

16May there be an abundance of grain in the land;
may it sway atop the hills.

May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon,
and its people like the grass of the field.

17May his name endure forever;
may his name continuec as long as the sun shines.

In him may all nations be blessed;
may they call him blessed.

18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.

19And blessed be His glorious name forever;
may all the earth be filled with His glory.

Amen and amen.

20Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.

Footnotes:

5 a LXX He shall endure

8 b Hebrew the River

17 c Or increase

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BOOK III

Psalms 73–89

Surely God Is Good to Israel

A Psalm of Asaph.

1Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.

2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
my steps had nearly slipped.

3For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4They have no struggle in their death;
their bodies are well-fed.

5They are free of the burdens others carry;
they are not afflicted like other men.

6Therefore pride is their necklace;
a garment of violence covers them.

7From their prosperity proceeds iniquity;a
the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

8They mock and speak with malice;
with arrogance they threaten oppression.

9They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their tongues strut across the earth.

10So their peopleb return to this place
and drink up waters in abundance.

11The wicked say, “How can God know?

Does the Most High have knowledge?”

12Behold, these are the wicked—
always carefree as they increase their wealth.

13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure;
in innocence I have washed my hands.

14For I am afflicted all day long
and punished every morning.

15If I had said, “I will speak this way,”

then I would have betrayed Your children.

16When I tried to understand all this,
it was troublesome in my sight

17until I entered God’s sanctuary;
then I discerned their end.

18Surely You set them on slick ground;

You cast them down into ruin.

19How suddenly they are laid waste,
completely swept away by terrors!

20Like one waking from a dream,
so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.

21When my heart was grieved
and I was pierced within,

22I was senseless and ignorant;

I was a brute beast before You.

23Yet I am always with You;

You hold my right hand.

24You guide me with Your counsel,
and later receive me in glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but You?

And on earth I desire no one besides You.

26My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strengthc of my heart
and my portion forever.

27Those far from You will surely perish;

You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.

28But as for me, it is good to draw near to God.

I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may proclaim all Your works.

Footnotes:

7 a Literally Their eye bulges with fatness; Syriac From their callous heart proceeds iniquity

10 b Or His people

26 c Hebrew rock

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Why Have You Rejected Us Forever?
(Psalm 79:1–13; Jeremiah 52:1–11)

A Maskila of Asaph.

1Why have You rejected us forever, O God?

Why does Your anger smolder
against the sheep of Your pasture?

2Remember Your congregation,
which You purchased long ago
and redeemed as the tribe of Your inheritance—

Mount Zion where You dwell.

3Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins,
to everything in the sanctuary the enemy has destroyed.

4Your foes have roared within Your meeting place;
they have unfurled their banners as signs,

5like men wielding axes in a thicket of trees

6and smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks.

7They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground;
they have defiled the dwelling place of Your Name.

8They said in their hearts,

“We will crush them completely.”

They burned down every place
where God met us in the land.

9There are no signs for us to see.

There is no longer any prophet.

And none of us knows how long this will last.

10How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You?

Will the foe revile Your name forever?

11Why do You withdraw Your strong right hand?

Stretch it out to destroy them!b

12Yet God is my King from ancient times,
working salvation on the earth.

13You divided the sea by Your strength;

You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea;

14You crushed the heads of Leviathan;

You fed him to the creatures of the desert.

15You broke open the fountain and the flood;

You dried up the ever-flowing rivers.

16The day is Yours, and also the night;

You established the moonc and the sun.

17You set all the boundaries of the earth;

You made the summer and winter.

18Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD,
how a foolish people has spurned Your name.

19Do not deliver the soul of Your dove to beasts;
do not forget the lives of Your afflicted forever.

20Consider Your covenant,
for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.

21Do not let the oppressed retreat in shame;
may the poor and needy praise Your name.

22Rise up, O God; defend Your cause!

Remember how the fool mocks You all day long.

23Do not disregard the clamor of Your adversaries,
the uproar of Your enemies that ascends continually.

Footnotes:

1 a Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

11 b Literally From the midst of Your bosom destroy them! or From the midst of Your bosom remove it!

16 c Literally the light

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God’s Righteous Judgment
(Romans 2:1–16)

For the choirmaster: To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Psalm of Asaph. A song.

1We give thanks to You, O God;
we give thanks, for Your Name is near.

The people declare Your wondrous works.

2“When I choose a time,

I will judge fairly.

3When the earth and all its dwellers quake,
it is I who bear up its pillars.

Selah

4I say to the proud, ‘Do not boast,’

and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn.

5Do not lift up your horn against heaven
or speak with an outstretched neck.’ ”

6For exaltation comes neither from east nor west,
nor out of the desert,

7but it is God who judges;

He brings down one and exalts another.

8For a cup is in the hand of the LORD,
full of foaming wine mixed with spices.

He pours from His cup,
and all the wicked of the earth
drink it down to the dregs.

9But I will proclaim Hima forever;

I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.

10“All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,
but the horns of the righteous will be exalted.”

Footnotes:

9 a Or proclaim it

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◀   ◀   Psalm 76   ▶   ▶

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God’s Name Is Great in Israel

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A song.

1God is known in Judah;

His name is great in Israel.

2His tent is in Salem,a

His dwelling place in Zion.

3There He shattered the flaming arrows,
the shield and sword and weapons of war.

Selah

4You are resplendent with light,
more majestic than mountains filled with game.

5The valiant lie plundered; they sleep their last sleep.

No men of might could lift a hand.

6At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
both horse and rider lie stunned.

7You alone are to be feared.

When You are angry, who can stand before You?

8From heaven You pronounced judgment,
and the earth feared and was still

9when God rose up to judge,
to save all the lowly of the earth.

Selah

10Even the wrath of man shall praise You;
with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself.b

11Make and fulfill your vows to the LORD your God;
let all the neighboring lands bring tribute
to Him who is to be feared.

12He breaks the spirits of princes;

He is feared by the kings of the earth.

Footnotes:

2 a That is, Jerusalem

10 b Or Surely Your wrath against men brings You praise, and the survivors of Your wrath will be restrained.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 77   ▶   ▶

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In the Day of Trouble I Sought the LORD

For the choirmaster. According to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

1I cried out to God;

I cried aloud to God to hear me.

2In the day of trouble I sought the Lord;
through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary;
my soul refused to be comforted.

3I remembered You, O God, and I groaned;

I mused and my spirit grew faint.

Selah

4You have kept my eyes from closing;

I am too troubled to speak.

5I considered the days of old,
the years long in the past.

6At night I remembered my song;
in my heart I mused, and my spirit pondered:

7“Will the Lord spurn us forever
and never show His favor again?

8Is His loving devotion gone forever?

Has His promise failed for all time?

9Has God forgotten to be gracious?

Has His anger shut off His compassion?”

Selah

10So I said, “I am grieved
that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”a

11I will remember the works of the LORD;
yes, I will remember Your wonders of old.

12I will reflect on all You have done
and ponder Your mighty deeds.

13Your way, O God, is holy.

What god is so great as our God?

14You are the God who works wonders;

You display Your strength among the peoples.

15With power You redeemed Your people,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph.

Selah

16The waters saw You, O God;
the waters saw You and swirled;
even the depths were shaken.

17The clouds poured down water;
the skies resounded with thunder;

Your arrows flashed back and forth.

18Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind;
the lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.

19Your path led through the sea,

Your way through the mighty waters,
but Your footprints were not to be found.b

20You led Your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Footnotes:

10 a Or “To this I will appeal: to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

19 b Or were unknown

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◀   ◀   Psalm 78   ▶   ▶

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I Will Open My Mouth in Parables
(Matthew 13:34–35)

A Maskila of Asaph.

1Give ear, O my people, to my instruction;
listen to the words of my mouth.

2I will open my mouth in parables;

I will utter things hidden from the beginning,b

3that we have heard and known
and our fathers have relayed to us.

4We will not hide them from their children,
but will declare to the next generation
the praises of the LORD and His might,
and the wonders He has performed.

5For He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which He commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,

6that the coming generation would know them—
even children yet to be born—
to arise and tell their own children

7that they should put their confidence in God,
not forgetting His works,
but keeping His commandments.

8Then they will not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
whose heart was not loyal,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.

9The archers of Ephraim
turned back on the day of battle.

10They failed to keep God’s covenant
and refused to live by His law.

11They forgot what He had done,
the wonders He had shown them.

12He worked wonders before their fathers
in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.

13He split the sea and brought them through;

He set the waters upright like a wall.

14He led them with a cloud by day
and with a light of fire all night.

15He split the rocks in the wilderness
and gave them drink as abundant as the seas.

16He brought streams from the stone
and made water flow down like rivers.

17But they continued to sin against Him,
rebelling in the desert against the Most High.

18They willfully tested God
by demanding the food they craved.

19They spoke against God, saying,

“Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?

20When He struck the rock, water gushed out
and torrents raged.

But can He also give bread
or supply His people with meat?”

21Therefore the LORD heard
and was filled with wrath;
so a fire was kindled against Jacob,
and His anger flared against Israel,

22because they did not believe God
or rely on His salvation.

23Yet He commanded the clouds above
and opened the doors of the heavens.

24He rained down manna for them to eat;

He gave them grain from heaven.c

25Man ate the bread of angels;

He sent them food in abundance.

26He stirred the east wind from the heavens
and drove the south wind by His might.

27He rained meat on them like dust,
and winged birds like the sand of the sea.

28He felled them in the midst of their camp,
all around their dwellings.

29So they ate and were well filled,
for He gave them what they craved.

30Yet before they had filled their desire,
with the food still in their mouths,

31God’s anger flared against them,
and He put to death their strongest
and subdued the young men of Israel.

32In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;
despite His wonderful works, they did not believe.

33So He ended their days in futility,d
and their years in sudden terror.

34When He slew them, they would seek Him;
they repented and searched for God.

35And they remembered that God was their Rock,
that God Most Highe was their Redeemer.

36But they deceived Him with their mouths,
and lied to Him with their tongues.

37Their hearts were disloyal to Him,
and they were unfaithful to His covenant.

38And yet He was compassionate;

He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them.

He often restrained His anger
and did not unleash His full wrath.

39He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return.

40How often they disobeyed Him in the wilderness
and grieved Him in the desert!

41Again and again they tested God
and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

42They did not remember His powerf —
the day He redeemed them from the adversary,

43when He performed His signs in Egypt
and His wonders in the fields of Zoan.

44He turned their rivers to blood,
and from their streams they could not drink.

45He sent swarms of flies that devoured them,
and frogs that devastated them.

46He gave their crops to the grasshopper,
the fruit of their labor to the locust.

47He killed their vines with hailstones
and their sycamore-figs with sleet.g

48He abandoned their cattle to the hail
and their livestock to bolts of lightning.

49He unleashed His fury against them,
wrath, indignation, and calamity—
a band of destroying angels.

50He cleared a path for His anger;

He did not spare them from death
but delivered their lives to the plague.

51He struck all the firstborn of Egypt,
the virility in the tents of Ham.

52He led out His people like sheep
and guided them like a flock in the wilderness.

53He led them safely, so they did not fear,
but the sea engulfed their enemies.

54He brought them to His holy land,
to the mountain His right hand had acquired.

55He drove out nations before them
and apportioned their inheritance;

He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

56But they tested and disobeyed God Most High,
for they did not keep His decrees.

57They turned back and were faithless like their fathers,
twisted like a faulty bow.

58They enraged Him with their high places
and provoked His jealousy with their idols.

59On hearing it, God was furious
and rejected Israel completely.

60He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh,
the tent He had pitched among men.

61He delivered His strength to captivity,
and His splendor to the hand of the adversary.

62He surrendered His people to the sword
because He was enraged by His heritage.

63Fire consumed His young men,
and their maidens were left without wedding songs.

64His priests fell by the sword,
but their widows could not lament.

65Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a mighty warrior overcome by wine.

66He beat back His foes;

He put them to everlasting shame.

67He rejected the tent of Joseph
and refused the tribe of Ephraim.

68But He chose the tribe of Judah,

Mount Zion, which He loved.

69He built His sanctuary like the heights,
like the earth He has established forever.

70He chose David His servant
and took him from the sheepfolds;

71from tending the ewes He brought him
to be shepherd of His people Jacob,
of Israel His inheritance.

72So David shepherded them with integrity of heart
and guided them with skillful hands.

Footnotes:

1 a Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

2 b Or from ancient times; see also LXX; cited in Matthew 13:35

24 c Cited in John 6:31

33 d Or in vapor

35 e Hebrew El-Elyon

42 f Or His hand

47 g Or frost or driving rain

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A Prayer for Deliverance
(Psalm 74:1–23; Jeremiah 52:1–11)

A Psalm of Asaph.

1The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance;
they have defiled Your holy temple
and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

2They have given the corpses of Your servants
as food to the birds of the air,
the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.

3They have poured out their blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury the dead.

4We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
a scorn and derision to those around us.

5How long, O LORD?

Will You be angry forever?

Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

6Pour out Your wrath on the nations
that do not acknowledge You,
on the kingdoms
that refuse to call on Your name,

7for they have devoured Jacob
and devastated his homeland.

8Do not hold past sins against us;
let Your compassion come quickly,
for we are brought low.

9Help us, O God of our salvation,
for the glory of Your name;
deliver us and atone for our sins,
for the sake of Your name.

10Why should the nations ask,

“Where is their God?”

Before our eyes, make known among the nations

Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.

11May the groans of the captives reach You;
by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death.

12Pay back into the laps of our neighbors
sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord.

13Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture,
will thank You forever;
from generation to generation
we will declare Your praise.

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Hear Us, O Shepherd of Israel

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph.

1Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel,
who leads Joseph like a flock;

You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth 2before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.

Rally Your mighty power
and come to save us.

3Restore us, O God,
and cause Your face to shine upon us,
that we may be saved.

4O LORD God of Hosts,
how long will Your anger smolder
against the prayers of Your people?

5You fed them with the bread of tears
and made them drink the full measure of their tears.

6You make us contend with our neighbors;
our enemies mock us.

7Restore us, O God of Hosts,
and cause Your face to shine upon us,
that we may be saved.

8You uprooted a vine from Egypt;

You drove out the nations and transplanted it.

9You cleared the ground for it,
and it took root and filled the land.

10The mountains were covered by its shade,
and the mighty cedars with its branches.

11It sent out its branches to the Sea,a
and its shoots toward the River.b

12Why have You broken down its walls,
so that all who pass by pick its fruit?

13The boar from the forest ravages it,
and the creatures of the field feed upon it.

14Return, O God of Hosts, we pray!

Look down from heaven and see!

Attend to this vine—

15the root Your right hand has planted,
the son You have raised up for Yourself.

16Your vine has been cut down and burned;
they perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.

17Let Your hand be upon the man at Your right hand,
on the son of man You have raised up for Yourself.

18Then we will not turn away from You;
revive us, and we will call on Your name.

19Restore us, O LORD God of Hosts;
cause Your face to shine upon us,
that we may be saved.

Footnotes:

11 a That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea

11 b That is, the Euphrates

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◀   ◀   Psalm 81   ▶   ▶

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Sing for Joy to God Our Strength

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith.a Of Asaph.

1Sing for joy to God our strength;
make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

2Lift up a song, strike the tambourine,
play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

3Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon,
and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.

4For this is a statute for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5He ordained it as a testimony for Josephb
when he went out over the land of Egypt,
where I heard an unfamiliar language:

6“I relieved his shoulder of the burden;
his hands were freed from the basket.

7You called out in distress, and I rescued you;

I answered you from the cloud of thunder;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah.c

Selah

8Hear, O My people, and I will warn you:

O Israel, if only you would listen to Me!

9There must be no strange god among you,
nor shall you bow to a foreign god.

10I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.

Open wide your mouth,
and I will fill it.

11But My people would not listen to Me,
and Israel would not obey Me.

12So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.

13If only My people would listen to Me,
if Israel would follow My ways,

14how soon I would subdue their enemies
and turn My hand against their foes!

15Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience,
and their doom would last forever.

16But I would feed you the finest wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Footnotes:

1 a Gittith is probably a musical or liturgical term; here and in Psalms 8 and 84.

5 b Or in Joseph

7 c Meribah means quarreling; see Exodus 17:7.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 82   ▶   ▶

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God Presides in the Divine Assembly

A Psalm of Asaph.

1God presides in the divine assembly;

He renders judgment among the gods:

2“How long will you judge unjustlya
and show partiality to the wicked?

Selah

3Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.

4Rescue the weak and needy;
save them from the hand of the wicked.

5They do not know or understand;
they wander in the darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6I have said, ‘You are gods;
you are all sons of the Most High.’b

7But like mortals you will die,
and like rulers you will fall.”

8Arise, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are Your inheritance.

Footnotes:

2 a Or How long will you defend the unjust

6 b Cited in John 10:34

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◀   ◀   Psalm 83   ▶   ▶

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O God, Be Not Silent

A song. A Psalm of Asaph.

1O God, be not silent; be not speechless;a
be not still, O God.

2See how Your enemies rage,
how Your foes have reared their heads.

3With cunning they scheme against Your people
and conspire against those You cherish,

4saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation;
may the name of Israel be remembered no more.”

5For with one mind they plot together,
they form an alliance against You—

6the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
of Moab and the Hagrites,

7of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek,
of Philistia with the people of Tyre.

8Even Assyria has joined them,
lending strength to the sons of Lot.

Selah

9Do to them as You did to Midian,
as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon,

10who perished at Endor
and became like dung on the ground.

11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

12who said, “Let us possess for ourselves
the pastures of God.”

13Make them like tumbleweed, O my God,
like chaff before the wind.

14As fire consumes a forest,
as a flame sets the mountains ablaze,

15so pursue them with Your tempest,
and terrify them with Your storm.

16Cover their faces with shame,
that they may seek Your name, O LORD.

17May they be ever ashamed and terrified;
may they perish in disgrace.

18May they know that You alone,
whose name is the LORD,
are Most High over all the earth.

Footnotes:

1 a Or deaf

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◀   ◀   Psalm 84   ▶   ▶

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Better Is One Day in Your Courts
(John 1:14–18)

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith.a A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

1How lovely is Your dwelling place,

O LORD of Hosts!

2My soul longs, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.

3Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she places her young near Your altars,

O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God.

4How blessed are those who dwell in Your house!

They are ever praising You.

Selah

5Blessed are those whose strength is in You,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

6As they pass through the Valley of Baca,b
they make it a place of springs;
even the autumn rain covers it with pools.c

7They go from strength to strength,
until each appears before God in Zion.

8O LORD God of Hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob.

Selah

9Take notice of our shield, O God,
and look with favor on the face of Your anointed.

10For better is one day in Your courts
than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

11For the LORD God is a sun and a shield;
the LORD gives grace and glory;

He withholds no good thing
from those who walk with integrity.

12O LORD of Hosts,
how blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Footnotes:

1 a Gittith is probably a musical or liturgical term; here and in Psalms 8 and 81.

6 b Or Valley of Poplars

6 c Or with blessings

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You Showed Favor to Your Land

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

1You showed favor to Your land, O LORD;

You restored Jacob from captivity.a

2You forgave the iniquity of Your people;

You covered all their sin.

Selah

3You withheld all Your fury;

You turned from Your burning anger.

4Restore us, O God of our salvation,
and put away Your displeasure toward us.

5Will You be angry with us forever?

Will You draw out Your anger to all generations?

6Will You not revive us again,
that Your people may rejoice in You?

7Show us Your loving devotion, O LORD,
and grant us Your salvation.

8I will listen to what God the LORD will say;
for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints;

He will not let them return to folly.

9Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
that His glory may dwell in our land.

10Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together;
righteousness and peace have kissed.

11Faithfulness sprouts from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.

12The LORD will indeed provide what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.

13Righteousness will go before Him
to prepare the way for His steps.

Footnotes:

1 a Or restored the fortunes of Jacob

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◀   ◀   Psalm 86   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Tried but Trusting

A prayer of David.

1Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.

2Preserve my soul, for I am godly.

You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You.

3Be merciful to me, O Lord,
for I call to You all day long.

4Bring joy to Your servant,
for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

5For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving,
rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.

6Hear my prayer, O LORD,
and attend to my plea for mercy.

7In the day of my distress I call on You,
because You answer me.

8O Lord, there is none like You among the gods,
nor any works like Yours.

9All the nations You have made
will come and bow before You, O Lord,
and they will glorify Your name.

10For You are great and perform wonders;

You alone are God.

11Teach me Your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in Your truth.

Give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear Your name.

12I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart;

I will glorify Your name forever.

13For great is Your loving devotion to me;

You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol.

14The arrogant rise against me, O God;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
with no regard for You.

15But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.

16Turn to me and have mercy;
grant Your strength to Your servant;
save the son of Your maidservant.

17Show me a sign of Your goodness,
that my enemies may see and be ashamed;
for You, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 87   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Loves the Gates of Zion

A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.

1He has founded His city
on the holy mountains.a

2The LORD loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

3Glorious things are ascribed to you,

O city of God.

Selah

4“I will mention Rahabb and Babylon
among those who know Me—
along with Philistia, Tyre, and Cushc —
when I say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’ ”

5And it will be said of Zion:

“This one and that one were born in her,
and the Most High Himself will establish her.”

6The LORD will record in the register of the peoples:

“This one was born in Zion.”

Selah

7Singers and pipers will proclaim,

“All my springs of joy are in You.”

Footnotes:

1 a Literally His foundation is on the holy mountains

4 b Rahab is a poetic name for Egypt.

4 c That is, the upper Nile region

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◀   ◀   Psalm 88   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

I Cry Out before You

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth.a A Maskilb of Heman the Ezrahite.

1O LORD, the God of my salvation,
day and night I cry out before You.

2May my prayer come before You;
incline Your ear to my cry.

3For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.

4I am counted among those descending to the Pit.

I am like a man without strength.

5I am forsaken among the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom You remember no more,
who are cut off from Your care.

6You have laid me in the lowest Pit,
in the darkest of the depths.

7Your wrath weighs heavily upon me;
all Your waves have submerged me.

Selah

8You have removed my friends from me;

You have made me repulsive to them;

I am confined and cannot escape.

9My eyes grow dim with grief.

I call to You daily, O LORD;

I spread out my hands to You.

10Do You work wonders for the dead?

Do departed spirits rise up to praise You?

Selah

11Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave,

Your faithfulness in Abaddonc?

12Will Your wonders be known in the darkness,
or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

13But to You, O LORD, I cry for help;
in the morning my prayer comes before You.

14Why, O LORD, do You reject me?

Why do You hide Your face from me?

15From my youth I was afflicted and near death.

I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair.

16Your wrath has swept over me;

Your terrors have destroyed me.

17All day long they engulf me like water;
they enclose me on every side.

18You have removed my beloved and my friend;
darkness is my closest companion.

Footnotes:

1 a Mahalath Leannoth is probably a musical or liturgical term; see also Psalm 53:1.

1 b Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

11 c Abaddon means Destruction.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 89   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

I Will Sing of His Love Forever

A Maskila of Ethan the Ezrahite.

1I will sing of the loving devotion of the LORD forever;
with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations.

2For I have said, “Loving devotion is built up forever;
in the heavens You establish Your faithfulness.”

3You said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one,

I have sworn to David My servant:

4‘I will establish your offspring forever
and build up your throne for all generations.’ ”

Selah

5The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD—

Your faithfulness as well—
in the assembly of the holy ones.

6For who in the skies can compare with the LORD?

Who among the heavenly beingsb is like the LORD?

7In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared,
and awesome above all who surround Him.

8O LORD God of Hosts, who is like You?

O mighty LORD, Your faithfulness surrounds You.

9You rule the raging sea;
when its waves mount up, You still them.

10You crushed Rahab like a carcass;

You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.

11The heavens are Yours, and also the earth.

The earth and its fullness You founded.

12North and south You created;

Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.

13Mighty is Your arm; strong is Your hand.

Your right hand is exalted.

14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.

15Blessed are those who know the joyful sound,
who walk, O LORD, in the light of Your presence.

16They rejoice in Your name all day long,
and in Your righteousness they exult.

17For You are the glory of their strength,
and by Your favor our horn is exalted.

18Surely our shield belongs to the LORD,
and our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19You once spoke in a vision;
to Your godly ones You said,

“I have bestowed help on a warrior;

I have exalted one chosen from the people.

20I have found My servant David;
with My sacred oil I have anointed him.

21My hand will sustain him;
surely My arm will strengthen him.

22No enemy will exact tribute;
no wicked man will oppress him.

23I will crush his foes before him
and strike down those who hate him.

24My faithfulness and loving devotion will be with him,
and through My name his horn will be exalted.

25I will set his hand over the sea,
and his right hand upon the rivers.

26He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, the Rock of my salvation.’

27I will indeed appoint him as My firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.

28I will forever preserve My loving devotion for him,
and My covenant with him will stand fast.

29I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.

30If his sons forsake My law
and do not walk in My judgments,

31if they violate My statutes
and fail to keep My commandments,

32I will attend to their transgression with the rod,
and to their iniquity with stripes.

33But I will not withdraw My loving devotion from him,
nor ever betray My faithfulness.

34I will not violate My covenant
or alter the utterance of My lips.

35Once and for all I have sworn by My holiness—

I will not lie to David—

36his offspring shall endure forever,
and his throne before Me like the sun,

37like the moon, established forever,
a faithful witness in the sky.”

Selah

38Now, however, You have spurned and rejected him;

You are enraged by Your anointed one.

39You have renounced the covenant with Your servant
and sullied his crown in the dust.

40You have broken down all his walls;

You have reduced his strongholds to rubble.

41All who pass by plunder him;
he has become a reproach to his neighbors.

42You have exalted the right hand of his foes;

You have made all his enemies rejoice.

43You have bent the edge of his sword
and have not sustained him in battle.

44You have ended his splendor
and cast his throne to the ground.

45You have cut short the days of his youth;

You have covered him with shame.

Selah

46How long, O LORD?

Will You hide Yourself forever?

Will Your wrath keep burning like fire?

47Remember the briefness of my lifespan!

For what futility You have created all men!

48What man can live and never see death?

Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?

Selah

49Where, O Lord, is Your loving devotion of old,
which You faithfully swore to David?

50Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants,
which I bear in my heart from so many people—

51how Your enemies have taunted, O LORD,
and have mocked every step of Your anointed one!

52Blessed be the LORD forever!

Amen and amen.

Footnotes:

1 a Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

6 b Or the sons of God or the sons of might

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◀   ◀   Psalm 90   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

BOOK IV

Psalms 90–106

From Everlasting to Everlasting

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

1Lord, You have been our dwelling place
through all generations.

2Before the mountains were born
or You brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting

You are God.

3You return man to dust,
saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.”

4For in Your sight a thousand years
are but a day that passes,a
or a watch of the night.

5You whisk them away in their sleep;
they are like the new grass of the morning—

6in the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it fades and withers.

7For we are consumed by Your anger
and terrified by Your wrath.

8You have set our iniquities before You,
our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

9For all our days decline in Your fury;
we finish our years with a sigh.

10The length of our days is seventy years—
or eighty if we are strong—
yet their pride is but labor and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

11Who knows the power of Your anger?

Your wrath matches the fear You are due.

12So teach us to number our days,
that we may present a heart of wisdom.

13Return, O LORD! How long will it be?

Have compassion on Your servants.

14Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen evil.

16May Your work be shown to Your servants,
and Your splendor to their children.

17May the favorb of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish for us the work of our hands—
yes, establish the work of our hands!

Footnotes:

4 a See 2 Peter 3:8.

17 b Or beauty

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◀   ◀   Psalm 91   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

You Are My Refuge and My Fortress

1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.a

2I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

3Surely He will deliver you
from the snare of the fowler,
and from the deadly plague.

4He will cover you with His feathers;
under His wings you will find refuge;

His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.

5You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the calamity that destroys at noon.

7Though a thousand may fall at your side,
and ten thousand at your right hand,
no harm will come near you.

8You will only see it with your eyes
and witness the punishment of the wicked.

9Because you have made the LORD your dwelling—
my refuge, the Most High—

10no evil will befall you,
no plague will approach your tent.

11For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.

12They will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.b

13You will tread on the lion and cobra;
you will trample the young lion and serpent.

14“Because he loves Me, I will deliver him;
because he knows My name, I will protect him.

15When he calls out to Me,

I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble.

I will deliver him and honor him.

16With long life I will satisfy him
and show him My salvation.”

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew Shaddai

12 b Cited in Matthew 4:6 and Luke 4:10–11

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◀   ◀   Psalm 92   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

How Great Are Your Works!

A Psalm. A song for the Sabbath day.

1It is good to praise the LORD,
and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High,

2to proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning
and Your faithfulness at night

3with the ten-stringed harp
and the melody of the lyre.

4For You, O LORD, have made me glad by Your deeds;

I sing for joy at the works of Your hands.

5How great are Your works, O LORD,
how deep are Your thoughts!

6A senseless man does not know,
and a fool does not understand,

7that though the wicked sprout like grass,
and all evildoers flourish,
they will be forever destroyed.

8But You, O LORD, are exalted forever!

9For surely Your enemies, O LORD,
surely Your enemies will perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.

10But You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox;
with fine oil I have been anointed.

11My eyes see the downfall of my enemies;
my ears hear the wailing of my wicked foes.a

12The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13Planted in the house of the LORD,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.

14In old age they will still bear fruit;
healthy and green they will remain,

15to proclaim, “The LORD is upright; He is my Rock,
and in Him there is no unrighteousness.”

Footnotes:

11 a Or my ears hear evildoers when they rise against me

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◀   ◀   Psalm 93   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Reigns!
(Psalm 99:1–9)

1The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty;
the LORD has clothed and armed Himself with strength.

The world indeed is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.

2Your throne was established long ago;

You are from all eternity.

3The floodwaters have risen, O LORD;
the rivers have raised their voice;
the seas lift up their pounding waves.

4Above the roar of many waters—
the mighty breakers of the sea—
the LORD on high is majestic.

5Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
holiness adorns Your house, O LORD,
for all the days to come.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 94   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Will Not Forget His People

1O LORD, God of vengeance,

O God of vengeance, shine forth.

2Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
render a reward to the proud.

3How long will the wicked, O LORD,
how long will the wicked exult?

4They pour out arrogant words;
all workers of iniquity boast.

5They crush Your people, O LORD;
they oppress Your heritage.

6They kill the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.

7They say, “The LORD does not see;
the God of Jacob pays no heed.”

8Take notice, O senseless among the people!

O fools, when will you be wise?

9He who affixed the ear, can He not hear?

He who formed the eye, can He not see?

10He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline?

He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?

11The LORD knows the thoughts of man,
that they are futile.a

12Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD,
and teach from Your law,

13to grant him relief from days of trouble,
until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14For the LORD will not forsake His people;

He will never abandon His heritage.

15Surely judgment will again be righteous,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16Who will rise up for me against the wicked?

Who will stand for me against the workers of iniquity?

17Unless the LORD had been my helper,

I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

18If I say, “My foot is slipping,”

Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.

19When anxiety overwhelms me,

Your consolation delights my soul.

20Can a corrupt throne be Your ally—
one devising mischief by decree?

21They band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.b

22But the LORD has been my stronghold,
and my God is my rock of refuge.

23He will bring upon them their own iniquity
and destroy them for their wickedness.

The LORD our God will destroy them.

Footnotes:

11 a Cited in 1 Corinthians 3:20

21 b Or condemn innocent blood

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◀   ◀   Psalm 95   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Do Not Harden Your Hearts
(Hebrews 3:7–11)

1Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout to the Rock of our salvation!

2Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to Him in song.

3For the LORD is a great God,
a great King above all gods.

4In His hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to Him.

5The sea is His, for He made it,
and His hands formed the dry land.

6O come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

7For He is our God,
and we are the people of His pasture,
the sheep under His care.

Today, if you hear His voice,

8do not harden your hearts
as you did at Meribah,a
in the day at Massah in the wilderness,b

9where your fathers tested and tried Me,
though they had seen My work.

10For forty years I was angry with that generation,
and I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray,c
and they have not known My ways.”

11So I swore on oath in My anger,

“They shall never enter My rest.”d

Footnotes:

8 a LXX as you did in the rebellion; Meribah means quarreling; see Exodus 17:7; cited in Hebrews 3:15 and Hebrews 4:7.

8 b LXX in the day of testing in the wilderness; Massah means testing; see Exodus 17:7.

10 c LXX They always go astray in the heart

11 d Cited in Hebrews 3:7–11, Hebrews 4:3, and Hebrews 4:5

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◀   ◀   Psalm 96   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Sing to the LORD, All the Earth
(1 Chronicles 16:23–36)

1Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.

2Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
proclaim His salvation day after day.

3Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonderful deeds among all peoples.

4For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

He is to be feared above all gods.

5For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but it is the LORD who made the heavens.

6Splendor and majesty are before Him;
strength and beauty fill His sanctuary.

7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
bring an offering and enter His courts.

9Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness;
tremble before Him, all the earth.

10Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!”

The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved;

He will judge the peoples with equity.

11Let the heavens be glad
and the earth rejoice;
let the sea resound,
and all that fills it.

12Let the fields exult,
and all that is in them.

Then all the trees of the forest
will sing for joy 13before the LORD,
for He is coming—

He is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in His faithfulness.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 97   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Let the Earth Rejoice

1The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the distant shores be glad.

2Clouds and darkness surround Him;
righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.

3Fire goes before Him
and consumes His foes on every side.

4His lightning illuminates the world;
the earth sees and trembles.

5The mountains melt like wax
at the presence of the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.

6The heavens proclaim His righteousness;
all the peoples see His glory.

7All worshipers of images are put to shame—
those who boast in idols.

Worship Him, all you gods!

8Zion hears and rejoices,
and the towns of Judah exult
because of Your judgments, O LORD.

9For You, O LORD, are Most High over all the earth;

You are exalted far above all gods.

10Hate evil, O you who love the LORD!

He preserves the souls of His saints;

He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11Light shinesa on the righteous,
gladness on the upright in heart.

12Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones,
and praise His holy name.

Footnotes:

11 a One Hebrew manuscript, LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts Light is sown

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◀   ◀   Psalm 98   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Sing to the LORD a New Song
(Psalm 149:1–9; Isaiah 42:10–17)

A Psalm.

1Sing to the LORD a new song,
for He has done wonders;

His right hand and holy arm
have gained Him the victory.

2The LORD has proclaimed His salvation
and revealed His righteousness to the nations.

3He has remembered His love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth
have seen the salvation of our God.

4Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth—let your cry ring out, and sing praises!

5Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
in melodious song with the harp.

6With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

7Let the sea resound, and all that fills it,
the world, and all who dwell in it.

8Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy

9before the LORD,
for He comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness
and the peoples with equity.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 99   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Reigns!
(Psalm 93:1–5)

1The LORD reigns;
let the nations tremble!

He is enthroned above the cherubim;
let the earth quake!

2Great is the LORD in Zion;

He is exalted above all the peoples.

3Let them praise Your great and awesome name—

He is holy!a

4The mighty King loves justice.b

You have established equity;

You have exercised justice
and righteousness in Jacob.

5Exalt the LORD our God,
and worship at His footstool;

He is holy!

6Moses and Aaron were among His priests;

Samuel was among those who called on His name.

They called to the LORD and He answered.

7He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
they kept His decrees and the statutes He gave them.

8O LORD our God, You answered them.

You were a forgiving God to them,
yet an avenger of their misdeeds.

9Exalt the LORD our God
and worship at His holy mountain,
for the LORD our God is holy.

Footnotes:

3 a Or it is holy!

4 b Or The might of the King loves justice.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 100   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Make a Joyful Noise
(Psalm 66:1–20)

A Psalm of thanksgiving.

1Make a joyful noise to the LORD,
all the earth.

2Serve the LORD with gladness;
come into His presence with joyful songs.

3Know that the LORD is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His;a
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

4Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and bless His name.

5For the LORD is good,
and His loving devotion endures forever;

His faithfulness continues to all generations.

Footnotes:

3 a Or and not we ourselves

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◀   ◀   Psalm 101   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

I Will Set No Worthless Thing before My Eyes

A Psalm of David.

1I will sing of Your loving devotion and justice;
to You, O LORD, I will sing praises.

2I will ponder the way that is blameless—
when will You come to me?

I will walk in my house
with integrity of heart.

3I will set no worthless thing
before my eyes.

I hate the work of those who fall away;
it shall not cling to me.

4A perverse heart shall depart from me;

I will know nothing of evil.

5Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,

I will put to silence;
the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart,

I will not endure.

6My eyes favor the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me;
he who walks in the way of integrity
shall minister to me.

7No one who practices deceit
shall dwell in my house;
no one who tells lies
shall stand in my presence.

8Every morning I will remove all the wicked of the land,
that I may cut off every evildoer from the city of the LORD.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 102   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Prayer of the Afflicted

A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.

1Hear my prayer, O LORD;
let my cry for help come before You.

2Do not hide Your face from me
in my day of distress.

Incline Your ear to me;
answer me quickly when I call.

3For my days vanish like smoke,
and my bones burn like glowing embers.

4My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass;

I even forget to eat my bread.

5Through my loud groaning
my flesh clings to my bones.

6I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins.

7I lie awake;

I am like a lone bird on a housetop.

8All day long my enemies taunt me;
they ridicule me and curse me.

9For I have eaten ashes like bread
and mixed my drink with tears

10because of Your indignation and wrath,
for You have picked me up and cast me aside.

11My days are like lengthening shadows,
and I wither away like grass.

12But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever;

Your renown endures to all generations.

13You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show her favor—
the appointed time has come.

14For Your servants delight in her stones
and take pity on her dust.

15So the nations will fear the name of the LORD,
and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.

16For the LORD will rebuild Zion;

He has appeared in His glory.

17He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute;

He will not despise their prayer.

18Let this be written for the generation to come,
so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.

19For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary;
the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth

20to hear a prisoner’s groaning,
to release those condemned to death,

21that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion
and praise Him in Jerusalem,

22when peoples and kingdoms assemble
to serve the LORD.

23He has broken my strength on the way;

He has cut short my days.

24I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days!

Your years go on through all generations.

25In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

26They will perish, but You remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.

Like clothing You will change them,
and they will be passed on.

27But You remain the same,
and Your years will never end.a

28The children of Your servants will dwell securely,
and their descendants will be established before You.”

Footnotes:

27 a Cited in Hebrews 1:10–12

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◀   ◀   Psalm 103   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Bless the LORD, O My Soul

Of David.

1Bless the LORD, O my soul;
all that is within me, bless His holy name.

2Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and do not forget all His kind deeds—

3He who forgives all your iniquities
and heals all your diseases,

4who redeems your life from the Pit
and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion,

5who satisfies you with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6The LORD executes righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7He made known His ways to Moses,

His deeds to the people of Israel.

8The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.

9He will not always accuse us,
nor harbor His anger forever.

10He has not dealt with us according to our sins
or repaid us according to our iniquities.

11For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.

12As far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

14For He knows our frame;

He is mindful that we are dust.

15As for man, his days are like grass—
he blooms like a flower of the field;

16when the wind passes over, it vanishes,
and its place remembers it no more.

17But from everlasting to everlasting
the loving devotion of the LORD
extends to those who fear Him,
and His righteousness to their children’s children—

18to those who keep His covenant
and remember to obey His precepts.

19The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
and His kingdom rules over all.

20Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength
who carry out His word,
who hearken to the voice of His command.

21Bless the LORD, all His hosts,
you servants who do His will.

22Bless the LORD, all His works
in all places of His dominion.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

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◀   ◀   Psalm 104   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

How Many Are Your Works, O LORD!

1Bless the LORD, O my soul!

O LORD my God, You are very great;

You are clothed with splendor and majesty.

2He wraps Himself in light as with a garment;

He stretches out the heavens like a tent,

3laying the beams of His chambers
in the waters above,
making the clouds His chariot,
walking on the wings of the wind.

4He makes the winds His messengers,
flames of fire His servants.a

5He set the earth on its foundations,
never to be moved.

6You covered it with the deep like a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.

7At Your rebuke the waters fled;
at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away—

8the mountains rose and the valleys sank
to the place You assigned for them—

9You set a boundary they cannot cross,
that they may never again cover the earth.

10He sends forth springs in the valleys;
they flow between the mountains.

11They give drink to every beast of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

12The birds of the air nest beside the springs;
they sing among the branches.

13He waters the mountains from His chambers;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His works.

14He makes the grass grow for the livestock
and provides crops for man to cultivate,
bringing forth food from the earth:

15wine that gladdens the heart of man,
oil that makes his face to shine,
and bread that sustains his heart.

16The trees of the LORD have their fill,
the cedars of Lebanon that He planted,

17where the birds build their nests;
the stork makes her home in the cypresses.b

18The high mountains are for the wild goats,
the cliffs a refuge for the rock badgers.c

19He made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows when to set.

20You bring darkness, and it becomes night,
when all the beasts of the forest prowl.

21The young lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.

22The sun rises, and they withdraw;
they lie down in their dens.

23Man goes forth to his work
and to his labor until evening.

24How many are Your works, O LORD!

In wisdom You have made them all;
the earth is full of Your creatures.

25Here is the sea, vast and wide,
teeming with creatures beyond number,
living things both great and small.

26There the ships pass,
and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there.

27All creatures look to You
to give them their food in due season.

28When You give it to them,
they gather it up;
when You open Your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.

29When You hide Your face,
they are terrified;
when You take away their breath,
they die and return to dust.

30When You send Your Spirit,d
they are created,
and You renew
the face of the earth.

31May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in His works.

32He looks on the earth,
and it trembles;

He touches the mountains,
and they smolder.

33I will sing to the LORD all my life;

I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

34May my meditation be pleasing to Him,
for I rejoice in the LORD.

35May sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.

Bless the LORD, O my soul.

Hallelujah!e

Footnotes:

4 a LXX He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire. Cited in Hebrews 1:7

17 b Or pines or junipers or firs

18 c Or the coneys or the hyraxes

30 d Or breath

35 e Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD

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◀   ◀   Psalm 105   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Tell of His Wonders
(1 Chronicles 16:7–22)

1Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
make known His deeds among the nations.

2Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
tell of all His wonders.

3Glory in His holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

4Seek out the LORD and His strength;
seek His face always.

5Remember the wonders He has done,

His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

6O offspring of His servant Abraham,

O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.

7He is the LORD our God;

His judgments carry throughout the earth.

8He remembers His covenant forever,
the word He ordained for a thousand generations—

9the covenant He made with Abraham,
and the oath He swore to Isaac.

10He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

11“I will give you the land of Canaan
as the portion of your inheritance.”

12When they were few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in the land,

13they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.

14He let no man oppress them;

He rebuked kings on their behalf:

15“Do not touch My anointed ones!

Do no harm to My prophets!”

16He called down famine on the land
and cut off all their suppliesa of food.

17He sent a man before them—

Joseph, sold as a slave.

18They bruised his feet with shackles
and placed his neck in irons,

19until his prediction came true
and the word of the LORD proved him right.

20The king sent and released him;
the ruler of peoples set him free.

21He made him master of his household,
ruler over all his substance,

22to instructb his princes as he pleased
and teach his elders wisdom.

23Then Israel entered Egypt;

Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.

24And the LORD made His people very fruitful,
more numerous than their foes,

25whose hearts He turned to hate His people,
to conspire against His servants.

26He sent Moses His servant,
and Aaron, whom He had chosen.

27They performed His miraculous signs among them,
and wonders in the land of Ham.

28He sent darkness, and it became dark—
yet they defied His words.c

29He turned their waters to blood
and caused their fish to die.

30Their land teemed with frogs,
even in their royal chambers.

31He spoke, and insects swarmed—
gnats throughout their country.

32He gave them hail for rain,
with lightning throughout their land.

33He struck their vines and fig trees
and shattered the trees of their country.

34He spoke, and the locusts came—
young locusts without number.

35They devoured every plant in their land
and consumed the produce of their soil.

36Then He struck all the firstborn in their land,
the firstfruits of all their vigor.

37He brought Israel out with silver and gold,
and none among His tribes stumbled.

38Egypt was glad when they departed,
for the dread of Israel had fallen on them.

39He spread a cloud as a covering
and a fire to light up the night.

40They asked, and He brought quail
and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

41He opened a rock, and water gushed out;
it flowed like a river in the desert.

42For He remembered His holy promise
to Abraham His servant.

43He brought forth His people with rejoicing,

His chosen with shouts of joy.

44He gave them the lands of the nations,
that they might inherit the fruit of others’ labor,

45that they might keep His statutes
and obey His laws.

Hallelujah!d

Footnotes:

16 a Hebrew staff

22 b LXX and Syriac; MT to bind

28 c LXX and Syriac; Hebrew for had they not defied His words?

45 d Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD

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◀   ◀   Psalm 106   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Give Thanks to the LORD, for He Is Good

1Hallelujah!a

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

His loving devotion endures forever.

2Who can describe the mighty acts of the LORD
or fully proclaim His praise?

3Blessed are those who uphold justice,
who practice righteousness at all times.

4Remember me, O LORD, in Your favor to Your people;
visit me with Your salvation,

5that I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones,
and rejoice in the gladness of Your nation,
and give glory with Your inheritance.

6We have sinned like our fathers;
we have done wrong and acted wickedly.

7Our fathers in Egypt did not grasp Your wonders
or remember Your abundant kindness;
but they rebelled by the sea,
there at the Red Sea.b

8Yet He saved them for the sake of His name,
to make His power known.

9He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;

He led them through the depths as through a desert.

10He saved them from the hand that hated them;

He redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11The waters covered their foes;
not one of them remained.

12Then they believed His promises
and sang His praise.

13Yet they soon forgot His works
and failed to wait for His counsel.

14They craved intensely in the wilderness
and tested God in the desert.

15So He granted their request,
but sent a wasting disease upon them.

16In the camp they envied Moses,
as well as Aaron, the holy one of the LORD.

17The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan;
it covered the assembly of Abiram.

18Then fire blazed through their company;
flames consumed the wicked.

19At Horebc they made a calf
and worshiped a molten image.

20They exchanged their Gloryd
for the image of a grass-eating ox.

21They forgot God their Savior,
who did great things in Egypt,

22wondrous works in the land of Ham,
and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.

23So He said He would destroy them—
had not Moses His chosen one
stood before Him in the breach
to divert His wrath from destroying them.

24They despised the pleasant land;
they did not believe His promise.

25They grumbled in their tents
and did not listen to the voice of the LORD.

26So He raised His hand and swore
to cast them down in the wilderness,

27to dispersee their offspring among the nations
and scatter them throughout the lands.

28They yoked themselves to Baal of Peor
and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods.

29So they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds,
and a plague broke out among them.

30But Phinehas stood and intervened,
and the plague was restrained.

31It was credited to him as righteousness
for endless generations to come.

32At the waters of Meribahf they angered the LORD,
and trouble came to Moses because of them.

33For they rebelled against His Spirit,g
and Moses spoke rashly with his lips.

34They did not destroy the peoples
as the LORD had commanded them,

35but they mingled with the nations
and adopted their customs.

36They worshiped their idols,
which became a snare to them.

37They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to demons.

38They shed innocent blood—
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood.

39They defiled themselves by their actions
and prostituted themselves by their deeds.

40So the anger of the LORD burned against His people,
and He abhorred His own inheritance.

41He delivered them into the hand of the nations,
and those who hated them ruled over them.

42Their enemies oppressed them,
and subdued them under their hand.

43Many times He rescued them,
but they were bent on rebellion
and sank down in their iniquity.

44Nevertheless He heard their cry;

He took note of their distress.

45And He remembered His covenant with them,
and relented by the abundance of His loving devotion.

46He made them objects of compassion
to all who held them captive.

47Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to Your holy name,
that we may glory in Your praise.

48Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.

Let all the people say, “Amen!”

Hallelujah!

Footnotes:

1 a Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD; also in verse 48

7 b Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verses 9 and 22

19 c That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

20 d Or their glorious God

27 e Or cast down or cause to fall

32 f Meribah means quarreling; see Exodus 17:7.

33 g Or they provoked His Spirit

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◀   ◀   Psalm 107   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

BOOK V

Psalms 107–150

Thanksgiving for Deliverance
(Matthew 8:23–27; Mark 4:35–41; Luke 8:22–25)

1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

His loving devotion endures forever.

2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy

3and gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.a

4Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no path to a city in which to dwell.

5They were hungry and thirsty;
their soul fainted within them.

6Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and He delivered them from their distress.

7He led them on a straight path
to reach a city where they could live.

8Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion
and His wonders to the sons of men.

9For He satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.

10Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and chains,

11because they rebelled against the words of God
and despised the counsel of the Most High.

12He humbled their hearts with hard labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

13Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and He saved them from their distress.

14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death
and broke away their chains.

15Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion
and His wonders to the sons of men.

16For He has broken down the gates of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron.

17Fools, in their rebellious ways,
and through their iniquities, suffered affliction.

18They loathed all food
and drew near to the gates of death.

19Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and He saved them from their distress.

20He sent forth His word and healed them;

He rescued them from the Pit.

21Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion
and His wonders to the sons of men.

22Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
and declare His works with rejoicing.

23Others went out to sea in ships,
conducting trade on the mighty waters.

24They saw the works of the LORD,
and His wonders in the deep.

25For He spoke and raised a tempest
that lifted the waves of the sea.

26They mounted up to the heavens, then sunk to the depths;
their courage melted in their anguish.

27They reeled and staggered like drunkards,
and all their skill was useless.b

28Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and He brought them out of their distress.

29He calmed the storm to a whisper,
and the waves of the seac were hushed.

30They rejoiced in the silence,
and He guided them to the harbor they desired.

31Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion
and His wonders to the sons of men.

32Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people
and praise Him in the council of the elders.

33He turns rivers into deserts,
springs of water into thirsty ground,

34and fruitful land into fields of salt,
because of the wickedness of its dwellers.

35He turns a desert into pools of water
and a dry land into flowing springs.

36He causes the hungry to settle there,
that they may establish a city in which to dwell.

37They sow fields and plant vineyards
that yield a fruitful harvest.

38He blesses them, and they multiply greatly;

He does not let their herds diminish.

39When they are decreased and humbled
by oppression, evil, and sorrow,

40He pours out contempt on the nobles
and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.

41But He lifts the needy from affliction
and increases their families like flocks.

42The upright see and rejoice,
and all iniquity shuts its mouth.

43Let him who is wise pay heed to these things
and consider the loving devotion of the LORD.

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew north and the sea

27 b Or and all their wisdom was swallowed up or and they were at their wits’ end

29 c DSS; MT their waves

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◀   ◀   Psalm 108   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Israel’s Kingdom Blessing
(Psalm 57:1–11; Psalm 60:1–12)

A song. A Psalm of David.

1My heart is steadfast, O God;

I will sing and make music with all my being.a

2Awake, O harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.

3I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations;

I will sing Your praises among the peoples.

4For Your loving devotion extends beyond the heavens,
and Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
may Your glory cover all the earth.

6Respond and save us with Your right hand,
that Your beloved may be delivered.

7God has spoken from His sanctuary:b

“I will triumph!

I will parcel out Shechem
and apportion the Valley of Succoth.

8Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;

Ephraim is My helmet, Judah is My scepter.

9Moab is My washbasin;
upon Edom I toss My sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

10Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

11Have You not rejected us, O God?

Will You no longer march out, O God, with our armies?

12Give us aid against the enemy,
for the help of man is worthless.

13With God we will perform with valor,
and He will trample our enemies.

Footnotes:

1 a Or with my glory

7 b Or in His holiness

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◀   ◀   Psalm 109   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Song of the Slandered

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1O God of my praise,
be not silent.

2For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me;
they speak against me with lying tongues.

3They surround me with hateful words
and attack me without cause.

4In return for my love they accuse me,
but I am a man of prayer.

5They repay me evil for good,
and hatred for my love.

6Set over him a wicked man;
let an accuser stand at his right hand.

7When he is tried, let him be found guilty,
and may his prayer be regarded as sin.

8May his days be few;
may another take his position.a

9May his children be fatherless
and his wife a widow.

10May his children wander as beggars,
seeking sustenanceb far from their ruined homes.

11May the creditor seize all he owns,
and strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.

12May there be no one to extend kindness to him,
and no one to favor his fatherless children.

13May his descendants be cut off;
may their name be blotted out from the next generation.

14May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD,
and the sin of his mother never be blotted out.

15May their sins always remain before the LORD,
that He may cut off their memory from the earth.

16For he never thought to show kindness,
but pursued the poor and needy and brokenhearted,
even to their death.

17The cursing that he loved,
may it fall on him;
the blessing in which he refused to delight,
may it be far from him.

18The cursing that he wore like a coat,
may it soak into his body like water,
and into his bones like oil.

19May it be like a robe wrapped about him,
like a belt tied forever around him.

20May this be the LORD’s reward to my accusers,
to those who speak evil against me.

21But You, O GOD, the Lord,
deal kindly with me for the sake of Your name;
deliver me by the goodness of Your loving devotion.

22For I am poor and needy;
my heart is wounded within me.

23I am fading away like a lengthening shadow;

I am shaken off like a locust.

24My knees are weak from fasting,
and my body grows lean and gaunt.

25I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
when they see me, they shake their heads.

26Help me, O LORD my God;
save me according to Your loving devotion.

27Let them know that this is Your hand,
that You, O LORD, have done it.

28Though they curse, You will bless.

When they rise up, they will be put to shame,
but Your servant will rejoice.

29May my accusers be clothed with disgrace;
may they wear their shame like a robe.

30With my mouth I will thank the LORD profusely;

I will praise Him in the presence of many.

31For He stands at the right hand of the needy one,
to save him from the condemners of his soul.

Footnotes:

8 a Cited in Acts 1:20

10 b Hebrew; LXX may they be driven

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◀   ◀   Psalm 110   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

God’s Faithful Messiah
(Genesis 14:17–24; Hebrews 5:1–10)

A Psalm of David.

1The LORD said to my Lord:

“Sit at My right hand
until I make Your enemies
a footstool for Your feet.”a

2The LORD extends Your mighty scepter from Zion:

“Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”

3Your people shall be willing
on Your day of battle.

Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn,
to You belongs the dew of Your youth.

4The LORD has sworn
and will not change His mind:

“You are a priest forever
in the order of Melchizedek.”b

5The Lord is at Your right hand;

He will crush kings in the day of His wrath.

6He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead;

He will crush the leaders far and wide.

7He will drink from the brook by the road;
therefore He will lift up His head.

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42–43, Acts 2:34–35, and Hebrews 1:13

4 b Cited in Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 7:17, and Hebrews 7:21

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◀   ◀   Psalm 111   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Majestic Is His Work

1Hallelujah!a

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

2Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.

3Splendid and majestic is His work;

His righteousness endures forever.

4He has caused His wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

5He provides food for those who fear Him;

He remembers His covenant forever.

6He has shown His people the power of His works
by giving them the inheritance of the nations.

7The works of His hands are truth and justice;
all His precepts are trustworthy.

8They are upheld forever and ever,
enacted in truth and uprightness.

9He has sent redemption to His people;

He has ordained His covenant forever;
holy and awesome is His name.

10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding.

His praise endures forever!

Footnotes:

1 a Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD. This psalm is an acrostic poem, each line beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 112   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Blessed Fear of the LORD
(Psalm 128:1–6)

1Hallelujah!a

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in His commandments.

2His descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.

4Light dawns in the darkness for the upright—
for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous.

5It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely,
whose affairs are guided by justice.

6Surely he will never be shaken;
the righteous man will be remembered forever.

7He does not fear bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

8His heart is assured; he does not fear,
until he looks in triumph on his foes.

9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever;b
his horn will be lifted high in honor.

10The wicked man will see and be grieved;
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the desires of the wicked will perish.

Footnotes:

1 a Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD. This psalm is an acrostic poem, each line beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

9 b Cited in 2 Corinthians 9:9

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◀   ◀   Psalm 113   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Exalts the Humble
(1 Samuel 1:1–8)

1Hallelujah!a

Give praise, O servants of the LORD;
praise the name of the LORD.

2Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forevermore.

3From where the sun rises to where it sets,
the name of the LORD is praised.

4The LORD is exalted over all the nations,

His glory above the heavens.

5Who is like the LORD our God,
the One enthroned on high?

6He humbles Himself to behold
the heavens and the earth.

7He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the dump

8to seat them with nobles,
with the princes of His people.

9He settles the barren woman in her home
as a joyful mother to her children.

Hallelujah!

Footnotes:

1 a Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD; also in verse 9

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◀   ◀   Psalm 114   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Psalm of Exodus

1When Israel departed from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,

2Judah became God’s sanctuary,
and Israel His dominion.

3The sea observed and fled;
the Jordan turned back;

4the mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like lambs.

5Why was it, O sea, that you fled,

O Jordan, that you turned back,

6O mountains, that you skipped like rams,

O hills, like lambs?

7Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,

8who turned the rock into a pool,
the flint into a fountain of water!

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◀   ◀   Psalm 115   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

To Your Name Be the Glory
(Psalm 135:1–21)

1Not to us, O LORD, not to us,
but to Your name be the glory,
because of Your loving devotion,
because of Your faithfulness.

2Why should the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

3Our God is in heaven;

He does as He pleases.

4Their idols are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.

5They have mouths, but cannot speak;
they have eyes, but cannot see;

6they have ears, but cannot hear;
they have noses, but cannot smell;

7they have hands, but cannot feel;
they have feet, but cannot walk;
they cannot even clear their throats.a

8Those who make them become like them,
as do all who trust in them.

9O Israel,b trust in the LORD!

He is their help and shield.

10O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD!

He is their help and shield.

11You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!

He is their help and shield.

12The LORD is mindful of us;

He will bless us.

He will bless the house of Israel;

He will bless the house of Aaron;

13He will bless those who fear the LORD—
small and great alike.

14May the LORD give you increase,
both you and your children.

15May you be blessed by the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

16The highest heavens belong to the LORD,
but the earth He has given to mankind.

17It is not the dead who praise the LORD,
nor any who descend into silence.

18But it is we who will bless the LORD,
both now and forevermore.

Hallelujah!c

Footnotes:

7 a Literally they cannot utter with their throat

9 b MT; many Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac O house of Israel

18 c Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD

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◀   ◀   Psalm 116   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Has Heard My Voice

1I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice—
my appeal for mercy.

2Because He has inclined His ear to me,

I will call on Him as long as I live.

3The ropes of death entangled me;
the anguish of Sheol overcame me;

I was confronted by trouble and sorrow.

4Then I called on the name of the LORD:

“O LORD, deliver my soul!”

5The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.

6The LORD preserves the simplehearted;

I was helpless, and He saved me.

7Return to your rest, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.

8For You have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.

9I will walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

10I believed, therefore I said,a

“I am greatly afflicted.”

11In my alarm I said,

“All men are liars!”

12How can I repay the LORD
for all His goodness to me?

13I will lift the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD.

14I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all His people.

15Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of His saints.

16Truly, O LORD, I am Your servant;

I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant;

You have broken my bonds.

17I will offer to You a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the LORD.

18I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all His people,

19in the courts of the LORD’s house,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Hallelujah!b

Footnotes:

10 a LXX therefore I have spoken; cited in 2 Corinthians 4:13

19 b Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD

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◀   ◀   Psalm 117   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Extol Him, All You Peoples

1Praise the LORD, all you nations!

Extol Him, all you peoples!a

2For great is His loving devotion toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

Hallelujah!b

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in Romans 15:11

2 b Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD

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◀   ◀   Psalm 118   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Is on My Side

1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

His loving devotion endures forever.

2Let Israela say,

“His loving devotion endures forever.”

3Let the house of Aaron say,

“His loving devotion endures forever.”

4Let those who fear the LORD say,

“His loving devotion endures forever.”

5In my distress I called to the LORD,
and He answered and set me free.

6The LORD is on my side;b I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?c

7The LORD is on my side; He is my helper.

Therefore I will look in triumph on those who hate me.

8It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.

9It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

10All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

11They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

12They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were extinguished like burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

13I was pushed so hard I was falling,
but the LORD helped me.

14The LORD is my strength and my song,
and He has become my salvation.

15Shouts of joy and salvation resound in the tents of the righteous:

“The right hand of the LORD performs with valor!

16The right hand of the LORD is exalted!

The right hand of the LORD performs with valor!”

17I will not die, but I will live
and proclaim what the LORD has done.

18The LORD disciplined me severely,
but He has not given me over to death.

19Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter and give thanks to the LORD.

20This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.

21I will give You thanks, for You have answered me,
and You have become my salvation.

22The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.d

23This is from the LORD,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.e

24This is the day that the LORD has made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25O LORD, save us, we pray.f

We beseech You, O LORD, cause us to prosper!

26Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.g

From the house of the LORD we bless you.

27The LORD is God;

He has made His light to shine upon us.

Bind the festal sacrifice with cords
to the horns of the altar.h

28You are my God, and I will give You thanks.

You are my God, and I will exalt You.

29Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

His loving devotion endures forever.

Footnotes:

2 a LXX the house of Israel

6 b Or The LORD is with me; also in verse 7; LXX The Lord is my helper

6 c Cited in Hebrews 13:6

22 d Hebrew the head of the corner; cited in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, and 1 Peter 2:7

23 e Cited in Matthew 21:42 and Mark 12:11

25 f Hebrew hosia-na, meaning save, we pray or save now; see Matthew 21:9, Matthew 21:15, Mark 11:9, and John 12:13.

26 g Cited in Matthew 21:9, Matthew 23:39, Mark 11:9, Luke 13:35, Luke 19:38, and John 12:13

27 h Or Join in the festal procession with boughs in hand, up to the horns of the altar.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 119   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

ALEPH

1Blesseda are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the Law of the LORD.

2Blessed are those who keep His testimonies
and seek Him with all their heart.

3They do no iniquity;
they walk in His ways.

4You have ordained Your precepts,
that we should keep them diligently.

5Oh, that my ways were committed
to keeping Your statutes!

6Then I would not be ashamed
when I consider all Your commandments.

7I will praise You with an upright heart
when I learn Your righteous judgments.

8I will keep Your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.

BETH

9How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to Your word.

10With all my heart I have sought You;
do not let me stray from Your commandments.

11I have hidden Your word in my heart
that I might not sin against You.

12Blessed are You, O LORD;
teach me Your statutes.

13With my lips I proclaim
all the judgments of Your mouth.

14I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies
as much as in all riches.

15I will meditate on Your precepts
and regard Your ways.

16I will delight in Your statutes;

I will not forget Your word.

GIMEL

17Deal bountifully with Your servant,
that I may live and keep Your word.

18Open my eyes that I may see
wondrous things from Your law.

19I am a stranger on the earth;
do not hide Your commandments from me.

20My soul is consumed with longing
for Your judgments at all times.

21You rebuke the arrogant—
the cursed who stray from Your commandments.

22Remove my scorn and contempt,
for I have kept Your testimonies.

23Though rulers sit and slander me,

Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

24Your testimonies are indeed my delight;
they are my counselors.

DALETH

25My soul cleaves to the dust;
revive me according to Your word.

26I recounted my ways, and You answered me;
teach me Your statutes.

27Make clear to me the way of Your precepts;
then I will meditate on Your wonders.

28My soul melts with sorrow;
strengthen me according to Your word.

29Remove me from the path of deceit
and graciously grant me Your law.

30I have chosen the way of truth;

I have set Your ordinances before me.

31I cling to Your testimonies, O LORD;
let me not be put to shame.

32I run in the path of Your commandments,
for You will enlarge my heart.

HE

33Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
and I will keep them to the end.b

34Give me understanding that I may obey Your law,
and follow it with all my heart.

35Direct me in the path of Your commandments,
for there I find delight.

36Turn my heart to Your testimonies
and not to covetous gain.

37Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
revive me with Your word.c

38Establish Your word to Your servant,
to produce reverence for You.

39Turn away the disgrace I dread,
for Your judgments are good.

40How I long for Your precepts!

Revive me in Your righteousness.

WAW

41May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD,

Your salvation, according to Your promise.

42Then I can answer him who taunts,
for I trust in Your word.

43Never take Your word of truth from my mouth,
for I hope in Your judgments.

44I will always obey Your law,
forever and ever.

45And I will walk in freedom,
for I have sought Your precepts.

46I will speak of Your testimonies before kings,
and I will not be ashamed.

47I delight in Your commandments
because I love them.

48I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love,
and I meditate on Your statutes.

ZAYIN

49Remember Your word to Your servant,
upon which You have given me hope.

50This is my comfort in affliction,
that Your promise has given me life.

51The arrogant utterly deride me,
but I do not turn from Your law.

52I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD,
and in them I find comfort.

53Rage has taken hold of me
because of the wicked who reject Your law.

54Your statutes are songs to me
in the house of my pilgrimage.

55In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name,
that I may keep Your law.

56This is my practice,
for I obey Your precepts.

HETH

57The LORD is my portion;

I have promised to keep Your words.

58I have sought Your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to Your promise.

59I considered my ways
and turned my steps to Your testimonies.

60I hurried without hesitating
to keep Your commandments.

61Though the ropes of the wicked bind me,

I do not forget Your law.

62At midnight I rise to give You thanks
for Your righteous judgments.

63I am a friend to all who fear You,
and to those who keep Your precepts.

64The earth is filled with Your loving devotion, O LORD;
teach me Your statutes.

TETH

65You are good to Your servant, O LORD,
according to Your word.

66Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in Your commandments.

67Before I was afflicted, I went astray;
but now I keep Your word.

68You are good, and You do what is good;
teach me Your statutes.

69Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,

I keep Your precepts with all my heart.

70Their hearts are hardd and callous,
but I delight in Your law.

71It was good for me to be afflicted,
that I might learn Your statutes.

72The law from Your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

YODH

73Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
give me understanding to learn Your commandments.

74May those who fear You see me and rejoice,
for I have hoped in Your word.

75I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous,
and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

76May Your loving devotion comfort me, I pray,
according to Your promise to Your servant.

77May Your compassion come to me, that I may live,
for Your law is my delight.

78May the arrogant be put to shame for subverting me with a lie;

I will meditate on Your precepts.

79May those who fear You turn to me,
those who know Your testimonies.

80May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame.

KAPH

81My soul faints for Your salvation;

I wait for Your word.

82My eyes fail, looking for Your promise;

I ask, “When will You comfort me?”

83Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke,

I do not forget Your statutes.

84How many days must Your servant wait?e

When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?

85The arrogant have dug pits for me
in violation of Your law.

86All Your commandments are faithful;

I am persecuted without cause—help me!

87They almost wiped me from the earth,
but I have not forsaken Your precepts.

88Revive me according to Your loving devotion,
that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth.

LAMEDH

89Your word, O LORD, is everlasting;
it is firmly fixed in the heavens.

90Your faithfulness continues through all generations;

You established the earth, and it endures.

91Your ordinances stand to this day,f
for all things are servants to You.

92If Your law had not been my delight,
then I would have perished in my affliction.

93I will never forget Your precepts,
for by them You have revived me.

94I am Yours; save me,
for I have sought Your precepts.

95The wicked wait to destroy me,
but I will ponder Your testimonies.

96I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but Your commandment is without limit.

MEM

97Oh, how I love Your law!

All day long it is my meditation.

98Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are always with me.

99I have more insight than all my teachers,
for Your testimonies are my meditation.

100I discern more than the elders,
for I obey Your precepts.

101I have kept my feet from every evil path,
that I may keep Your word.

102I have not departed from Your ordinances,
for You Yourself have taught me.

103How sweet are Your words to my taste—
sweeter than honey in my mouth!

104I gain understanding from Your precepts;
therefore I hate every false way.

NUN

105Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.

106I have sworn and confirmed
that I will keep Your righteous judgments.

107I am severely afflicted, O LORD;
revive me through Your word.

108Accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD,
and teach me Your judgments.

109I constantly take my life in my hands,
yet I do not forget Your law.

110The wicked have set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from Your precepts.

111Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.

112I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes,
even to the very end.

SAMEKH

113The double-minded I despise,
but Your law I love.

114You are my hiding place and my shield;

I put my hope in Your word.

115Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may obey the commandments of my God.

116Sustain me as You promised, that I may live;
let me not be ashamed of my hope.

117Uphold me, and I will be saved,
that I may always regard Your statutes.

118You reject all who stray from Your statutes,
for their deceitfulness is in vain.

119All the wicked on earth You discard like dross;
therefore I love Your testimonies.

120My flesh trembles in awe of You;

I stand in fear of Your judgments.

AYIN

121I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.

122Ensure Your servant’s well-being;
do not let the arrogant oppress me.

123My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation,
and for Your righteous promise.

124Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion,
and teach me Your statutes.

125I am Your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know Your testimonies.

126It is time for the LORD to act,
for they have broken Your law.

127Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold,
even the purest gold.

128Therefore I admire all Your precepts
and hate every false way.

PE

129Wonderful are Your testimonies;
therefore I obey them.

130The unfolding of Your words gives light;
it informs the simple.

131I open my mouth and pant,
longing for Your commandments.

132Turn to me and show me mercy,
as You do to those who love Your name.

133Order my steps in Your word;
let no sin rule over me.

134Redeem me from the oppression of man,
that I may keep Your precepts.

135Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
and teach me Your statutes.

136My eyes shed streams of tears
because Your law is not obeyed.

TZADE

137Righteous are You, O LORD,
and upright are Your judgments.

138The testimonies You have laid down are righteous
and altogether faithful.

139My zeal has consumed me
because my foes forget Your words.

140Your promise is completely pure;
therefore Your servant loves it.

141I am lowly and despised,
but I do not forget Your precepts.

142Your righteousness is everlasting
and Your law is true.

143Trouble and distress have found me,
but Your commandments are my delight.

144Your testimonies are righteous forever.

Give me understanding, that I may live.

KOPH

145I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD!

I will obey Your statutes.

146I call to You; save me,
that I may keep Your testimonies.

147I rise before dawn and cry for help;
in Your word I have put my hope.

148My eyes anticipate the watches of night,
that I may meditate on Your word.

149Hear my voice, O LORD, according to Your loving devotion;
give me life according to Your justice.

150Those who follow after wickedness draw near;
they are far from Your law.

151You are near, O LORD,
and all Your commandments are true.

152Long ago I learned from Your testimonies
that You have established them forever.

RESH

153Look upon my affliction and rescue me,
for I have not forgotten Your law.

154Defend my cause and redeem me;
revive me according to Your word.

155Salvation is far from the wicked
because they do not seek Your statutes.

156Great are Your mercies, O LORD;
revive me according to Your ordinances.

157Though my persecutors and foes are many,

I have not turned from Your testimonies.

158I look on the faithless with loathing
because they do not keep Your word.

159Consider how I love Your precepts, O LORD;
give me life according to Your loving devotion.

160The entirety of Your word is truth,
and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.

SIN and SHIN

161Rulers persecute me without cause,
but my heart fears only Your word.

162I rejoice in Your promise
like one who finds great spoil.

163I hate and abhor falsehood,
but Your law I love.

164Seven times a day I praise You
for Your righteous judgments.

165Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your law;
nothing can make them stumble.

166I wait for Your salvation, O LORD,
and I carry out Your commandments.

167I obey Your testimonies
and love them greatly.

168I obey Your precepts and Your testimonies,
for all my ways are before You.

TAW

169May my cry come before You, O LORD;
give me understanding according to Your word.

170May my plea come before You;
rescue me according to Your promise.

171My lips pour forth praise,
for You teach me Your statutes.

172My tongue sings of Your word,
for all Your commandments are righteous.

173May Your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen Your precepts.

174I long for Your salvation, O LORD,
and Your law is my delight.

175Let me live to praise You;
may Your judgments sustain me.

176I have strayed like a lost sheep;
seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.

Footnotes:

1 a This psalm is an acrostic poem of twenty-two stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; within a stanza, each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter.

33 b Or keep them as my reward

37 c Two MT manuscripts and DSS; most MT manuscripts in Your way

70 d Or fat

84 e Or How many are the days of Your servant?

91 f Or They stand this day according to Your ordinances

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◀   ◀   Psalm 120   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

In My Distress I Cried to the LORD

A song of ascents.

1In my distress I cried to the LORD,
and He answered me.

2Deliver my soul, O LORD,
from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.

3What will He do to you,
and what will be added to you,

O deceitful tongue?

4Sharp arrows will come from the warrior,
with burning coals of the broom tree!

5Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech,
that I live among the tents of Kedar!

6Too long have I dwelt
among those who hate peace.

7I am in favor of peace;
but when I speak, they want war.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 121   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

I Lift Up My Eyes to the Hills

A song of ascents.

1I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

2My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3He will not allow your foot to slip;
your Protector will not slumber.

4Behold, the Protector of Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is the shade on your right hand.

6The sun will not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7The LORD will guard you from all evil;

He will preserve your soul.

8The LORD will watch over your coming and going,
both now and forevermore.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 122   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

A song of ascents. Of David.

1I was glad when they said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

2Our feet are standing in your gates,

O Jerusalem.

3Jerusalem is built up
as a city united together,

4where the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD,
as a testimony for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

5For there the thrones of judgment stand,
the thrones of the house of David.

6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

“May those who love you prosper.a

7May there be peace within your walls,
and prosperityb inside your fortresses.”

8For the sake of my brothers and friends,

I will say, “Peace be within you.”

9For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,

I will seek your prosperity.

Footnotes:

6 a Or be secure

7 b Or security

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◀   ◀   Psalm 123   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

I Lift Up My Eyes to You

A song of ascents.

1I lift up my eyes to You,
the One enthroned in heaven.

2As the eyes of servants
look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maidservant
look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes are on the LORD our God
until He shows us mercy.

3Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy,
for we have endured much contempt.

4We have endured much scorn from the arrogant,
much contempt from the proud.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 124   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Our Help Is in the Name of the LORD

A song of ascents. Of David.

1If the LORD had not been on our side—
let Israel now declare—

2if the LORD had not been on our side
when men attacked us,

3when their anger flared against us,
then they would have swallowed us alive,

4then the floods would have engulfed us,
then the torrent would have overwhelmed us,

5then the raging waters
would have swept us away.

6Blessed be the LORD,
who has not given us as prey to their teeth.

7We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler;
the net is torn, and we have slipped away.

8Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 125   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Surrounds His People

A song of ascents.

1Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion.

It cannot be moved; it abides forever.

2As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds His people,
both now and forevermore.

3For the scepter of the wicked will not rest
upon the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous will not put forth
their hands to injustice.

4Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
and to the upright in heart.

5But those who turn to crooked ways
the LORD will banish with the evildoers.

Peace be upon Israel.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 126   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Zion’s Captives Restored

A song of ascents.

1When the LORD restored the captives of Zion,a
we were like dreamers.b

2Then our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with shouts of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

“The LORD has done great things for them.”

3The LORD has done great things for us;
we are filled with joy.

4Restore our captives,c O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.

5Those who sow in tears
will reap with shouts of joy.

6He who goes out weeping,
bearing a trail of seed,
will surely return with shouts of joy,
carrying sheaves of grain.

Footnotes:

1 a Or brought back the captives to Zion; or restored the fortunes of Zion

1 b Or like those restored to health

4 c Or Restore our fortunes

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◀   ◀   Psalm 127   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Children Are a Heritage from the LORD

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

1Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain;
unless the LORD protects the city,
its watchmen stand guard in vain.

2In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for bread to eat—
for He gives sleep to His beloved.

3Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD,
and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
so are children born in one’s youth.

5Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.

He will not be put to shame
when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 128   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Blessed Fear of the LORD
(Psalm 112:1–10)

A song of ascents.

1Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk in His ways!

2For when you eat the fruit of your labor,
blessings and prosperity will be yours.

3Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
flourishing within your house,
your sons like olive shoots
sitting around your table.

4In this way indeed shall blessing come
to the man who fears the LORD.

5May the LORD bless you from Zion,
that you may see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life,

6that you may see
your children’s children.

Peace be upon Israel!

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The Cords of the Wicked

A song of ascents.

1Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—
let Israel now declare—

2many a time they have persecuted me from my youth,
but they have not prevailed against me.

3The plowmen plowed over my back;
they made their furrows long.

4The LORD is righteous;

He has cut me from the cords of the wicked.

5May all who hate Zion
be turned back in shame.

6May they be like grass on the rooftops,
which withers before it can grow,

7unable to fill the hands of the reaper,
or the arms of the binder of sheaves.

8May none who pass by say to them,

“The blessing of the LORD be on you;
we bless you in the name of the LORD.”

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Out of the Depths

A song of ascents.

1Out of the depths

I cry to You, O LORD!

2O Lord, hear my voice;
let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.

3If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities,
then who, O Lord, could stand?

4But with You there is forgiveness,
so that You may be feared.

5I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait,
and in His word I put my hope.

6My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning—
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is loving devotion,
and with Him is redemption in abundance.

8And He will redeem Israel
from all iniquity.

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I Have Stilled My Soul

A song of ascents. Of David.

1My heart is not proud, O LORD,
my eyes are not haughty.

I do not aspire to great things
or matters too lofty for me.

2Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with his mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
both now and forevermore.

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The LORD Has Chosen Zion

A song of ascents.

1O LORD, remember on behalf of David
all the hardships he endured,

2how he swore an oath to the LORD,
and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:

3“I will not enter my house
or get into my bed,

4I will not give sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,

5until I find a place for the LORD,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.a”

6We heard that the ark was in Ephrathah;b
we found it in the fields of Jaar.

7Let us go to His dwelling place;
let us worship at His footstool.

8Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place,

You and the ark of Your strength.

9May Your priests be clothed with righteousness,
and Your saints shout for joy.

10For the sake of Your servant David,
do not reject Your anointed one.

11The LORD swore an oath to David,
a promise He will not revoke:

“One of your descendants

I will place on your throne.c

12If your sons keep My covenant
and the testimony I will teach them,
then their sons will also sit on your throne
forever and ever.”

13For the LORD has chosen Zion;

He has desired it for His home:

14“This is My resting place forever and ever;
here I will dwell, for I have desired this home.

15I will bless her with abundant provisions;

I will satisfy her poor with bread.

16I will clothe her priests with salvation,
and her saints will sing out in joy.

17There I will make a horn grow for David;

I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one.

18I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but the crown upon him will gleam.”

Footnotes:

5 a LXX for the God of Jacob; see Acts 7:46.

6 b Literally Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah

11 c Literally “From the fruit of your body I will set (one) on your throne. Cited in Acts 2:30

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How Pleasant to Live in Harmony!
(1 Corinthians 1:10–17; Ephesians 4:1–16)

A song of ascents. Of David.

1Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!

2It is like fine oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down Aaron’s beard
over the collar of his robes.

3It is like the dew of Hermon
falling on the mountains of Zion.

For there the LORD has bestowed the blessing
of life forevermore.

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Bless the LORD, All You Servants

A song of ascents.

1Come, bless the LORD,
all you servants of the LORD
who serve by night
in the house of the LORD!

2Lift up your hands to the sanctuary
and bless the LORD!

3May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth,
bless you from Zion.

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Give Praise, O Servants of the LORD
(Psalm 115:1–18)

1Hallelujah!a

Praise the name of the LORD.

Give praise, O servants of the LORD,

2who stand in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God.

3Hallelujah, for the LORD is good;
sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.

4For the LORD has chosen Jacob as His own,

Israel as His treasured possession.

5For I know that the LORD is great;
our Lord is above all gods.

6The LORD does all that pleases Him
in the heavens and on the earth,
in the seas and in all their depths.

7He causes the clouds to rise
from the ends of the earth.

He generates the lightning with the rain
and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

8He struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
of both man and beast.

9He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants.

10He struck down many nations
and slaughtered mighty kings:

11Sihon king of the Amorites,

Og king of Bashan,
and all the kings of Canaan.

12He gave their land as an inheritance,
as a heritage to His people Israel.

13Your name, O LORD, endures forever,

Your renown, O LORD, through all generations.

14For the LORD will vindicate His peopleb
and will have compassion on His servants.

15The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.

16They have mouths, but cannot speak;
they have eyes, but cannot see;

17they have ears, but cannot hear;
nor is there breath in their mouths.

18Those who make them become like them,
as do all who trust in them.

19O house of Israel, bless the LORD;

O house of Aaron, bless the LORD;

20O house of Levi, bless the LORD;
you who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!

21Blessed be the LORD from Zion—

He who dwells in Jerusalem.

Hallelujah!

Footnotes:

1 a Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD; also in verses 3 and 21

14 b Or will judge His people; see also LXX; cited in Hebrews 10:30.

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His Loving Devotion Endures Forever
(2 Chronicles 7:1–3)

1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good.

His loving devotion endures forever.

2Give thanks to the God of gods.

His loving devotion endures forever.

3Give thanks to the Lord of lords.

His loving devotion endures forever.

4He alone does great wonders.

His loving devotion endures forever.

5By His insight He made the heavens.

His loving devotion endures forever.

6He spread out the earth upon the waters.

His loving devotion endures forever.

7He made the great lights—

His loving devotion endures forever.

8the sun to rule the day,

His loving devotion endures forever.

9the moon and stars to govern the night.

His loving devotion endures forever.

10He struck down the firstborn of Egypt

His loving devotion endures forever.

11and brought Israel out from among them

His loving devotion endures forever.

12with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

His loving devotion endures forever.

13He divided the Red Seaa in two

His loving devotion endures forever.

14and led Israel through the midst,

His loving devotion endures forever.

15but sweptb Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.

His loving devotion endures forever.

16He led His people through the wilderness.

His loving devotion endures forever.

17He struck down great kings

His loving devotion endures forever.

18and slaughtered mighty kings—

His loving devotion endures forever.

19Sihon king of the Amorites

His loving devotion endures forever.

20and Og king of Bashan—

His loving devotion endures forever.

21and He gave their land as an inheritance,

His loving devotion endures forever.

22a heritage to His servant Israel.

His loving devotion endures forever.

23He remembered us in our low estate

His loving devotion endures forever.

24and freed us from our enemies.

His loving devotion endures forever.

25He gives food to every creature.

His loving devotion endures forever.

26Give thanks to the God of heaven!

His loving devotion endures forever.

Footnotes:

13 a Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15

15 b Hebrew shook off

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By the Rivers of Babylon
(Ezekiel 1:1–3)

1By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.

2There on the willowsa
we hung our harps,

3for there our captors requested a song;
our tormentors demanded songs of joy:

“Sing us a song of Zion.”

4How can we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land?

5If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
may my right hand cease to function.

6May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you,
if I do not exalt Jerusalem
as my greatest joy!

7Remember, O LORD,
the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell:

“Destroy it,” they said,

“tear it down to its foundations!”

8O Daughter of Babylon,
doomed to destruction,
blessed is he who repays you
as you have done to us.

9Blessed is he who seizes your infants
and dashes them against the rocks.

Footnotes:

2 a Or poplars

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A Thankful Heart

Of David.

1I give You thanks with all my heart;
before the gods I sing Your praises.

2I bow down toward Your holy temple
and give thanks to Your name
for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness;

You have exalted Your name
and Your word above all else.

3On the day I called, You answered me;

You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.a

4All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD,
when they hear the words of Your mouth.

5They will sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.

6Though the LORD is on high,

He attends to the lowly;
but the proud He knows from afar.

7If I walk in the midst of trouble,

You preserve me from the anger of my foes;

You extend Your hand,
and Your right hand saves me.

8The LORD will fulfill

His purpose for me.

O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—
do not abandon the works of Your hands.

Footnotes:

3 a Or You emboldened me with strength in my soul

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You Have Searched Me and Known Me

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1O LORD, You have searched me
and known me.

2You know when I sit and when I rise;

You understand my thoughts from afar.

3You search out my path and my lying down;

You are aware of all my ways.

4Even before a word is on my tongue,

You know all about it, O LORD.

5You hem me in behind and before;

You have laid Your hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?

Where can I flee from Your presence?

8If I ascend to the heavens, You are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.

9If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle by the farthest sea,

10even there Your hand will guide me;

Your right hand will hold me fast.

11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light become night around me”—

12even the darkness is not dark to You,
but the night shines like the day,
for darkness is as light to You.

13For You formed my inmost being;a

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14I praise You,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Marvelous are Your works,
and I know this very well.

15My frame was not hidden from You
when I was made in secret,
when I was woven together
in the depths of the earth.

16Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all my days were written in Your book
and ordained for me
before one of them came to be.

17How precious to me are Your thoughts,b O God,
how vast is their sum!

18If I were to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand;
and when I awake,

I am still with You.

19O God, that You would slay the wicked—
away from me, you bloodthirsty men—

20who speak of You deceitfully;

Your enemies take Your name in vain.c

21Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD,
and detest those who rise against You?

22I hate them with perfect hatred;

I count them as my enemies.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.

24See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the way everlasting.

Footnotes:

13 a Hebrew my kidneys

17 b Or How amazing are Your thoughts concerning me

20 c Hebrew Your enemies take in vain or Your enemies bear up in vain; LXX Your enemies take Your cities in vain

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Rescue Me from Evil Men

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men.

Protect me from men of violence,

2who devise evil in their hearts
and stir up war all day long.

3They sharpen their tongues like snakes;
the venom of vipers is on their lips.a

Selah

4Guard me, O LORD,
from the hands of the wicked.

Keep me safe from men of violence
who scheme to make me stumble.

5The proud hide a snare for me;
the cords of their net are spread along the path,
and lures are set out for me.

Selah

6I say to the LORD, “You are my God.”

Hear, O LORD, my cry for help.

7O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation,

You shield my head in the day of battle.

8Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
do not promote their evil plans,
lest they be exalted.

Selah

9May the heads of those who surround me
be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.

10May burning coals fall on them;
may they be thrown into the fire,
into the miry pits, never to rise again.

11May no slanderer be established in the land;
may calamity hunt down the man of violence.

12I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor
and defends the cause of the needy.

13Surely the righteous will praise Your name;
the upright will dwell in Your presence.

Footnotes:

3 a Cited in Romans 3:13

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Come Quickly to Me
(Psalm 70:1–5)

A Psalm of David.

1I call upon You, O LORD; come quickly to me.

Hear my voice when I call to You.

2May my prayer be set before You like incense,
my uplifted hands like the evening offering.

3Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
keep watch at the door of my lips.

4Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing
or take part in works of wickedness
with men who do iniquity;
let me not feast on their delicacies.

5Let the righteous man strike me;
let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion.

It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it.

For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.

6When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs,
the people will listen to my words,
for they are pleasant.

7As when one plows and breaks up the soil,
so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

8But my eyes are fixed on You,

O GOD the Lord.

In You I seek refuge;
do not leave my soul defenseless.a

9Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
and from the lures of evildoers.

10Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by in safety.

Footnotes:

8 a Or do not pour out my life or do not give me over to death

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I Lift My Voice to the LORD
(1 Samuel 22:1–5; Psalm 57:1–11)

A Maskila of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer.

1I cry aloud to the LORD;

I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy.

2I pour out my complaint before Him;

I reveal my trouble to Him.

3Although my spirit grows faint within me,

You know my way.

Along the path I travel
they have hidden a snare for me.

4Look to my right and see;
no one attends to me.

There is no refuge for me;
no one cares for my soul.

5I cry to You, O LORD: “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”

6Listen to my cry,
for I am brought quite low.

Rescue me from my pursuers,
for they are too strong for me.

7Free my soul from prison,
that I may praise Your name.

The righteous will gather around me
because of Your goodness to me.

Footnotes:

1 a Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

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I Stretch Out My Hands to You

A Psalm of David.

1O LORD, hear my prayer.

In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea;
in Your righteousness, answer me.

2Do not bring Your servant into judgment,
for no one alive is righteous before You.

3For the enemy has pursued my soul,
crushing my life to the ground,
making me dwell in darkness
like those long since dead.

4My spirit grows faint within me;
my heart is dismayed inside me.

5I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all Your works;

I consider the work of Your hands.

6I stretch out my hands to You;
my soul thirsts for You like a parched land.

Selah

7Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.

Do not hide Your face from me,
or I will be like those who descend to the Pit.

8Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning,
for I have put my trust in You.

Teach me the way I should walk,
for to You I lift up my soul.

9Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD;

I flee to You for refuge.a

10Teach me to do Your will,
for You are my God.

May Your good Spirit lead me
on level ground.

11For the sake of Your name, O LORD,
revive me.

In Your righteousness,
bring my soul out of trouble.

12And in Your loving devotion,
cut off my enemies.

Destroy all who afflict me,
for I am Your servant.

Footnotes:

9 a LXX and one Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts in You I take cover

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Blessed Be the LORD, My Rock

Of David.

1Blessed be the LORD, my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.

2He is my steadfast love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer.

He is my shield, in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoplesa under me.

3O LORD, what is man, that You regard him,
the son of man that You think of him?

4Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow.

5Part Your heavens, O LORD, and come down;
touch the mountains, that they may smoke.

6Flash forth Your lightning and scatter them;
shoot Your arrows and rout them.

7Reach down from on high;
set me free and rescue me
from the deep waters,
from the grasp of foreigners,

8whose mouths speak falsehood,
whose right hands are deceitful.

9I will sing to You a new song, O God;
on a harp of ten strings I will make music to You—

10to Him who gives victory to kings,
who frees His servant David from the deadly sword.

11Set me free and rescue me
from the grasp of foreigners,
whose mouths speak falsehood,
whose right hands are deceitful.

12Then our sons will be like plants
nurtured in their youth,
our daughters like corner pillars
carved to adorn a palace.

13Our storehouses will be full,
supplying all manner of produce;
our flocks will bring forth thousands,
tens of thousands in our fields.

14Our oxen will bear great loads.b

There will be no breach in the walls,
no going into captivity,
and no cry of lament in our streets.

15Blessed are the people of whom this is so;
blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.

Footnotes:

2 a Many Hebrew manuscripts, DSS, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts subdues my people

14 b Or Our chieftains will be firmly established

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I Will Exalt You, My God and King

A Psalm of praise. Of David.a

1I will exalt You, my God and King;

I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2Every day I will bless You,
and I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;

His greatness is unsearchable.

4One generation will commend Your works to the next,
and will proclaim Your mighty acts—

5the glorious splendor of Your majesty.

And I will meditate on Your wondrous works.

6They will proclaim the power of Your awesome deeds,
and I will declare Your greatness.

7They will extol the fame of Your abundant goodness
and sing joyfully of Your righteousness.

8The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

9The LORD is good to all;

His compassion rests on all He has made.

10All You have made will give You thanks, O LORD,
and Your saints will bless You.

11They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom
and speak of Your might,

12to make known to men Your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and Your dominion endures through all generations.

The LORD is faithful in all His words
and kind in all His actions.b

14The LORD upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.

15The eyes of all look to You,
and You give them their food in season.

16You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17The LORD is righteous in all His ways
and kind in all His deeds.

18The LORD is near to all who call on Him,
to all who call out to Him in truth.

19He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him;

He hears their cry and saves them.

20The LORD preserves all who love Him,
but all the wicked He will destroy.

21My mouth will declare the praise of the LORD;
let every creature bless His holy name
forever and ever.

Footnotes:

1 a This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

13 b The final two lines are supplied by one MT manuscript, LXX, Syriac, and DSS.

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Praise the LORD, O My Soul

1Hallelujah!a

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

2I will praise the LORD all my life;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

3Put not your trust in princes,
in mortal man, who cannot save.

4When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground;
on that very day his plans perish.

5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them.

He remains faithful forever.

7He executes justice for the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free,

8the LORD opens the eyes of the blind,
the LORD lifts those who are weighed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.

9The LORD protects foreigners;

He sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but the ways of the wicked He frustrates.

10The LORD reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Hallelujah!

Footnotes:

1 a Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD; also in verse 10

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It Is Good to Sing Praises

1Hallelujah!a

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and lovely to praise Him!

2The LORD builds up Jerusalem;

He gathers the exiles of Israel.

3He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.

4He determines the number of the stars;

He calls them each by name.

5Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;

His understanding has no limit.

6The LORD sustains the humble,
but casts the wicked to the ground.

7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make music on the harp to our God,

8who covers the sky with clouds,
who prepares rain for the earth,
who makes grass to grow on the hills.

9He provides food for the animals,
and for the young ravens when they call.

10He does not delight in the strength of the horse;

He takes no pleasure in the legpower of the man.

11The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him,
who hope in His loving devotion.

12Exalt the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion!

13For He strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses the children within you.

14He makes peace at your borders;

He fills you with the finest wheat.

15He sends forth His command to the earth;

His word runs swiftly.

16He spreads the snow like wool;

He scatters the frost like ashes;

17He casts forth His hail like pebbles.b

Who can withstand His icy blast?

18He sends forth His word and melts them;

He unleashes His winds, and the waters flow.

19He declares His word to Jacob,

His statutes and judgments to Israel.

20He has done this for no other nation;
they do not know His judgments.c

Hallelujah!

Footnotes:

1 a Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD; also in verse 20

17 b Or like crumbs or like morsels

20 c MT; DSS and LXX He has not made known to them His judgments

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Praise the LORD from the Heavens
(Psalm 33:1–22)

1Hallelujah!a

Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise Him in the highest places.b

2Praise Him, all His angels;
praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.

3Praise Him, O sun and moon;
praise Him, all you shining stars.

4Praise Him, O highest heavens,
and you waters above the skies.

5Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for He gave the command and they were created.

6He established them forever and ever;

He issued a decree that will never pass away.

7Praise the LORD from the earth,
all great sea creatures and ocean depths,

8lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
powerful wind fulfilling His word,

9mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,

10wild animals and all cattle,
crawling creatures and flying birds,

11kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth,

12young men and maidens,
old and young together.

13Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for His name alone is exalted;

His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

14He has raised up a horn for His people,
the praise of all His saints,
of Israel, a people near to Him.

Hallelujah!

Footnotes:

1 a Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD; also in verse 14

1 b See Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:10, and Luke 19:38.

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◀   ◀   Psalm 149   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Sing to the LORD a New Song
(Psalm 98:1–9; Isaiah 42:10–17)

1Hallelujah!a

Sing to the LORD a new song—

His praise in the assembly of the godly.

2Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.

3Let them praise His name with dancing,
and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.

4For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;

He adorns the afflicted with salvation.

5Let the saints exult in glory;
let them shout for joy upon their beds.

6May the high praises of God be in their mouths,
and a double-edged sword in their hands,

7to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,

8to bind their kings with chains
and their nobles with shackles of iron,

9to execute the judgment written against them.

This honor is for all His saints.

Hallelujah!

Footnotes:

1 a Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD; also in verse 9

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◀   ◀   Psalm 150   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Let Everything That Has Breath Praise the LORD

1Hallelujah!a

Praise God in His sanctuary.

Praise Him in His mighty heavens.b

2Praise Him for His mighty acts;
praise Him for His excellent greatness.

3Praise Him with the sound of the horn;
praise Him with the harp and lyre.

4Praise Him with tambourine and dancing;
praise Him with strings and flute.

5Praise Him with clashing cymbals;
praise Him with resounding cymbals.

6Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

Hallelujah!

Footnotes:

1 a Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD; also in verse 6

1 b Or in the expanse of his might or in the firmament of his might; see also Genesis 1:6–8.

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31)

The Beginning of Knowledge
(Proverbs 9:1–12)

1These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David,
king of Israel,

2for gaining wisdom and discipline,
for comprehending words of insight,

3and for receiving instruction in wise living
and in righteousness, justice, and equity.

4To impart prudence to the simplea
and knowledge and discretion to the young,

5let the wise listen and gain instruction,
and the discerning acquire wise counsel

6by understanding the proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but foolsb despise wisdom and discipline.

The Enticement of Sin

8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.

9For they are a garland of grace on your head
and a pendant around your neck.

10My son, if sinners entice you,
do not yield to them.

11If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood,
let us ambush the innocent without cause,

12let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
and whole like those descending into the Pit.

13We will find all manner of precious goods;
we will fill our houses with plunder.

14Throw in your lot with us;
let us all share one purse”—

15my son, do not walk the road with them
or set foot upon their path.

16For their feet run to evil,
and they are swift to shed blood.

17How futile it is to spread the net
where any bird can see it!

18But they lie in wait for their own blood;
they ambush their own lives.

19Such is the fate of all who are greedy,
whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.

Wisdom Calls Aloud

20Wisdom calls out in the street,
she lifts her voice in the square;

21in the main concoursec she cries aloud,
at the city gates she makes her speech:

22“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways?

How long will scoffers delight in their scorn
and fools hate knowledge?

23If you had repented at my rebuke,
then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you;

I would have made my words known to you.

24Because you refused my call,
and no one took my outstretched hand,

25because you neglected all my counsel,
and wanted none of my correction,

26in turn I will mock your calamity;

I will sneer when terror strikes you,

27when your dread comes like a storm,
and your destruction like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish overwhelm you.

28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.

29For they hated knowledge
and chose not to fear the LORD.

30They accepted none of my counsel;
they despised all my reproof.

31So they will eat the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own devices.

32For the waywardness of the simple will slay them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety,
secure from the fear of evil.”

Footnotes:

4 a The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs refers to one who is naive, without moral direction, or inclined to evil.

7 b The Hebrew words rendered as fool in Proverbs denote one who is morally deficient.

21 c Or from the top of the wall

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Benefits of Wisdom

1My son, if you accept my words
and hide my commandments within you,

2if you incline your ear to wisdom
and direct your heart to understanding,

3if you truly call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,

4if you seek it like silver
and search it out like hidden treasure,

5then you will discern the fear of the LORD
and discover the knowledge of God.

6For the LORD gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,

8to guard the paths of justice
and protect the way of His saints.

9Then you will discern righteousness
and justice and equity—every good path.

10For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will delight your soul.

11Discretion will watch over you,
and understanding will guard you,

12to deliver you from the way of evil,
from the man who speaks perversity,

13from those who leave the straight paths
to walk in the ways of darkness,

14from those who enjoy doing evil
and rejoice in the twistedness of evil,

15whose paths are crooked
and whose ways are devious.

16It will rescue you from the forbidden woman,a
from the strangerb with seductive words

17who abandons the partner of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God.

18For her house sinks down to death,
and her tracks to the departed spirits.c

19None who go to her return
or negotiate the paths of life.

20So you will follow in the ways of the good,
and keep to the paths of the righteous.

21For the upright will inhabit the land,
and the blameless will remain in it;

22but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the unfaithful will be uprooted.

Footnotes:

16 a Or wayward wife

16 b Or adulteress

18 c Hebrew to the Rephaim

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Trust in the LORD with All Your Heart

1My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments;

2for they will add length to your days,
years and peace to your life.

3Never let loving devotiona or faithfulness leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;

6in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.

7Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

8This will bring healing to your bodyb
and refreshmentc to your bones.

9Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;

10then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD,
and do not loathe His rebuke;d

12for the LORD disciplines the one He loves,
as does a father the son in whom he delights.e

The Blessings of Wisdom

13Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who acquires understanding,

14for she is more profitable than silver,
and her gain is better than fine gold.

15She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire compares with her.

16Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.

17All her ways are pleasant,
and all her paths are peaceful.

18She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,
and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

19The LORD founded the earth by wisdom
and established the heavens by understanding.

20By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open,
and the clouds dripped with dew.

21My son, do not lose sight of this:

Preserve sound judgment and discernment.

22They will be life to your soul
and adornment to your neck.

23Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.

24When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.

25Do not fear sudden danger
or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

26for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from the snare.

27Do not withhold good from the deservingf
when it is within your power to act.

28Do not tell your neighbor,

“Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—
when you already have the means.

29Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
for he trustfully dwells beside you.

30Do not accuse a man without cause,
when he has done you no harm.

31Do not envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways;

32for the LORD detests the perverse,
but He is a friend to the upright.

33The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
but He blesses the home of the righteous.

34He mocks the mockers,
but gives grace to the humble.g

35The wise will inherit honor,
but fools are held up to shame.

Footnotes:

3 a Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

8 b Hebrew navel

8 c Or medicine

11 d LXX and do not lose heart when He rebukes; cited in Hebrews 12:5

12 e LXX and He flogs every son He receives; cited in Hebrews 12:6

27 f Or from its owners

34 g LXX The Lord opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble; cited in James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Father’s Instruction

1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.

2For I give you sound teaching;
do not abandon my directive.

3When I was a son to my father,
tender and the only child of my mother,

4he taught me and said,

“Let your heart lay hold of my words;
keep my commands and you will live.

5Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn from them.

6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you;
love her, and she will guard you.

7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom.

And whatever you may acquire,a gain understanding.

8Prize her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you.

9She will set a garland of grace on your head;
she will present you with a crown of beauty.”

10Listen, my son, and receive my words,
and the years of your life will be many.

11I will guide you in the way of wisdom;

I will lead you on straight paths.

12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;
when you run, you will not stumble.

13Hold on to instruction; do not let go.

Guard it, for it is your life.

14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.

15Avoid it; do not travel on it.

Turn from it and pass on by.

16For they cannot sleep
unless they do evil;
they are deprived of slumber
until they make someone fall.

17For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.

18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until midday.

19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

20My son, pay attention to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.

21Do not lose sight of them;
keep them within your heart.

22For they are life to those who find them,
and health to the whole body.

23Guard your heart with all diligence,
for from it flow springs of life.

24Put away deception from your mouth;
keep your lips from perverse speech.

25Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze straight ahead.

26Make a level path for your feet,b
and all your ways will be sure.

27Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your feet away from evil.

Footnotes:

7 a Or And whatever else you acquire

26 b Or Ponder the path for your feet; LXX Make straight paths for your feet; cited in Hebrews 12:13

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Avoiding Immorality
(Leviticus 20:10–21; 1 Corinthians 5:1–8)

1My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my insight,

2that you may maintain discretion
and your lips may preserve knowledge.

3Though the lips of the forbidden womana drip honey
and her speechb is smoother than oil,

4in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a double-edged sword.

5Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to Sheol.c

6She does not consider the path of life;
she does not know that her ways are unstable.

7So now, my sons, listen to me,
and do not turn aside from the words of my mouth.

8Keep your path far from her;
do not go near the door of her house,

9lest you concede your vigor to others,
and your years to one who is cruel;

10lest strangers feast on your wealth,
and your labors enrich the house of a foreigner.

11At the end of your life you will groan
when your flesh and your body are spent,

12and you will say, “How I hated discipline,
and my heart despised reproof!

13I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
or incline my ear to my mentors.

14I am on the brink of utter ruin
in the midst of the whole assembly.”

15Drink water from your own cistern,
and running water from your own well.

16Why should your springs flow in the streets,
your streams of water in the public squares?

17Let them be yours alone,
never to be shared with strangers.

18May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:

19A loving doe, a graceful fawn—
may her breasts satisfy you always;
may you be captivatedd by her love forever.

20Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress,
or embrace the bosom of a stranger?e

21For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD,
and the LORD examinesf all his paths.

22The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him;
the cords of his sin entangle him.

23He dies for lack of discipline,
led astray by his own great folly.

Footnotes:

3 a Or the adulteress

3 b Or her palate

5 c Or lay hold of Sheol

19 d Or be led astray; also in verse 20

20 e Or a foreign woman or another man’s wife

21 f Or ponders or makes level

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Warnings against Foolishness

1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

2if you have been trapped by the words of your lips,
ensnared by the words of your mouth,

3then do this, my son, to free yourself,
for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:

Go, humble yourself,a
and press your plea with your neighbor.

4Allow no sleep to your eyes
or slumber to your eyelids.

5Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,b
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

6Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker;
observe its ways and become wise.

7Without a commander,
without an overseer or ruler,

8it prepares its provisions in summer;
it gathers its food at harvest.

9How long will you lie there, O slacker?

When will you get up from your sleep?

10A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,

11and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and need like a bandit.

12A worthless person, a wicked man,
walks with a perverse mouth,

13winking his eyes, speaking with his feet,
and pointing with his fingers.

14With deceit in his heart he devises evil;
he continually sows discord.

15Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.

16There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:

17haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,

18a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that run swiftly to evil,

19a false witness who gives false testimony,
and one who stirs up discord among brothers.

Warnings against Adultery

20My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

21Bind them always upon your heart;
tie them around your neck.

22When you walk, they will guide you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.

23For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,

24to keep you from the evil woman,
from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.c

25Do not lust in your heart for her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyes.d

26For the levy of the prostitute is poverty,e
and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

27Can a man embrace fire
and his clothes not be burned?

28Can a man walk on hot coals
without scorching his feet?

29So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife;
no one who touches her will go unpunished.

30Men do not despise the thief
if he steals to satisfy his hunger.

31Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold;
he must give up all the wealth of his house.

32He who commits adultery lacks judgment;
whoever does so destroys himself.

33Wounds and dishonor will befall him,
and his reproach will never be wiped away.

34For jealousy enrages a husband,
and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.

35He will not be appeased by any ransom,
or persuaded by lavish gifts.

Footnotes:

3 a Or hasten

5 b Hebrew does not include of the hunter.

24 c Or the stranger

25 d Or eyelids or eyelashes

26 e Literally a crust of bread

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 7   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Warnings about the Adulteress

1My son, keep my words
and treasure my commandments within you.

2Keep my commandments and live;
guard my teachings as the applea of your eye.

3Tie them to your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”

and call understanding your kinsman,

5that they may keep you from the adulteress,
from the stranger with seductive words.

6For at the window of my house

I looked through the lattice.

7I saw among the simple,

I noticed among the youths,
a young man lacking judgment,

8crossing the street near her corner,
strolling down the road to her house,

9at twilight, as the day was fading
into the dark of the night.

10Then a woman came out to meet him,
with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.

11She is loud and defiant;
her feet do not remain at home.

12Now in the street, now in the squares,
she lurks at every corner.

13She seizes him and kisses him;
she brazenly says to him:

14“I have made my peace offerings;
today I have paid my vows.

15So I came out to meet you;

I sought you, and I have found you.

16I have decked my bed with coverings,
with colored linen from Egypt.

17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
with aloes, and with cinnamon.

18Come, let us take our fill of love till morning.

Let us delight in loving caresses!

19For my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.

20He took with him a bag of money
and will not return till the moon is full.”

21With her great persuasion she entices him;
with her flattering lips she lures him.

22He follows her on impulse,
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer bounding into a trap,b

23until an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare—
not knowing it will cost him his life.

24Now, my sons, listen to me,
and attend to the words of my mouth.

25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways;
do not stray into her paths.

26For she has brought many down to death;
her slain are many in number.

27Her house is the road to Sheol,
descending to the chambers of death.

Footnotes:

2 a Literally the pupil

22 b Probable reading (see LXX, Vulgate, Syriac); Hebrew like fetters to discipline a fool

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Excellence of Wisdom

1Does not wisdom call out,
and understanding raise her voice?

2On the heights overlooking the road,
at the crossroads she takes her stand.

3Beside the gates to the city,
at the entrances she cries out:

4“To you, O men, I call out,
and my cry is to the sons of men.

5O simple ones, learn to be shrewd;

O fools, gain understanding.a

6Listen, for I speak of noble things,
and the opening of my lips will reveal right.

7For my mouth will speak the truth,
and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

8All the words of my mouth are righteous;
none are crooked or perverse.

9They are all plain to the discerning,
and upright to those who find knowledge.

10Receive my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.

11For wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire compares with her.

12I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.

13To fear the LORD is to hate evil;

I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

14Counsel and sound judgment are mine;

I have insight and strength.

15By me kings reign,
and rulers enact just laws;

16By me princes rule,
and all nobles who govern justly.b

17I love those who love me,
and those who seek me early shall find me.

18With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and righteousness.

19My fruit is better than gold, pure gold,
and my harvest surpasses choice silver.

20I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,

21bestowing wealth on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.

22The LORD created me as His first course,c
before His works of old.

23From everlasting I was established,
from the beginning, before the earth began.

24When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth,
when no springs were overflowing with water.

25Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills, I was brought forth,

26before He made the land or fields,
or any of the dust of the earth.

27I was there when He established the heavens,
when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

28when He established the clouds above,
when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,

29when He set a boundary for the sea,
so that the waters would not surpass His command,
when He marked out the foundations of the earth.

30Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side,
and His delightd day by day,
rejoicing always in His presence.

31I was rejoicing in His whole world,
delighting together in the sons of men.

32Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
for blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Listen to instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.

34Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at the posts of my doorway.

35For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains the favor of the LORD.

36But he who fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death.”

Footnotes:

5 a Or instruct your minds

16 b Some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX who govern the earth

22 c Or The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way

30 d Or filled with His delight

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Way of Wisdom
(Proverbs 1:1–7)

1Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved outa her seven pillars.

2She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.

3She has sent out her maidservants;
she calls out from the heights of the city.

4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

she says to him who lacks judgment.

5“Come, eat my bread
and drink the wine I have mixed.

6Leave your folly behind, and you will live;
walk in the way of understanding.”

7He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself;
he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.

8Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

9Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.

10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11For through wisdomb your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.

12If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage;
but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.

The Way of Folly

13The woman named Folly is loud;
she is naive and knows nothing.

14She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the heights of the city,

15calling out to those who pass by,
who make their paths straight.

16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

she says to him who lacks judgment.

17“Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”

18But they do not know that the deadc are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew; LXX, Syriac, and Aramaic Targum has set up

11 b LXX, Syriac, and Aramaic Targum; Hebrew through me

18 c Hebrew the Rephaim

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 10   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Solomon’s Proverbs: The Wise Son

1The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son grief to his mother.

2Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing,
but righteousness brings deliverance from death.

3The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,
but He denies the craving of the wicked.

4Idle hands make one poor,
but diligent hands bring wealth.

5He who gathers in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.a

7The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.

8A wise heart will receive commandments,
but foolish lips will come to ruin.

9He who walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

10He who winks the eye causes grief,
and foolish lips will come to ruin.b

11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers all transgressions.c

13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

14The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool invites destruction.

15The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city,
but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

16The labor of the righteous leads to life,
but the gain of the wicked brings punishment.

17Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
but he who ignores reproof goes astray.

18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19When words are many, sin is unavoidable,
but he who restrains his lips is wise.

20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked has little worth.

21The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of judgment.

22The blessing of the LORD enriches,
and He adds no sorrow to it.

23The fool delights in shameful conduct,
but a man of understanding has wisdom.

24What the wicked man dreads will overtake him,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more,
but the righteous are secure forever.

26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is the slacker to those who send him.

27The fear of the LORD prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked will be cut short.

28The hope of the righteous is joy,
but the expectations of the wicked will perish.

29The way of the LORD is a refuge to the upright,
but destruction awaits those who do evil.

30The righteous will never be shaken,
but the wicked will not inhabit the land.

31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

32The lips of the righteous know what is fitting,
but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

Footnotes:

6 a Or but violence covers the mouth of the wicked; also in verse 11

10 b Or babbling fools will fall

12 c See 1 Peter 4:8

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 11   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Dishonest Scales
(Deuteronomy 25:13–16; Ezekiel 45:10–12)

1Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD,
but an accurate weight is His delight.

2When pride comes, disgrace follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.

3The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.

4Riches are worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness brings deliverance from death.

5The righteousness of the blameless directs their path,
but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.

6The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.

7When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes,
and the hope of his strength vanishes.

8The righteous man is delivered from trouble;
in his place the wicked man goes in.

9With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

10When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

11By the blessing of the upright a city is built up,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

12Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment,
but a man of understanding remains silent.

13A gossip reveals a secret,
but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

14For lack of guidance, a nation falls,
but with many counselors comes deliverance.

15He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.

16A gracious woman attains honor,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17A kind man benefits himself,
but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

18The wicked man earns an empty wage,
but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.

19Genuine righteousness leads to life,
but the pursuit of evil brings death.

20The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD,
but the blameless in their walk are His delight.

21Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

23The desire of the righteous leads only to good,
but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.

24One gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

25A generous soul will prosper,
and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

26The people will curse the hoarder of grain,
but blessing will crown the one who sells it.

27He who searches out good finds favor,
but evil will come to him who seeks it.

28He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

29He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise.

31If the righteous receive their due on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!a

Footnotes:

31 a LXX If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? Cited in 1 Peter 4:18

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 12   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Loving Discipline and Knowledge

1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.

2The good man obtains favor from the LORD,
but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.

3A man cannot be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

4A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,
but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.

5The plans of the righteous are just,
but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit.

6The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the speech of the upright rescues them.

7The wicked are overthrown and perish,
but the house of the righteous will stand.

8A man is praised according to his wisdom,
but a twisted mind is despised.

9Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant,
than to be self-important but lack food.

10A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.

11The one who works his land will have plenty of food,
but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.

12The wicked desire the plunder of evil men,
but the root of the righteous flourishes.

13An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech,
but a righteous man escapes from trouble.

14By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things,
and the work of his hands returns to him.

15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to counsel.

16A fool’s anger is known at once,
but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

17He who speaks the truth declares what is right,
but a false witness speaks deceit.

18Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

19Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

20Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil,
but the counselors of peace have joy.

21No harm befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.

22Lying lips are detestable to the LORD,
but those who deal faithfully are His delight.

23A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself,
but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.

24The hand of the diligent will rule,
but laziness ends in forced labor.

25Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man,
but a good word cheers it up.

26A righteous man is cautious in friendship,
but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.

27A lazy man does not roast his game,
but a diligent man prizes his possession.

28There is life in the path of righteousness,
but another path leads to death.

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Father’s Discipline

1A wise son heeds his father’s discipline,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

2From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things,
but the desire of the faithless is violence.

3He who guards his mouth protects his life,
but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

4The slacker craves yet has nothing,
but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.

5The righteous hate falsehood,
but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.

6Righteousness guards the man of integrity,
but wickedness undermines the sinner.

7One pretends to be rich, but has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

8Riches may ransom a man’s life,
but a poor man hears no threat.

9The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

10Arrogance leads only to strife,
but wisdom is with the well-advised.

11Dishonest wealth will dwindle,
but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.

12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13He who despises instruction will pay the penalty,
but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.

14The teachinga of the wise is a fountain of life,
turning one from the snares of death.

15Good understanding wins favor,
but the way of the faithless is difficult.

16Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
but a fool displays his folly.

17A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.

18Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline,
but whoever heeds correction is honored.

19Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but turning from evil is detestable to fools.

20He who walks with the wise will become wise,
but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

21Disaster pursues sinners,
but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.

23Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
but without justice it is swept away.

24He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

25A righteous man eats to his heart’s content,
but the stomach of the wicked is empty.

Footnotes:

14 a Or law

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 14   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Wise Woman

1Every wise woman builds her house,
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

2He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD,
but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.

3The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back,
but the lips of the wise protect them.

4Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.

5An honest witness does not deceive,
but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.

6A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

7Stay away from a foolish man;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.

8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools deceives them.

9Fools mock the making of amends,
but goodwill is found among the upright.

10The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares in its joy.

11The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.

13Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and joy may end in sorrow.

14The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways,
but a good man is rewarded for his ways.

15The simple man believes every word,
but the prudent man watches his steps.

16A wise man fearsa and turns from evil,
but a fool is careless and reckless.

17A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
and a devious man is hated.

18The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19The evil bow before the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20The poor man is hated even by his neighbor,
but many are those who love the rich.

21He who despises his neighbor sins,
but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.

22Do not those who contrive evil go astray?

But those who plan goodness findb loving devotion and faithfulness.

23There is profit in all labor,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the effort of fools is folly.

25A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who utters lies is deceitful.

26He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence,
and his children shall have a place of refuge.

27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death.

28A large population is a king’s splendor,
but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.

29A patient man has great understanding,
but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.

30A tranquil heart is life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.

31Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.

32The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin,
but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.

33Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning;
even among fools she is known.c

34Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.

35A king delights in a wise servant,
but his anger falls on the shameful.

Footnotes:

16 a Or fears the LORD

22 b Or show

33 c Hebrew; LXX and Syriac but among fools she is not known

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 15   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath

1A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.

3The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
observing the evil and the good.

4A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

5A fool rejects his father’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction is prudent.

6The house of the righteous has great treasure,
but the income of the wicked is trouble.

7The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but not so the hearts of fools.

8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD,
but the prayer of the upright is His delight.

9The LORD detests the way of the wicked,
but He loves those who pursue righteousness.

10Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path;
he who hates correction will die.

11Sheol and Abaddona lie open before the LORD—
how much more the hearts of men!

12A mocker does not love to be reproved,
nor will he consult the wise.

13A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance,
but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.

14A discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15All the days of the oppressed are bad,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

16Better a little with the fear of the LORD
than great treasure with turmoil.

17Better a dish of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox with hatred.

18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.

19The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.

20A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.

21Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment,
but a man of understanding walks a straight path.

22Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.

23A man takes joy in a fitting reply—
and how good is a timely word!

24The path of life leads upward for the wise,
that he may avoid going down to Sheol.

25The LORD tears down the house of the proud,
but He protects the boundaries of the widow.

26The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.

27He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household,
but he who hates bribes will live.

28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.

29The LORD is far from the wicked,
but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

30The light of the eyes cheers the heart,
and good news nourishes the bones.

31He who listens to life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.

32He who ignores discipline despises himself,
but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.

Footnotes:

11 a Or Death and Destruction

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 16   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Reply of the Tongue Is from the LORD

1The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.

2All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes,
but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.

3Commit your works to the LORD
and your plans will be achieved.

4The LORD has made everything for His purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.

5Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD;
be assured that he will not go unpunished.

6By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.

7When a man’s ways please the LORD,

He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.

8Better a little with righteousness
than great gain with injustice.

9A man’s heart plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.

10A divine verdict is on the lips of a king;
his mouth must not betray justice.

11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;
all the weights in the bag are His concern.

12Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,
for a throne is established through righteousness.

13Righteous lips are a king’s delight,
and he who speaks honestly is beloved.

14The wrath of a king is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will pacify it.

15When a king’s face brightens, there is life;
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

16How much better to acquire wisdom than gold!

To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.

17The highway of the upright leads away from evil;
he who guards his way protects his life.

18Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble
than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20Whoever heeds instruction will find success,a
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

21The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant speech promotes instruction.

22Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.

23The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

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

26A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger drives him onward.

27A worthless man digs up evil,
and his speechb is like a scorching fire.

28A perverse man spreads dissension,
and a gossip divides close friends.

29A violent man entices his neighbor
and leads him down a path that is not good.

30He who winks his eye devises perversity;
he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

31Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is attained along the path of righteousness.

32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior,
and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.

33The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.

Footnotes:

20 a Or Whoever speaks prudently will find what is good

27 b Or and what is on his lips

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 17   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness

1Better a dry morsel in quietness
than a house full of feastinga with strife.

2A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.

3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold,
but the LORD is the tester of hearts.

4A wicked man listens to evil lips;
a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

5He who mocks the poor insults their Maker;
whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.

6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of a son is his father.

7Eloquent words are unfit for a fool;
how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!

8A bribe is a charm to its giver;
wherever he turns, he succeeds.

9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,
but he who brings it up separates friends.

10A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment
deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.

11An evil man seeks only rebellion;
a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool in his folly.

13If anyone returns evil for good,
evil will never leave his house.

14To start a quarrel is to release a flood;
so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—
both are detestable to the LORD.

16Why should the fool have money in his hand
with no intention of buying wisdom?

17A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.

18A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge
and puts up security for his neighbor.

19He who loves transgression loves strife;
he who builds his gate high invites destruction.

20The one with a perverse heart finds no good,
and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

21A man fathers a fool to his own grief;
the father of a fool has no joy.

22A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23A wicked man takes a covert bribeb
to subvert the course of justice.

24Wisdom is the focus of the discerning,
but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

25A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.

26It is surely not good to punish the innocent
or to flog a noble for his honesty.

27A man of knowledge restrains his words,
and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

28Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning when he holds his tongue.

Footnotes:

1 a Or sacrifices

23 b Hebrew a bribe from the bosom

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 18   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Selfishness of the Unfriendly

1He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound judgment.

2A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only in airing his opinions.

3With a wicked man comes contempt as well,
and shame is accompanied by disgrace.

4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5Showing partialitya to the wicked is not good,
nor is depriving the innocent of justice.

6A fool’s lips bring him strife,
and his mouth invites a beating.

7A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels
that go down into the inmost being.

9Whoever is slothful in his work
is brother to him who destroys.

10The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to itb and are safe.

11A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;
it is like a high wall in his imagination.

12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.

13He who answers a matter before he hears it—
this is folly and disgrace to him.

14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?

15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it out.

16A man’s gift opens doors for him,
and brings him before great men.

17The first to state his case seems right
until another comes and cross-examines him.

18Casting the lot ends quarrels
and separates strong opponents.

19An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city,
and disputes are like the bars of a castle.

20From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled;
with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

21Life and death are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the LORD.

23The poor man pleads for mercy,
but the rich man answers harshly.

24A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

Footnotes:

5 a Hebrew Lifting the face

10 b Or to Him

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 19   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Man of Integrity

1Better a poor man who walks with integrity
than a fool whose lips are perverse.

2Even zeal is no good without knowledge,
and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.

3A man’s own folly subverts his way,
yet his heart rages against the LORD.

4Wealth attracts many friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

5A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies will not escape.

6Many seek the favor of the prince,
and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

7All the brothers of a poor man hate him—
how much more do his friends avoid him!

He may pursue them with pleading,
but they are nowhere to be found.

8He who acquires wisdom loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding will find success.

9A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who pours out lies will perish.

10Luxury is unseemly for a fool—
how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

11A man’s insight gives him patience,
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

12A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish son is his father’s ruin,
and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.

14Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15Laziness brings on deep sleep,
and an idle soul will suffer hunger.

16He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul,
but he who is careless in his ways will die.

17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD,
and He will repay the lender.

18Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;
do not be party to his death.

19A man of great anger must pay the penalty;
if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.

20Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
that you may be wise the rest of your days.

21Many plans are in a man’s heart,
but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

22The desire of a man is loving devotion;
better to be poor than a liar.

23The fear of the LORD leads to life,
that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.

24The slacker buries his hand in the dish;
he will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware;
rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

26He who assaults his father or evicts his mother
is a son who brings shame and disgrace.

27If you cease to hear instruction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28A corrupt witness mocks justice,
and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.

29Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 20   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Wine Is a Mocker

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

2The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion;
whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.a

3It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,
but any fool will quarrel.

4The slacker does not plow in season;
at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.

5The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding draws them out.

6Many a man proclaims his loving devotion,
but who can find a trustworthy man?

7The righteous man walks with integrity;
blessed are his children after him.

8A king who sits on a throne to judge
sifts out all evil with his eyes.

9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;

I am cleansed from my sin”?

10Differing weights and unequal measuresb—
both are detestable to the LORD.

11Even a young man is known by his actions—
whether his conduct is pure and upright.

12Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the LORD has made them both.

13Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.

14“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer,
but on the way out, he gloats.

15There is an abundance of gold and rubies,
but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.

16Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for a foreigner.c

17Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man,
but later his mouth is full of gravel.

18Set plans by consultation,
and wage war under sound guidance.

19He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;
avoid the one who babblesd with his lips.

20Whoever curses his father or mother,
his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.

21An inheritance gained quickly
will not be blessed in the end.

22Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!”

Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.

23Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD,
and dishonest scales are no good.

24A man’s steps are from the LORD,
so how can anyone understand his own way?

25It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly,
only later to reconsider his vows.

26A wise king separates out the wicked
and drives the threshing wheel over them.

27The spirite of a man is the lamp of the LORD,
searching out his inmost being.

28Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king;
by these he maintains his throne.

29The glory of young men is their strength,
and gray hair is the splendor of the old.

30Lashes and wounds scour evil,
and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.

Footnotes:

2 a Literally sins against his own soul

10 b Hebrew A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah

16 c Or a wayward woman

19 d Or the one who is simple

27 e Or breath or speech

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 21   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The King’s Heart
(Psalm 21:1–13)

1The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD;

He directs it where He pleases.

2All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the LORD weighs the heart.

3To do righteousness and justice
is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.

4Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the guides of the wicked—are sin.

5The plans of the diligent bring plenty,
as surely as haste leads to poverty.

6Making a fortune by a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.

7The violence of the wicked will sweep them away
because they refuse to do what is just.

8The way of a guilty man is crooked,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

9Better to live on a corner of the roof
than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

10The soul of the wicked man craves evil;
his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.

12The Righteous Onea considers the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.

13Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too shall cry out and receive no answer.

14A gift in secret soothes anger,
and a covert bribeb pacifies great wrath.

15Justice executed is a joy to the righteous,
but a terror to the workers of iniquity.

16The man who strays from the path of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17He who loves pleasure will become poor;
the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.

18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the faithless for the upright.

19Better to live in the desert
than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.

20Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise,
but a foolish man consumes them.

21He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion
finds life, righteousness, and honor.

22A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.

23He who guards his mouth and tongue
keeps his soul from distress.

24Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—
of him who acts with excessive pride.

25The craving of the slacker kills him
because his hands refuse to work.

26All day long he covets more,
but the righteous give without restraint.

27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—
how much more so when brought with ill intent!

28A lying witness will perish,
but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.

29A wicked man hardens his face,c
but the upright man makes his way sure.

30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
that can prevail against the LORD.

31A horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but victory is of the LORD.

Footnotes:

12 a Or The righteous one

14 b Hebrew a bribe in the bosom

29 c Or puts up a bold front

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 22   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Good Name

1A good name is more desirable than great riches;
favor is better than silver and gold.

2The rich and the poor have this in common:

The LORD is Maker of them all.

3The prudent see danger and take cover,
but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.

4The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD
are wealth and honor and life.

5Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse;
he who guards his soul stays far from them.

6Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it.

7The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.

8He who sows injustice will reap disaster,
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.a

9A generous manb will be blessed,
for he shares his bread with the poor.

10Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart;
even quarreling and insults will cease.

11He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips
will have the king for a friend.

12The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,
but He frustrates the words of the faithless.

13The slacker says, “There is a lion outside!

I will be slain in the streets!”

14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.

15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich
will surely lead to poverty.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1

17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—
apply your mind to my knowledge—

18for it is pleasing when you keep them within you
and they are constantly on your lips.

19So that your trust may be in the LORD,

I instruct you today—yes, you.

20Have I not written for you thirty sayingsc
about counsel and knowledge,

21to show you true and reliable words,
that you may soundly answer those who sent you?

Saying 2

22Do not rob a poor man because he is poor,
and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,

23for the LORD will take up their case
and will plunder those who rob them.

Saying 3

24Do not make friends with an angry man,
and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,

25or you may learn his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.

Saying 4

26Do not be one who gives pledges,
who puts up security for debts.

27If you have nothing with which to pay,
why should your bed be taken from under you?

Saying 5

28Do not move an ancient boundary stone
which your fathers have placed.

Saying 6

29Do you see a man skilled in his work?

He will be stationed in the presence of kings;
he will not stand before obscure men.

Footnotes:

8 a LXX includes God blesses a cheerful and generous man, but foolish works will come to an end; see also 2 Corinthians 9:7.

9 b Literally He whose eye is good

20 c Or written for you excellent sayings or written for you three times

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 23   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

True Riches
(1 Timothy 6:17–19; James 5:1–6)

Saying 7

1When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
consider carefully what is set before you,a

2and put a knife to your throat
if you possess a great appetite.

3Do not crave his delicacies,
for that food is deceptive.

Saying 8

4Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
be wise enough to restrain yourself.

5When you glance at wealth, it disappears,
for it makes wings for itself
and flies like an eagle to the sky.

Saying 9

6Do not eat the bread of a stingy man,b
and do not crave his delicacies;

7for he is keeping track,
inwardly counting the cost.c

“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.

8You will vomit up what little you have eaten
and waste your pleasant words.

Saying 10

9Do not speak to a fool,
for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Saying 11

10Do not move an ancient boundary stone
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

11for their Redeemer is strong;

He will take up their case against you.

Saying 12

12Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.

Saying 13

13Do not withhold discipline from a child;
although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

14Strike him with a rod,
and you will deliver his soul from Sheol.

Saying 14

15My son, if your heart is wise,
my own heart will indeed rejoice.

16My inmost beingd will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.

Saying 15

17Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always continue in the fear of the LORD.

18For surely there is a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.

Saying 16

19Listen, my son, and be wise,
and guide your heart on the right course.

20Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat.

21For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.

Saying 17

22Listen to your father who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23Invest in truth and never sell it—
in wisdom and instruction and understanding.

24The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice,
and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

25May your father and mother be glad,
and may she who gave you birth rejoice!

Saying 18

26My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes delight in my ways.

27For a prostitute is a deep pit,
and an adulteresse is a narrow well.

28Like a robber she lies in wait
and multiplies the faithless among men.

Saying 19

29Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has contentions? Who has complaints?

Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?

30Those who linger over wine,
who go to taste mixed drinks.

31Do not gaze at wine while it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup
and goes down smoothly.

32In the end it bites like a snake
and stings like a viper.

33Your eyes will see strange things,
and your mind will utter perversities.

34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas
or lying on the top of a mast:

35“They struck me, but I feel no pain!

They beat me, but I did not know it!

When can I wake up
to search for another drink?”

Footnotes:

1 a Or who is before you

6 b Literally of him whose eye is evil

7 c Or for as he calculates in his soul, so is he

16 d Hebrew My kidneys

27 e Or a foreign woman or a wayward wife

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 24   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Do Not Envy

Saying 20

1Do not envy wicked men
or desire their company;

2for their hearts devise violence,
and their lips declare trouble.

Saying 21

3By wisdom a house is built
and by understanding it is established;

4through knowledge its rooms are filled
with every precious and beautiful treasure.

Saying 22

5A wise man is strong,a
and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.

6Only with sound guidance should you wage war,
and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.

Saying 23

7Wisdom is too high for a fool;
he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.

Saying 24

8He who plots evil
will be called a schemer.

9A foolish scheme is sin,
and a mocker is detestable to men.

Saying 25

10If you faint in the day of distress,
how small is your strength!

11Rescue those being led away to death,
and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.

12If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,”

does not He who weighs hearts consider it?

Does not the One who guards your life know?

Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

Saying 26

13Eat honey, my son, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

14Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul.

If you find it, there is a future for you,
and your hope will never be cut off.

Saying 27

15Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous;
do not destroy his resting place.

16For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up;
but the wicked stumble in bad times.

Saying 28

17Do not gloat when your enemy falls,
and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

18or the LORD will see and disapprove,
and turn His wrath away from him.

Saying 29

19Do not fret over evildoers,
and do not be envious of the wicked.

20For the evil man has no future;
the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

Saying 30

21My son, fear the LORD and the king,
and do not associate with the rebellious.

22For they will bring sudden destruction.

Who knows what ruin they can bring?

Further Sayings of the Wise

23These also are sayings of the wise:

To show partiality in judgment
is not good.

24Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—
peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;

25but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and rich blessing will come upon them.

26An honest answer given
is like a kiss on the lips.

27Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field;
after that, you may build your house.

28Do not testify against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.

29Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;

I will repay the man according to his work.”

30I went past the field of a slacker
and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.

31Thorns had grown up everywhere,
thistles had covered the ground,
and the stone wall was broken down.

32I observed and took it to heart;

I looked and received instruction:

33A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,

34and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and need like a bandit.

Footnotes:

5 a LXX The wise are mightier than the strong

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 25   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

More Proverbs of Solomon

1These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter
and the glory of kings to search it out.

3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.

4Remove the dross from the silver,
and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.

5Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.

6Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
and do not stand in the place of great men;

7for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!”

than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince.

Even whata you have seen with your own eyes,

8do not bring hastily to court.

Otherwise, what will you do in the end
when your neighbor puts you to shame?

9Argue your case with your neighbor
without betraying another’s confidence,

10lest the one who hears may disgrace you,
and your infamy never go away.

11A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14Like clouds and wind without rain
is the man who boasts of gifts never given.

15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

16If you find honey, eat just what you need,
lest you have too much and vomit it up.

17Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house,
lest he grow weary and hate you.

18Like a club or sword or sharp arrow
is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

19Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint
is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

20Like one who removes a garment on a cold day
or vinegar poured on a woundb
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head,c
and the LORD will reward you.

23As the north wind brings forth rain,
so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.

24Better to live on a corner of the roof
than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

25Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.

26Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

27It is not good to eat too much honey
or to search out one’s own glory.

28Like a city whose walls are broken down
is a man who does not control his temper.

Footnotes:

7 a Or Even the one

20 b Or on soda

22 c LXX; Hebrew For you will heap burning coals on his head; cited in Romans 12:20

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 26   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Similitudes and Instructions

1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,
honor does not befit a fool.

2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!

4Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be like him.

5Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he become wise in his own eyes.

6Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence
is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

7Like lame legs hanging limp
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

8Like binding a stone into a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.

9Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

10Like an archer who wounds at random
is he who hires a fool or passerby.

11As a dog returns to its vomit,a
so a fool repeats his folly.

12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13The slacker says, “A lion is in the road!

A fierce lion roams the public square!”

14As a door turns on its hinges,
so the slacker turns on his bed.

15The slacker buries his hand in the dish;
it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

16The slacker is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who answer discreetly.

17Like one who grabs a dog by the ears
is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

18Like a madman shooting firebrands
and deadly arrows,

19so is the man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”

20Without wood, a fire goes out;
without gossip, a conflict ceases.

21Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels
that go down into the inmost being.

23Like glaze covering an earthen vessel
are burningb lips and a wicked heart.

24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech,
but he lays up deceit in his heart.

25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,
for seven abominations fill his heart.

26Though his hatred is concealed by deception,
his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

28A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

Footnotes:

11 a Cited in 2 Peter 2:22

23 b Hebrew; LXX smooth

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 27   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Do Not Boast about Tomorrow
(James 4:13–17)

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

2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—
a stranger, and not your own lips.

3A stone is heavy and sand is a burden,
but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

4Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood,
but who can withstand jealousy?

5Better an open rebuke
than love that is concealed.

6The wounds of a friend are faithful,
but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

7The soul that is full loathes honey,
but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.

8Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who wanders from his home.

9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.

10Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend,
and do not go to your brother’s house
in the day of your calamity;
better a neighbor nearby
than a brother far away.

11Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart,
so that I can answer him who taunts me.

12The prudent see danger and take cover;
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

13Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for a foreigner.a

14If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,
it will be counted to him as a curse.

15A constant dripping on a rainy day
and a contentious woman are alike—

16restraining her is like holding back the wind
or grasping oil with one’s right hand.

17As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.b

18Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and he who looks after his master will be honored.

19As water reflects the face,
so the heart reflects the true man.

20Sheol and Abaddonc are never satisfied;
so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

21A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold,
but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.

22Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle,
yet his folly will not depart from him.

23Be sure to know the state of your flocks,
and pay close attention to your herds;

24for riches are not forever,
nor does a crown endure to every generation.

25When hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grain from the hills is gathered,

26the lambs will provide you with clothing,
and the goats with the price of a field.

27You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—
food for your household
and nourishment for your maidservants.

Footnotes:

13 a Or a wayward woman

17 b Hebrew sharpens the face of another or sharpens the countenance of a friend

20 c Or Death and Destruction

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 28   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Boldness of the Righteous

1The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

2A land in rebellion has many rulers,
but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.

3A destitute leader who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.

4Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law resist them.

5Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the LORD comprehend fully.

6Better a poor man who walks with integrity
than a rich man whose ways are perverse.

7A discerning son keeps the law,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

8He who increases his wealth by interest and usury
lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.

9Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law,
even his prayer is detestable.

10He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit,
but the blameless will inherit what is good.

11A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man with discernment sees through him.

12When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

13He who conceals his sins will not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

14Blessed is the man who is always reverent,a
but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

15Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

16A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor,
but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.

17A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit;b
let no one support him.

18He who walks with integrity will be kept safe,
but whoever is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

19The one who works his land will have plenty of food,
but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

20A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but one eager to be rich will not go unpunished.

21To show partiality is not good,
yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

22A stingy manc hastens after wealth
and does not know that poverty awaits him.

23He who rebukes a man will later find more favor
than one who flatters with his tongue.

24He who robs his father or mother, saying, “It is not wrong,”

is a companion to the man who destroys.

25A greedy man stirs up strife,
but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.

26He who trusts in himself is a fool,
but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.

27Whoever gives to the poor will not be in need,
but he who hides his eyes will receive many curses.

28When the wicked come to power, people hide themselves;
but when they perish, the righteous flourish.

Footnotes:

14 a Or always fears the LORD; Hebrew does not include the LORD.

17 b Or will be a fugitive until death

22 c Hebrew A man whose eye is evil

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 29   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Flourishing of the Righteous

1A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof
will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.

2When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

3A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

4By justice a king brings stability to the land,
but a man who exacts tributea demolishes it.

5A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his feet.

6An evil man is caught by his own sin,
but a righteous one sings and rejoices.

7The righteous consider the cause of the poor,
but the wicked have no regard for such concerns.

8Mockers inflame a city,
but the wise turn away anger.

9If a wise man goes to court with a fool,
there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.

10Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man,
but the upright care for his life.b

11A fool vents all his anger,
but a wise man holds it back.

12If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials will be wicked.

13The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:

The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.

14A king who judges the poor with fairness—
his throne will be established forever.

15A rod of correction imparts wisdom,
but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

16When the wicked thrive, rebellion increases;
but the righteous will see their downfall.

17Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will bring delight to your soul.

18Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;
but blessed is he who keeps the Law.

19A servant cannot be corrected by words alone;
though he understands, he will not respond.

20Do you see a man who speaks in haste?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21A servant pampered from his youth
will bring grief in the end.

22An angry man stirs up dissension,
and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

23A man’s pride will bring him low,
but a humble spirit will obtain honor.

24A partner to a thief hates his own soul;
he receives the oath, but does not testify.

25The fear of man is a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.

26Many seek the ruler’s favor,
but a man receives justice from the LORD.

27An unjust man is detestable to the righteous,
and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.

Footnotes:

4 a Or who taxes heavily or who takes bribes

10 b Or but the upright seek his soul

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 30   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Words of Agur

1These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel:

“I am weary, O God,
and worn out.a

2Surely I am the most ignorant of men,
and I lack the understanding of a man.

3I have not learned wisdom,
and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.

4Who has ascended to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered the wind in His hands?

Who has bound up the waters in His cloak?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is His name, and what is the name of His Son—
surely you know!

5Every word of God is flawless;

He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

6Do not add to His words,
lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.

7Two things I ask of You—
do not refuse me before I die:

8Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me.

Give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the bread that is my portion.

9Otherwise, I may have too much
and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’

Or I may become poor and steal,
profaning the name of my God.

10Do not slander a servant to his master,
or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.

11There is a generation of those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers.

12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes
and yet unwashed of their filth.

13There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes
and pretentious are their glances—

14there is a generation whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are knives,
devouring the oppressed from the earth
and the needy from among men.

15The leech has two daughters:

Give and Give.

There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:

16Sheol,
the barren womb,
land never satisfied with water,
and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’

17As for the eye that mocks a father
and scorns obedience to a mother,
may the ravens of the valley pluck it out
and young vultures devour it.

18There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:

19the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship at sea,
and the way of a man with a maiden.

20This is the way of an adulteress:

She eats and wipes her mouth
and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’

21Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:

22a servant who becomes king,
a fool who is filled with food,

23an unloved woman who marries,
and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.

24Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:

25The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

26the rock badgersb are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;

27the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;

28and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.

29There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:

30a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;

31a strutting rooster;
a he-goat;
and a king with his army around him.c

32If you have foolishly exalted yourself
or if you have plotted evil,
put your hand over your mouth.

33For as the churning of milk yields butter,
and the twisting of the nose draws blood,
so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or declared to Ithiel: “I am weary, O God, but I can prevail. (revocalizations); Hebrew declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:

26 b Or the coneys or the hyraxes

31 c Or a king against whom there is no rising up

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◀   ◀   Proverbs 31   ▶   ▶

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The Sayings for King Lemuel

1These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

2What shall I say,a O my son?

What, O son of my womb?

What, O son of my vows?

3Do not spend your strength on women
or your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to crave strong drink,

5lest they drink and forget what is decreed,
depriving all the oppressed of justice.

6Give strong drink to one who is perishing,
and wine to the bitter in soul.

7Let him drink and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.

8Open your mouth for those with no voice,
for the cause of all the dispossessed.

9Open your mouth, judge righteously,
and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

The Virtues of a Noble Woman

10A wifeb of noble character, who can find?

She is far more precious than rubies.

11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he lacks nothing of value.

12She brings him good and not harm
all the days of her life.

13She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

14She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

15She rises while it is still night
to provide food for her household
and portions for her maidservants.

16She appraises a field and buys it;
from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17She girds herselfc with strength
and shows that her arms are strong.

18She sees that her gain is good,
and her lamp is not extinguished at night.

19She stretches out her hands to the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20She opens her arms to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21When it snows, she has no fear for her household,
for they are all clothed in scarlet.d

22She makes coverings for her bed;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23Her husband is known at the city gate,
where he sits among the elders of the land.

24She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchants.

25Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she can laugh at the days to come.

26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband praises her as well:

29“Many daughters have done noble things,
but you surpass them all!”

30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31Give her the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her at the gates.

Footnotes:

2 a Or What or What are you doing

10 b Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

17 c Hebrew She girds her loins

21 d Or doubly clothed

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◀   ◀   Ecclesiastes 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12)

Everything Is Futile

1These are the words of the Teacher,a the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

2“Futilityb of futilities,”

says the Teacher,

“futility of futilities!

Everything is futile!”

3What does a man gain from all his labor,
at which he toils under the sun?

4Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.

5The sun rises and the sun sets;
it hurries back to where it rises.

6The wind blows southward,
then turns northward;
round and round it swirls,
ever returning on its course.

7All the rivers flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full;
to the place from which the streams come,
there again they flow.

8All things are wearisome,
more than one can describe;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear content with hearing.

9What has been will be again,
and what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

10Is there a case where one can say,

“Look, this is new”?

It has already existed
in the ages before us.

11There is no remembrance
of those who came before,
and those yet to come will not be remembered
by those who follow after.

With Wisdom Comes Sorrow

12I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them!

14I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

15What is crooked cannot be straightened,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.

16I said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”

17So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.

18For with much wisdom comes much sorrow,
and as knowledge grows, grief increases.

Footnotes:

1 a Or the Convener or the Preacher or the leader of the assembly; Hebrew Qoheleth is rendered as the Teacher throughout Ecclesiastes.

2 b Literally vapor or breath; the Hebrew words translated in Ecclesiastes as forms of futile or fleeting can also be translated as vanity or meaningless.

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The Futility of Pleasure

1I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!”

But it proved to be futile.

2I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

3I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

4I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees. 6I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.

7I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me, 8and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.

9So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me. 10Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

11Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

The Wise and the Foolish

12Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished? 13And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness:

14The wise man has eyes in his head,
but the fool walks in darkness.

Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both. 15So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?”

And I said to myself that this too is futile.

16For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool! 17So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

The Futility of Work

18I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. 19And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.

20So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun. 21When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil. 22For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun? 23Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

24Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God. 25For apart from Him,a who can eat and who can find enjoyment? 26To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Footnotes:

25 a Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts apart from me or more than I

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To Everything There Is a Season

1To everything there is a season,
and a time for every purpose under heaven:

2a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to break down and a time to build,

4a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6a time to search and a time to count as lost,
a time to keep and a time to discard,

7a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

God’s Works Remain Forever

9What does the worker gain from his toil? 10I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them. 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.

12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live, 13and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God. 14I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him. 15What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.

From Dust to Dust

16Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. 17I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”

18I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.” 19For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath.a Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile. 20All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.

21Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth? 22I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?

Footnotes:

19 a Or spirit

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◀   ◀   Ecclesiastes 4   ▶   ▶

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The Evil of Oppression

1Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter. 2So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. 3But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

4I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

5The fool folds his hands
and consumes his own flesh.

6Better one handful with tranquility
than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

7Again, I saw futility under the sun. 8There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.

9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. 10For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! 11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? 12And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

The Futility of Power

13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning. 14For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.

15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king. 16There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

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◀   ◀   Ecclesiastes 5   ▶   ▶

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Approaching God with Awe

1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.

3As a dream comes through many cares,
so the speech of a fool comes with many words.

4When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. 5It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

6Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messengera that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? 7For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

The Futility of Wealth
(Psalm 49:1–20)

8If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them. 9The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

10He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. 11When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

12The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

13There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, 14or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.

15As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived. He takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands. 16This too is a grievous evil: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind? 17Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.

18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.

19Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God. 20For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.

Footnotes:

6 a Or angel

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The Futility of Life

1There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind: 2God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.

3A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity. 5The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man, 6even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

7All a man’s labor is for his mouth,
yet his appetite is never satisfied.a

8What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others? 9Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

10Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he. 11For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone? 12For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?

Footnotes:

7 a Hebrew filled

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◀   ◀   Ecclesiastes 7   ▶   ▶

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The Value of Wisdom

1A good name is better than fine perfume,
and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.

2It is better to enter a house of mourning
than a house of feasting,
since death is the end of every man,
and the living should take this to heart.

3Sorrow is better than laughter,
for a sad countenance is good for the heart.

4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

5It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke
than to listen to the song of fools.

6For like the crackling of thorns under the pot,
so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.

7Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool,
and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8The end of a matter is better than the beginning,
and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.

9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger settles in the lap of a fool.a

10Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”

For it is unwise of you to ask about this.

11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good,
and it benefits those who see the sun.

12For wisdom, like money, is a shelter,
and the advantage of knowledge
is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

13Consider the work of God:

Who can straighten what He has bent?

14In the day of prosperity, be joyful,
but in the day of adversity, consider this:

God has made one of these along with the other,
so that a man cannot discover
anything that will come after him.

The Limits of Human Wisdom

15In my futile life I have seen both of these:

A righteous man perishing in his righteousness,
and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.

16Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.b

19Wisdom makes the wise man
stronger than ten rulers in a city.

20Surely there is no righteous man on earth
who does good and never sins.

21Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you. 22For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

23All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me. 24What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?

25I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness. 26And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.

27“Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation. 28While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman. 29Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

Footnotes:

9 a Hebrew in the bosom of fools

18 b Or will avoid all extremes

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◀   ◀   Ecclesiastes 8   ▶   ▶

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Obey the King

1Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.

2Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath before God. 3Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. 4For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

5Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. 6For there is a right time and procedure to every purpose, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him. 7Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?

8As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it. 9All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment.

Fear God
(Isaiah 8:11–15)

10Then too, I saw the burial of the wicked who used to go in and out of the holy place, and they were praiseda in the city where they had done so. This too is futile. 11When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.

12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence. 13Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

God’s Ways Are Mysterious

14There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

15So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.

16When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night— 17I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

Footnotes:

10 a Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts were soon forgotten

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◀   ◀   Ecclesiastes 9   ▶   ▶

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Death Comes to Good and Bad

1So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate.

2It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad,a for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

3This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.

4There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion. 5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten. 6Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.

Enjoy Your Portion in This Life

7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:

8Let your garments always be white,
and never spare the oil for your head.

9Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleetingb life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun. 10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

11I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all. 12For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.

Wisdom Is Better than Strength

13I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me: 14There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.

15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

17The calm words of the wise are heeded
over the shouts of a ruler among fools.

18Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner destroys much good.

Footnotes:

2 a LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew does not include and the bad.

9 b Or futile; twice in this verse

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◀   ◀   Ecclesiastes 10   ▶   ▶

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Wisdom and Folly

1As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil,
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

2A wise man’s heart inclines to the right,
but the heart of a fool to the left.

3Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking,
and he shows everyone that he is a fool.

4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post,
for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

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

6Folly is appointed to great heights,
but the rich sit in lowly positions.

7I have seen slaves on horseback,
while princes go on foot like slaves.

8He who digs a pit may fall into it,
and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9The one who quarries stones may be injured by them,
and he who splits logs endangers himself.

10If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened,
more strength must be exerted,
but skill produces success.

11If the snake bites before it is charmed,
there is no profit for the charmer.

12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,
but the lips of a fool consume him.

13The beginning of his talk is folly,
and the end of his speech is evil madness.

14Yet the fool multiplies words.

No one knows what is coming,
and who can tell him what will come after him?

15The toil of a fool wearies him,
for he does not know the way to the city.

16Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth,a
and whose princes feast in the morning.

17Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles,
and whose princes feast at the proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness.

18Through laziness the roof caves in,
and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.

19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry,
but money is the answer for everything.

20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts,
or curse the rich even in your bedroom,
for a bird of the air may carry your words,
and a winged creature may report your speech.

Footnotes:

16 a Or a servant

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Cast Your Bread upon the Waters

1Cast your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will find it again.

2Divide your portion among seven, or even eight,
for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

3If the clouds are full,
they will pour out rain upon the earth;
whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

4He who watches the wind will fail to sow,
and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.

5As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the bones are formeda in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.

6Sow your seed in the morning,
and do not rest your hands in the evening,
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.

Enjoy Your Years

7Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

8So if a man lives many years,
let him rejoice in them all.

But let him remember the days of darkness,
for they will be many.

Everything to come is futile.

9Rejoice, O young man, while you are young,
and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.

Walk in the ways of your heart
and in the sight of your eyes,
but know that for all these things

God will bring you to judgment.

10So banish sorrow from your heart,
and cast off pain from your body,
for youth and vigor are fleeting.b

Footnotes:

5 a Or As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones

10 b Or futile

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Remember Your Creator

1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the days of adversity come
and the years approach of which you will say,

“I find no pleasure in them,”

2before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened,
and the clouds return after the rain,

3on the day the keepers of the house tremble
and the strong men stoop,
when those grinding cease because they are few
and those watching through windows see dimly,

4when the doors to the street are shut
and the sound of the mill fades away,
when one rises at the sound of a bird
and all the daughters of song grow faint,

5when men fear the heights and dangers of the road,
when the almond tree blossoms,
the grasshopper loses its spring,
and the caper berry shrivels—
for then man goes to his eternal home
and mourners walk the streets.

6Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped
and the golden bowl is crushed,
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring
and the wheel is broken at the well,

7before the dust returns to the ground from which it came
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher.

“Everything is futile!”

The Whole Duty of Man

9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. 10The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.a

11The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.b
12And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Footnotes:

10 a Or and sought to write what was upright and true

11 b Or shepherd

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8)

The Bride Confesses Her Love
(Ephesians 5:22–33; 1 Peter 3:1–7)

1This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.a

The Bride

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your love is more delightful than wine.

3The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing;
your name is like perfume poured out.

No wonder the maidens adore you.

4Take me away with you—let us hurry!

May the king bring me to his chambers.

The Friends

We will rejoice and delight in you;
we will praise your love more than wine.

The Bride

It is only right that they adore you.

5I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

6Do not stare because I am dark,
for the sun has gazed upon me.

My mother’s sons were angry with me;
they made me a keeper of the vineyards,
but my own vineyard I have neglected.

7Tell me, O one I love,
where do you pasture your sheep?

Where do you rest them at midday?

Why should I be like a veiled woman
beside the flocks of your companions?

The Friends

8If you do not know, O fairest of women,
follow the tracks of the flock,
and graze your young goats
near the tents of the shepherds.

The Bridegroom

9I compare you, my darling,
to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.

10Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments,
your neck with strings of jewels.

The Friends

11We will make you ornaments of gold,
studded with beads of silver.

The Bride

12While the king was at his table,
my perfume spread its fragrance.

13My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh
resting between my breasts.

14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
in the vineyards of En-gedi.

The Bridegroom

15How beautiful you are, my darling!

Oh, how very beautiful!

Your eyes are like doves.

The Bride

16How handsome you are, my beloved!

Oh, how delightful!

The soft grass is our bed.

The Bridegroom

17The beams of our house are cedars;
our rafters are fragrant firs.

Footnotes:

1 a Most translators add subheadings for speaker identifications such as The Bride, The Groom, and The Friends based on the gender and number of the Hebrew words.

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The Bride’s Admiration

The Bride

1I am a rose of Sharon,a
a lily of the valley.

The Bridegroom

2Like a lily among the thorns
is my darling among the maidens.

The Bride

3Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
is my beloved among the young men.

I delight to sit in his shade,
and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

4He has brought me to the house of wine,b
and his banner over me is love.

5Sustain me with raisins;
refresh me with apples,
for I am faint with love.

6His left hand is under my head,
and his right arm embraces me.

7O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you
by the gazelles and does of the field:

Do not arouse or awaken love
until the time is right.

8Listen! My beloved approaches.

Look! Here he comes,
leaping across the mountains,
bounding over the hills.

9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.

Look, he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattice.

10My beloved calls to me,

“Arise, my darling.

Come away with me, my beautiful one.

11For now the winter is past;
the rain is over and gone.

12The flowers have appeared in the countryside;
the season of singingc has come,
and the cooing of turtledoves
is heard in our land.

13The fig tree ripens its figs;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

Arise, come away, my darling;
come away with me, my beautiful one.”

The Bridegroom

14O my dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the crevices of the cliff,
let me see your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
and your countenance is lovely.

The Friends

15Catch for us the foxes—
the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—
for our vineyards are in bloom.

The Bride

16My beloved is mine and I am his;
he pastures his flock among the lilies.

17Before the day breaks and shadows flee,
turn, my beloved,
and be like a gazelle
or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.d

Footnotes:

1 a Sharon Plain is a region in the coastal plain of Israel

4 b That is, the banquet hall

12 c Or pruning

17 d Or the rugged mountains

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The Bride’s Dream

1On my bed at night

I sought the one I love;

I sought him,
but did not find him.

2I will arise now and go about the city,
through the streets and squares.

I will seek the one I love.

So I sought him but did not find him.

3I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city:

“Have you seen the one I love?”

4I had just passed them when I found the one I love.

I held him and would not let go
until I had brought him to my mother’s house,
to the chamber of the one who conceived me.

5O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you
by the gazelles and does of the field:

Do not arouse or awaken love
until the time is right.

Solomon Arrives on His Wedding Day

6Who is this coming up from the wilderness
like a column of smoke,
scented with myrrh and frankincense
from all the spices of the merchant?

7Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage,a
escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel.

8All are skilled with the sword,
experienced in warfare.

Each has his sword at his side
prepared for the terror of the night.

9King Solomon has made his carriage
out of the timber of Lebanon.

10He has made its posts of silver,
its base of gold, its seat of purple fabric.

Its interior is inlaid with love
by the daughters of Jerusalem.

11Come out, O daughters of Zion,
and gaze at King Solomon,
wearing the crown his mother bestowed
on the day of his wedding—
the day of his heart’s rejoicing.

Footnotes:

7 a That is, the couch on which servants carry a king

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Solomon Admires His Bride

The Bridegroom

1How beautiful you are, my darling—
how very beautiful!

Your eyes are like doves
behind your veil.

Your hair is like a flock of goats
streaming down Mount Gilead.

2Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep
coming up from the washing;
each has its twin,
and not one of them is lost.

3Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon,
and your mouth is lovely.

Your brow behind your veil
is like a slice of pomegranate.

4Your neck is like the tower of David,
built with rows of stones;
on it hang a thousand shields,
all of them shields of warriors.

5Your breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle grazing among the lilies.

6Before the day breaks and the shadows flee,

I will make my way
to the mountain of myrrh
and to the hill of frankincense.

7You are altogether beautiful, my darling;
in you there is no flaw.

8Come with me from Lebanon, my bride,
come with me from Lebanon!

Descenda from the peak of Amana,
from the summits of Senir and Hermon,
from the dens of the lions,
from the mountains of the leopards.

9You have captured my heart,
my sister, my bride;
you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your neck.

10How delightful is your love,
my sister, my bride!

Your love is much better than wine,
and the fragrance of your perfume than all spices.

11Your lips, my bride,
drip sweetness like the honeycomb;
honey and milk are under your tongue,
and the fragrance of your garments
is like the aroma of Lebanon.

12My sister, my bride, you are a garden locked up,
a spring enclosed, a fountain sealed.

13Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates
with the choicest of fruits, with henna and nard,

14with nard and saffron, with calamus and cinnamon,
with every kind of frankincense tree,
with myrrh and aloes,
with all the finest spices.

15You are a garden spring,
a well of fresh waterb
flowing down from Lebanon.

The Bride

16Awake, O north wind,
and come, O south wind.

Breathe on my garden
and spread the fragrance of its spices.

Let my beloved come into his garden
and taste its choicest fruits.

Footnotes:

8 a Or Look down

15 b Or flowing water or living water

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The Bride and Her Beloved

The Bridegroom

1I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride;

I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.

I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey;

I have drunk my wine with my milk.

The Friends

Eat, O friends, and drink;
drink freely, O beloved.

The Bride

2I sleep, but my heart is awake.

A sound! My beloved is knocking:

“Open to me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my flawless one.

My head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night.”

3I have taken off my robe—
must I put it back on?

I have washed my feet—
must I soil them again?

4My beloved put his hand to the latch;
my heart pounded for him.

5I rose up to open for my beloved.

My hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh
on the handles of the bolt.

6I opened for my beloved,
but he had turned and gone.

My heart sank at his departure.

I sought him, but did not find him.

I called, but he did not answer.

7I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city.

They beat me and bruised me;
they took away my cloak,
those guardians of the walls.

8O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you,
if you find my beloved,
tell him I am sick with love.

The Friends

9How is your beloved better than others,

O most beautiful among women?

How is your beloved better than another,
that you charge us so?

The Bride

10My beloved is dazzling and ruddy,
outstanding among ten thousand.

11His head is purest gold;
his hair is wavy and black as a raven.

12His eyes are like doves
beside the streams of water,
bathed in milk
and mounted like jewels.

13His cheeks are like beds of spice,
towers of perfume.

His lips are like lilies,
dripping with flowing myrrh.

14His arms are rods of gold
set with beryl.

His body is an ivory panel
bedecked with sapphires.

15His legs are pillars of marble
set on bases of pure gold.

His appearance is like Lebanon,
as majestic as the cedars.

16His moutha is most sweet;
he is altogether lovely.

This is my beloved, and this is my friend,

O daughters of Jerusalem.

Footnotes:

16 a Hebrew palate

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Together in the Garden

The Friends

1Where has your beloved gone,

O most beautiful among women?

Which way has he turned?

We will seek him with you.

The Bride

2My beloved has gone down to his garden,
to the beds of spices,
to pasture his flock in the gardens
and to gather lilies.

3I belong to my beloved and he belongs to me;
he pastures his flock among the lilies.

The Bridegroom

4You are as beautiful, my darling, as Tirzah,
as lovely as Jerusalem,
as majestic as troops with banners.

5Turn your eyes away from me,
for they have overcome me.

Your hair is like a flock of goats
streaming down from Gilead.

6Your teeth are like a flock of sheep
coming up from the washing;
each has its twin,
and not one of them is lost.

7Your brow behind your veil
is like a slice of pomegranate.

8There are sixty queens and eighty concubines,
and maidens without number,

9but my dove, my perfect one, is unique,
the favorite of the mother who bore her.

The maidens see her and call her blessed;
the queens and concubines sing her praises.

The Friends

10Who is this who shines like the dawn,
as fair as the moon,
as bright as the sun,
as majestic as the stars in procession?

The Bridegroom

11I went down to the walnut grove
to see the blossoms of the valley,
to see if the vines were budding
or the pomegranates were in bloom.

12Before I realized it, my desire had set me
among the royal chariots of my people.a

The Friends

13Come back, come back, O Shulammite!

Come back, come back, that we may gaze upon you.

The Bridegroom

Why do you look at the Shulammite,
as on the dance of Mahanaimb?

Footnotes:

12 a Or among the chariots of Amminadab

13 b Or the dance of the two camps

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Admiration by the Bridegroom

1How beautiful are your sandaled feet,

O daughter of the prince!

The curves of your thighs are like jewels,
the handiwork of a master.

2Your navel is a rounded goblet;
it never lacks blended wine.

Your waist is a mound of wheat
encircled by the lilies.

3Your breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle.

4Your neck is like a tower
made of ivory;
your eyes are like the pools of Heshbon
by the gate of Bath-rabbim;
your nose is like the tower of Lebanon,
facing toward Damascus.

5Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel,
the hair of your head like purple threads;
the king is captured in your tresses.

6How fair and pleasant you are,

O love, with your delights!

7Your stature is like a palm tree;
your breasts are clusters of fruit.

8I said, “I will climb the palm tree;

I will take hold of its fruit.”

May your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
the fragrance of your breath like apples,

9and your moutha like the finest wine.

The Bride

May it flow smoothly to my beloved,
gliding gently over lips and teeth.b

10I belong to my beloved,
and his desire is for me.

11Come, my beloved,
let us go to the countryside;
let us spend the night among the wildflowers.c

12Let us go early to the vineyards
to see if the vine has budded,
if the blossom has opened,
if the pomegranates are in bloom—
there I will give you my love.

13The mandrakes send forth a fragrance,
and at our door is every delicacy,
new as well as old,
that I have treasured up for you, my beloved.

Footnotes:

9 a Hebrew palate

9 b LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew gliding gently over lips as we sleep

11 c Or among the henna blossoms or in the villages

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Longing for Her Beloved

1O that you were to me like a brother
who nursed at my mother’s breasts!

If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you,
and no one would despise me.

2I would lead you and bring you
to the house of my mother who taught me.

I would give you spiced wine to drink,
the nectar of my pomegranates.

3His left hand is under my head,
and his right arm embraces me.

4O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you:

Do not arouse or awaken love
until the time is right.

The Friends

5Who is this coming up from the wilderness,
leaning on her beloved?

The Bride

I roused you under the apple tree;
there your mother conceived you;
there she travailed and brought you forth.

6Set me as a seal over your heart,
as a seal upon your arm.

For love is as strong as death,
its jealousya as unrelenting as Sheol.

Its sparks are fiery flames,
the fiercest blaze of all.

7Mighty waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot sweep it away.

If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love,
his offer would be utterly scorned.

The Friends

8We have a little sister,
and her breasts are not yet grown.

What shall we do for our sister
on the day she is spoken for?

9If she is a wall,
we will build a tower of silver upon her.

If she is a door,
we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

The Bride

10I am a wall,
and my breasts are like towers.

So I have become in his eyes
like one who brings peace.

11Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-hamon.

He leased it to the tenants.

For its fruit, each was to bring
a thousand shekels of silver.b

12But my own vineyard is mine to give;
the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon,
and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.

The Bridegroom

13You who dwell in the gardens,
my companions are listening for your voice.

Let me hear it!

The Bride

14Come away, my beloved,
and be like a gazelle
or a young stag
on the mountains of spices.

Footnotes:

6 a Or passion

11 b Hebrew a thousand of silver; that is, approximately 25.1 pounds or 11.4 kilograms of silver

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BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66)

Judah’s Rebellion
(2 Chronicles 28:5–15)

1This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth,
for the LORD has spoken:

“I have raised children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against Me.

3The ox knows its owner,
and the donkey its master’s manger,
but Israel does not know;

My people do not understand.”

4Alas, O sinful nation,
a people laden with iniquity,
a brood of evildoers,
children of depravity!

They have forsaken the LORD;
they have despised the Holy One of Israel
and turned their backs on Him.

5Why do you want more beatings?

Why do you keep rebelling?

Your head has a massive wound,
and your whole heart is afflicted.

6From the sole of your foot to the top of your head,
there is no soundness—
only wounds and welts and festering sores
neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.

7Your land is desolate;
your cities are burned with fire.

Foreigners devour your fields before you—
a desolation demolished by strangers.

8And the Daughter of Zion is abandoned
like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a shack in a cucumber field,
like a city besieged.

9Unless the LORD of Hosts
had left us a few survivors,a
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have resembled Gomorrah.b

Meaningless Offerings

10Hear the word of the LORD,
you rulers of Sodom;
listen to the instruction of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!

11“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?”

says the LORD.

“I am full from the burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of well-fed cattle;

I take no delight in the blood of bulls
and lambs and goats.

12When you come to appear before Me,
who has required this of you—
this trampling of My courts?

13Bring your worthless offerings no more;
your incense is detestable to Me—
your New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations.

I cannot endure iniquity
in a solemn assembly.

14I hate your New Moons
and your appointed feasts.

They have become a burden to Me;

I am weary of bearing them.

15When you spread out your hands in prayer,

I will hide My eyes from you;
even though you multiply your prayers,

I will not listen.

Your hands are covered with blood.

16Wash and cleanse yourselves.

Remove your evil deeds from My sight.

Stop doing evil!

17Learn to do right;
seek justice and correct the oppressor.c

Defend the fatherless
and plead the case of the widow.”

18“Come now, let us reason together,”

says the LORD.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are as red as crimson,
they will become like wool.

19If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best of the land.

20But if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

The Corruption of Zion

21See how the faithful city has become a harlot!

She once was full of justice;
righteousness resided within her,
but now only murderers!

22Your silver has become dross;
your fine wine is diluted with water.

23Your rulers are rebels,
friends of thieves.

They all love bribes
and chasing after rewards.

They do not defend the fatherless,
and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

24Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:

“Ah, I will be relieved of My foes
and avenge Myself on My enemies.

25I will turn My hand against you;

I will thoroughly purge your dross;

I will remove all your impurities.

26I will restore your judges as at first,
and your counselors as at the beginning.

After that you will be called the City of Righteousness,
the Faithful City.”

27Zion will be redeemed with justice,
her repentant ones with righteousness.

28But rebels and sinners will together be shattered,
and those who forsake the LORD will perish.

29Surely you will be ashamed of the sacred oaks
in which you have delighted;
you will be embarrassed by the gardens
that you have chosen.

30For you will become like an oak whose leaves are withered,
like a garden without water.

31The strong man will become tinder
and his work will be a spark;
both will burn together,
with no one to quench the flames.

Footnotes:

9 a LXX had left us descendants

9 b Cited in Romans 9:29

17 c Or and encourage the oppressed

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The Mountain of the House of the LORD
(Micah 4:1–5)

1This is the message that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD
will be established as the chief of the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.

3And many peoples will come and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us His ways
so that we may walk in His paths.”

For the law will go forth from Zion,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4Then He will judge between the nations
and arbitrate for many peoples.

They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation,
nor train anymore for war.

The Day of Reckoning

5Come, O house of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the LORD.

6For You have abandoned Your people,
the house of Jacob,
because they are filled
with influences from the east;
they are soothsayers like the Philistines;
they strike hands with the children of foreigners.

7Their land is full of silver and gold,
with no limit to their treasures;
their land is full of horses,
with no limit to their chariots.

8Their land is full of idols;
they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their fingers have made.

9So mankind is brought low,
and man is humbled—
do not forgive them!

10Go into the rocks
and hide in the dust
from the terror of the LORD
and the splendor of His majesty.

11The proud look of man will be humbled,
and the loftiness of men brought low;
the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

12For the Day of the LORD of Hosts
will come against all the proud and lofty,
against all that is exalted—
it will be humbled—

13against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up,
against all the oaks of Bashan,

14against all the tall mountains,
against all the high hills,

15against every high tower,
against every fortified wall,

16against every ship of Tarshish,a
and against every stately vessel.

17So the pride of man will be brought low,
and the loftiness of men will be humbled;
the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

18and the idols will vanish completely.

19Men will flee to caves in the rocks
and holes in the ground,
away from the terror of the LORD
and from the splendor of His majesty,
when He rises to shake the earth.

20In that day men will cast away
to the moles and bats
their idols of silver and gold—
the idols they made to worship.

21They will flee to caverns in the rocks
and crevices in the cliffs,
away from the terror of the LORD
and from the splendor of His majesty,
when He rises to shake the earth.

22Put no more trust in man,
who has only the breath in his nostrils.

Of what account is he?

Footnotes:

16 a Or every ship of trade

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah

1For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts
is about to remove
from Jerusalem and Judah
both supplya and support:

the whole supply of food and water,

2the mighty man and the warrior,
the judge and the prophet,
the soothsayer and the elder,

3the commander of fifty and the dignitary,
the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.

4“I will make mere lads their leaders,
and children will rule over them.”

5The people will oppress one another,
man against man, neighbor against neighbor;
the young will rise up against the old,
and the base against the honorable.

6A man will seize his brother
within his father’s house:

“You have a cloak—you be our leader!

Take charge of this heap of rubble.”

7On that day he will cry aloud:

“I am not a healer.b

I have no food or clothing in my house.

Do not make me leader of the people!”

8For Jerusalem has stumbled
and Judah has fallen
because they spoke and acted against the LORD,
defying His glorious presence.c

9The expression on their faces testifies against them,
and like Sodom they flaunt their sin;
they do not conceal it.

Woe to them,
for they have brought disaster upon themselves.

10Tell the righteous it will be well with them,
for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.

11Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them!

For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

12Youths oppress My people,
and women rule over them.

O My people, your guides mislead you;
they turn you from your paths.

13The LORD arises to contend;

He stands to judge the people.

14The LORD brings this charge
against the elders and leaders of His people:

“You have devoured the vineyard;
the plunder of the poor is in your houses.

15Why do you crush My people
and grind the faces of the poor?”

declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

A Warning to the Daughters of Zion

16The LORD also says:

“Because the daughters of Zion are haughty—
walking with heads held high
and wanton eyes,
prancing and skipping as they go,
jingling the bracelets on their ankles—

17the Lord will bring sores
on the heads of the daughters of Zion,
and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.d”

18In that day the Lord will take away their finery:

their anklets and headbands and crescents;

19their pendants, bracelets, and veils;

20their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes;
their perfume bottles and charms;

21their signet rings and nose rings;

22their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses;

23and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls.

24Instead of fragrance
there will be a stench;
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of styled hair, baldness;
instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;
instead of beauty, shame.e

25Your men will fall by the sword,
and your warriors in battle.

26And the gates of Zion will lament and mourn;
destitute, she will sit on the ground.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew staff

7 b Or binder of wounds

8 c Hebrew defying the eyes of His glory

17 d Or will uncover their secret parts

24 e DSS; MT branding

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Remnant in Zion

1In that day seven women
will take hold of one man and say,

“We will eat our own bread
and provide our own clothes.

Just let us be called by your name.

Take away our disgrace!”

2On that day the Branch of the LORD
will be beautiful and glorious,
and the fruit of the land
will be the pride and glory of Israel’s survivors.

3Whoever remains in Zion
and whoever is left in Jerusalem
will be called holy—
all in Jerusalem who are recorded among the living—

4when the Lord has washed away
the filth of the daughters of Zion
and cleansed the bloodstains from the heart of Jerusalem
by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.

5Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion
and over her assemblies
a cloud of smoke by day
and a glowing flame of fire by night.

For over all the glory
there will be a canopy,

6a shelter to give shade
from the heat by day,
and a refuge and hiding place
from the storm and the rain.

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Song of the Vineyard
(Luke 13:6–9)

1I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard:

My beloved had a vineyard
on a very fertile hill.

2He dug it up and cleared the stones
and planted the finest vines.

He built a watchtower in the middle
and dug out a winepress as well.

He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes,
but the fruit it produced was sour!

3“And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem
and men of Judah,

I exhort you to judge
between Me and My vineyard.

4What more could I have done for My vineyard
than I already did for it?

Why, when I expected sweet grapes,
did it bring forth sour fruit?

5Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard:

I will take away its hedge,
and it will be consumed;

I will tear down its wall,
and it will be trampled.

6I will make it a wasteland,
neither pruned nor cultivated,
and thorns and briers will grow up.

I will command the clouds
that rain shall not fall on it.”

7For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
are the plant of His delight.

He looked for justice,
but saw bloodshed;
for righteousness,
but heard a cry of distress.

Woes to the Wicked

8Woe to you who add house to house
and join field to field
until no place is left
and you live alone in the land.

9I heard the LORD of Hosts declare:

“Surely many houses will become desolate,
great mansions left unoccupied.

10For ten acres of vineyard
will yield but a bath of wine,a
and a homer of seed
only an ephah of grain.b”

11Woe to those who rise early in the morning
in pursuit of strong drink,
who linger into the evening,
to be inflamed by wine.

12At their feasts are the lyre and harp,
tambourines and flutes and wine.

They disregard the actions of the LORD
and fail to see the work of His hands.

13Therefore My people will go into exile
for their lack of understanding;
their dignitaries are starving
and their masses are parched with thirst.

14Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat
and opens wide its enormous jaws,
and down go Zion’s nobles and masses,
her revelers and carousers!

15So mankind will be brought low, and each man humbled;
the arrogant will lower their eyes.

16But the LORD of Hosts will be exalted by His justice,
and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.

17Lambs will graze as in their own pastures,
and strangersc will feed in the ruins of the wealthy.

18Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of deceit
and pull sin along with cart ropes,

19to those who say, “Let Him hurry and hasten His work
so that we may see it!

Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come
so that we may know it!”

20Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who turn darkness to light
and light to darkness,
who replace bitter with sweet
and sweet with bitter.

21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.

22Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine
and champions in mixing strong drink,

23who acquit the guilty for a bribe
and deprive the innocent of justice.

24Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw,
and as dry grass shrivels in the flame,
so their roots will decay
and their blossoms will blow away like dust;
for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of Hosts
and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

25Therefore the anger of the LORD burns against His people;

His hand is raised against them to strike them down.

The mountains quake,
and the corpses lay like refuse in the streets.

Despite all this, His anger is not turned away;

His hand is still upraised.

26He lifts a banner for the distant nations
and whistles for those at the ends of the earth.

Behold—how speedily and swiftly they come!

27None of them grows weary or stumbles;
no one slumbers or sleeps.

No belt is loose
and no sandal strap is broken.

28Their arrows are sharpened,
and all their bows are strung.

The hooves of their horses are like flint;
their chariot wheels are like a whirlwind.

29Their roaring is like that of a lion;
they roar like young lions.

They growl and seize their prey;
they carry it away from deliverance.

30In that day they will roar over it,
like the roaring of the sea.

If one looks over the land,
he will see darkness and distress;
even the light will be obscured by clouds.

Footnotes:

10 a Literally ten yoke of vineyard will yield a bath; that is, the area ten yoke of oxen can plow in a day will yield approximately 5.8 gallons or 22 liters of wine.

10 b Literally and a homer of seed will yield an ephah; that is, a homer of seed (approximately 6.24 bushels or 220 liters) will yield a tenth of its weight in grain.

17 c LXX lambs

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Isaiah’s Commission
(Matthew 13:10–17; Mark 4:10–12; Acts 28:16–31)

1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robea filled the temple. 2Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3And they were calling out to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts;
all the earth is full of His glory.”

4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.

5Then I said:

“Woe is me,
for I am ruined,
because I am a man of unclean lips
dwelling among a people of unclean lips;
for my eyes have seen the King,
the LORD of Hosts.”

6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7And with it he touched my mouth and said:

“Now that this has touched your lips,
your iniquity is removed
and your sin is atoned for.”

8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:

“Whom shall I send?

Who will go for Us?”

And I said:

“Here am I. Send me!”

9And He replied:

“Go and tell this people,

‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’b

10Make the hearts of this people calloused;
deafen their ears and close their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.c”

11Then I asked:

“How long, O Lord?”

And He replied:

“Until the cities lie ruined
and without inhabitant,
until the houses are left unoccupied
and the land is desolate and ravaged,

12until the LORD has driven men far away
and the land is utterly forsaken.

13And though a tenth remains in the land,
it will be burned again.

As the terebinth and oak leave stumps when felled,
so the holy seed will be a stump in the land.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or the hem of His robe

9 b Hebrew; LXX ‘You shall be ever hearing, but never understanding; you shall be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Cited in Matthew 13:14, Mark 4:12, Luke 8:10, and Acts 28:26

10 c Hebrew; LXX For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them. Cited in Matthew 13:15, Mark 4:12, John 12:40, and Acts 28:27

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 7   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Message to Ahaz

1Now in the days that Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Arama marched up to wage war against Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Pekah son of Remaliah the king of Israel, but he could not overpower the city.

2When it was reported to the house of David that Aram was in league with Ephraim,b the hearts of Ahaz and his people trembled like trees in the forest shaken by the wind.

3Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-jashubc to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct that feeds the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field, 4and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. 5For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted your ruin, saying: 6‘Let us invade Judah, terrorize it, and divide itd among ourselves. Then we can install the son of Tabeal over it as king.’ 7But this is what the Lord GOD says:

‘It will not arise;
it will not happen.

8For the head of Aram is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is Rezin.

Within sixty-five years

Ephraim will be shattered as a people.

9The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.

If you do not stand firm in your faith,
then you will not stand at all.’ ”

The Sign of Immanuel
(Matthew 1:18–25)

10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11“Ask for a sign from the LORD your God, whether from the depths of Sheol or the heights of heaven.”

12But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.”

13Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well? 14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgine will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.f
15By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey. 16For before the boy knows enough to reject evil and choose good, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.

Judgment to Come
(Micah 1:1–7)

17The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since the day Ephraim separated from Judah—He will bring the king of Assyria.”

18On that day the LORD will whistle to the flies at the farthest streams of the Nile and to the bees in the land of Assyria.

19And they will all come and settle
in the steep ravines and clefts of the rocks,
in all the thornbushes and watering holes.

20On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphratesg—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well. 21On that day a man will raise a young cow and two sheep, 22and from the abundance of milk they give, he will eat curds; for all who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.

23And on that day, in every place that had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver,h only briers and thorns will be found. 24Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. 25For fear of the briers and thorns, you will no longer traverse the hills once tilled by the hoe; they will become places for oxen to graze and sheep to trample.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, Syria

2 b Or had set up camp in Ephraim, that is, the northern kingdom of Israel

3 c Shear-jashub means a remnant shall return.

6 d Hebrew split it open

14 e Or young woman

14 f Immanuel means God with us; literally and she will call His name Immanuel; DSS and His name will be called Immanuel or and he will call His name Immanuel; LXX you will call His name Immanuel; cited in Matthew 1:23.

20 g Hebrew the River

23 h Hebrew a thousand of silver; that is, approximately 25.1 pounds or 11.4 kilograms of silver

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Assyrian Invasion Prophesied

1Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinarya stylus: Maher-shalal-hash-baz.b
2And I will appoint for Myself trustworthy witnesses—Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.”

3And I had relations with the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. The LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz. 4For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”

5And the LORD spoke to me further:

6“Because this people has rejected
the gently flowing waters of Shiloah
and rejoiced in Rezin
and the son of Remaliah,

7the Lord will surely bring against them
the mighty floodwaters of the Euphratesc—
the king of Assyria and all his pomp.

It will overflow its channels
and overrun its banks.

8It will pour into Judah,
swirling and sweeping over it,
reaching up to the neck;
its spreading streams will cover
your entire land, O Immanuel!d

9Huddle together,e O peoples, and be shattered;
pay attention, all you distant lands;
prepare for battle, and be shattered;
prepare for battle, and be shattered!

10Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted;
state a proposal, but it will not happen.

For God is with us.f”

A Call to Fear God
(Ecclesiastes 8:10–13)

11For this is what the LORD has spoken to me with a strong hand, instructing me not to walk in the way of this people:

12“Do not call conspiracy
everything these people regard as conspiracy.

Do not fear what they fear;g
do not live in dread.h

13The LORD of Hosts is the One
you shall regard as holy.

Only He should be feared;
only He should be dreaded.

14And He will be a sanctuary—
but to both houses of Israel
a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,i
to the dwellers of Jerusalem
a trap and a snare.

15Many will stumble over these;
they will fall and be broken;
they will be ensnared and captured.”

16Bind up the testimony
and seal the law among my disciples.

17I will wait for the LORD,
who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob.

I will put my trust in Him.j

18Here am I, and the children the LORD has given mek as signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.

Darkness and Light

19When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

21They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God. 22Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew with a man’s

1 b Maher-shalal-hash-baz means The spoil speeds, the prey hastens or Swift to plunder, quick to carry away; also in verse 3.

7 c Hebrew the River

8 d Immanuel means God with us.

9 e Or Raise the war cry or Be evil or Be broken

10 f Hebrew Immanuel; see Matthew 1:23.

12 g Or Do not fear their threats

12 h LXX do not be shaken; cited in 1 Peter 3:14

14 i Cited in Romans 9:33 and 1 Peter 2:8

17 j Or I will eagerly look for Him; cited in Hebrews 2:13

18 k Cited in Hebrews 2:13

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Unto Us a Child Is Born
(Matthew 4:12–17; Mark 1:14–15; Luke 4:14–15)

1Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:

2The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.a

3You have enlarged the nation
and increased its joy.

The people rejoice before You
as they rejoice at harvest time,
as men rejoice in dividing the plunder.

4For as in the day of Midian

You have shattered the yoke of their burden,
the bar across their shoulders,
and the rod of their oppressor.

5For every trampling boot of battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given,
and the government will be upon His shoulders.

And He will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7Of the increase of His government and peace
there will be no end.

He will reign on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness
from that time and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Judgment against Israel’s Pride

8The Lord has sent a message against Jacob,
and it has fallen upon Israel.

9All the people will know it—

Ephraimb and the dwellers of Samaria.

With pride and arrogance of heart
they will say:

10“The bricks have fallen,
but we will rebuild with finished stone;
the sycamores have been felled,
but we will replace them with cedars.”

11The LORD has raised up the foes of Rezin against him
and joined his enemies together.

12Aramc from the east and Philistia from the west
have devoured Israel with open mouths.

Despite all this, His anger is not turned away;

His hand is still upraised.

Judgment against Israel’s Hypocrisy

13But the people did not return to Him who struck them;
they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.

14So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail,
both palm branch and reed in a single day.

15The head is the elder and honorable man,
and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies.

16For those who guide this people mislead them,
and those they mislead are swallowed up.

17Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men;

He has no compassion on their fatherless and widows.

For every one of them is godless and wicked,
and every mouth speaks folly.

Despite all this, His anger is not turned away;

His hand is still upraised.

Judgment against Israel’s Unrepentance

18For wickedness burns like a fire
that consumes the thorns and briers
and kindles the forest thickets
which roll upward in billows of smoke.

19By the wrath of the LORD of Hosts
the land is scorched,
and the people are fuel for the fire.

No man even spares his brother.

20They carve out what is on the right,
but they are still hungry;
they eat what is on the left,
but they are still not satisfied.

Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.d

21Manasseh devours Ephraim,
and Ephraim Manasseh;
together they turn against Judah.

Despite all this, His anger is not turned away;

His hand is still upraised.

Footnotes:

2 a Cited in Matthew 4:15–16

9 b That is, the northern kingdom of Israel

12 c That is, Syria

20 d Literally of his own arm

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 10   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Woe to Tyrants

1Woe to those who enact unjust statutes
and issue oppressive decrees,

2to deprive the poor of fair treatment
and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people,
to make widows their prey
and orphans their plunder.

3What will you do on the day of reckoning
when devastation comes from afar?

To whom will you flee for help?

Where will you leave your wealth?

4Nothing will remain but to crouch among the captives
or fall among the slain.

Despite all this, His anger is not turned away;

His hand is still upraised.

Judgment on Assyria

5Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger;
the staff in their hands is My wrath.

6I will send him against a godless nation;

I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage,
to take spoils and seize plunder,
and to trample them down like clay in the streets.

7But this is not his intention;
this is not his plan.

For it is in his heart to destroy
and cut off many nations.

8“Are not all my commanders kings?” he says.

9“Is not Calno like Carchemish?

Is not Hamath like Arpad?

Is not Samaria like Damascus?

10As my hand seized the idolatrous kingdoms
whose images surpassed those of Jerusalem and Samaria,

11and as I have done to Samaria and its idols,
will I not also do to Jerusalem and her idols?”

12So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes. 13For he says:

‘By the strength of my hand I have done this,
and by my wisdom, for I am clever.

I have removed the boundaries of nations
and plundered their treasures;
like a mighty one I subdued their rulers.

14My hand reached as into a nest
to seize the wealth of the nations.

Like one gathering abandoned eggs,

I gathered all the earth.

No wing fluttered,
no beak opened or chirped.’ ”

15Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it?

Does a saw boast over him who saws with it?

It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it,
or a staff lifting him who is not wood!

16Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts will send a wasting disease
among Assyria’s stout warriors,
and under his pomp will be kindled
a fire like a burning flame.

17And the Light of Israel will become a fire,
and its Holy One a flame.

In a single day it will burn and devour

Assyria’s thorns and thistles.

18The splendor of its forests and orchards,
both soul and body,
it will completely destroy,
as a sickness consumes a man.

19The remaining trees of its forests will be so few
that a child could count them.

A Remnant Shall Return

20On that day the remnant of Israel
and the survivors of the house of Jacob
will no longer depend
on him who struck them,
but they will truly rely on the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel.

21A remnant will returna —a remnant of Jacob—
to the Mighty God.

22Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand of the sea,
only a remnant will return.b

Destruction has been decreed,
overflowing with righteousness.

23For the Lord GOD of Hosts will carry out
the destruction decreed upon the whole land.c

24Therefore this is what the Lord GOD of Hosts says:

“O My people who dwell in Zion,
do not fear Assyria,
who strikes you with a rod
and lifts his staff against you
as the Egyptians did.

25For in just a little while

My fury against you will subside,
and My anger will turn to their destruction.”

26And the LORD of Hosts will brandish a whip against them,
as when He struck Midian at the rock of Oreb.

He will raise His staff over the sea,
as He did in Egypt.

27On that day the burden will be lifted from your shoulders,
and the yoke from your neck.

The yoke will be broken
because your neck will be too large.d

28Assyria has entered Aiath
and passed through Migron,
storing their supplies at Michmash.

29They have crossed at the ford:

“We will spend the night at Geba.”

Ramah trembles;

Gibeah of Saul flees.

30Cry aloud, O Daughter of Gallim!

Listen, O Laishah!

O wretched Anathoth!

31Madmenah flees;
the people of Gebim take refuge.

32Yet today they will halt at Nob,
shaking a fist at the mount of Daughter Zion,
at the hill of Jerusalem.

33Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts
will lop off the branches with terrifying power.

The tall trees will be cut down,
the lofty ones will be felled.

34He will clear the forest thickets with an axe,
and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.

Footnotes:

21 a Hebrew Shear-jashub; also in verse 22; see Isaiah 7:3.

22 b LXX Though the people of Israel be like the sand of the sea, only a remnant will be saved. Cited in Romans 9:27

23 c LXX He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work in all the world. Cited in Romans 9:28

27 d Literally broken because of fatness; LXX broken from your shoulders

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 11   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Root of Jesse

1Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse,
and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.

2The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and strength,
the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

3And He will delight in the fear of the LORD.

He will not judge by what His eyes see,
and He will not decide by what His ears hear,

4but with righteousness He will judge the poor,
and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth
and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.

5Righteousness will be the belt around His hips,
and faithfulness the sash around His waist.

6The wolf will live with the lamb,
and the leopard will lie down with the goat;
the calf and young lion and fatling will be together,a
and a little child will lead them.

7The cow will graze with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

8The infant will play by the cobra’s den,
and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest.

9They will neither harm nor destroy
on all My holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the sea is full of water.

10On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him,b and His place of rest will be glorious. 11On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush,c from Elam, from Shinar,d from Hamath, and from the islandse of the sea.

12He will raise a banner for the nations
and gather the exiles of Israel;

He will collect the scattered of Judah
from the four corners of the earth.

13Then the jealousy of Ephraimf will depart,
and the adversariesg of Judah will be cut off.

Ephraim will no longer envy Judah,
nor will Judah harass Ephraim.

14They will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines to the west;
together they will plunder the sons of the east.

They will lay their hands on Edom and Moab,
and the Ammonites will be subject to them.

15The LORD will devote to destructionh
the gulfi of the Sea of Egypt;
with a scorching wind He will sweep His hand
over the Euphrates.j

He will split it into seven streams
for men to cross with dry sandals.

16There will be a highway for the remnant of His people
who remain from Assyria,
as there was for Israel
when they came up from the land of Egypt.

Footnotes:

6 a Hebrew; LXX the young calf and bull and lion will feed together

10 b LXX On that day the Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope; cited in Romans 15:12.

11 c That is, the upper Nile region

11 d That is, Babylonia

11 e Or coastlands

13 f That is, the northern kingdom of Israel

13 g Or hostility

15 h Or will completely dry up

15 i Hebrew the tongue

15 j Hebrew the River

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 12   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Joyful Thanksgiving

1In that day you will say:

“O LORD, I will praise You.

Although You were angry with me,

Your anger has turned away,
and You have comforted me.

2Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid.

For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,
and He also has become my salvation.”

3With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation, 4and on that day you will say:

“Give praise to the LORD;
proclaim His name!

Make His works known among the peoples;
declare that His name is exalted.

5Sing to the LORD, for He has done glorious things.

Let this be known in all the earth.

6Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion,
for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.”

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Burden against Babylon

1This is the burden against Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz received:

2Raise a banner on a barren hilltop;
call aloud to them.

Wave your hand,
that they may enter the gates of the nobles.

3I have commanded My sanctified ones;

I have even summoned My warriors
to execute My wrath
and exult in My triumph.

4Listen, a tumult on the mountains,
like that of a great multitude!

Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms,
like nations gathered together!

The LORD of Hosts is mobilizing
an army for war.

5They are coming from faraway lands,
from the ends of the heavens—
the LORD and the weapons of His wrath—
to destroy the whole country.

6Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near;
it will come as destruction from the Almighty.a

7Therefore all hands will fall limp,
and every man’s heart will melt.

8Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them;
they will writhe like a woman in labor.

They will look at one another,
their faces flushed with fear.

9Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming—
cruel, with fury and burning anger—
to make the earth a desolation
and to destroy the sinners within it.

10For the stars of heaven and their constellations
will not give their light.

The rising sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light.

11I will punish the world for its evil
and the wicked for their iniquity.

I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant
and lay low the pride of the ruthless.

12I will make man scarcer than pure gold,
and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir.

13Therefore I will make the heavens tremble,
and the earth will be shaken from its place
at the wrath of the LORD of Hosts
on the day of His burning anger.

14Like a hunted gazelle,
like a sheep without a shepherd,
each will return to his own people,
each will flee to his native land.

15Whoever is caught will be stabbed,
and whoever is captured will die by the sword.

16Their infants will be dashed to pieces
before their eyes,
their houses will be looted,
and their wives will be ravished.

17Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes,
who have no regard for silver
and no desire for gold.

18Their bows will dash young men to pieces;
they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb;
they will not look with pity on the children.

19And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms,
the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans,
will be overthrown by God
like Sodom and Gomorrah.

20She will never be inhabited
or settled from generation to generation;
no nomad will pitch his tent there,
no shepherd will rest his flock there.

21But desert creatures will lie down there,
and howling creatures will fill her houses.

Ostrichesb will dwell there,
and wild goats will leap about.

22Hyenas will howl in her fortresses
and jackalsc in her luxurious palaces.

Babylon’s time is at hand,
and her days will not be prolonged.

Footnotes:

6 a Hebrew Shaddai

21 b Literally Daughters of an ostrich or Daughters of an owl

22 c Or serpents or dragons

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 14   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Restoration for Israel

1For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again He will choose Israel and settle them in their own land. The foreigner will join them and unite with the house of Jacob. 2The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland.

Then the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.

The Fall of the King of Babylon

3On the day that the LORD gives you rest from your pain and torment, and from the hard labor into which you were forced, 4you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon:

How the oppressor has ceased,
and how his furya has ended!

5The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked,
the scepter of the rulers.

6It struck the peoples in anger
with unceasing blows;
it subdued the nations in rage
with relentless persecution.

7All the earth is at peace and at rest;
they break out in song.

8Even the cypressesb and cedars of Lebanon
exult over you:

“Since you have been laid low,
no woodcutter comes against us.”

9Sheol beneath is eager
to meet you upon your arrival.

It stirs the spirits of the dead to greet you—
all the rulers of the earth.

It makes all the kings of the nations
rise from their thrones.

10They will all respond to you, saying,

“You too have become weak, as we are;
you have become like us!”

11Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol,
along with the music of your harps.

Maggots are your bed
and worms your blanket.

12How you have fallen from heaven,

O day star,c son of the dawn!

You have been cut down to the ground,

O destroyer of nations.

13You said in your heart:

“I will ascend to the heavens;

I will raise my throne
above the stars of God.

I will sit on the mount of assembly,
in the far reaches of the north.d

14I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.”

15But you will be brought down to Sheol,
to the lowest depths of the Pit.

16Those who see you will stare;
they will ponder your fate:

“Is this the man who shook the earth
and made the kingdoms tremble,

17who turned the world into a desert
and destroyed its cities,
who refused to let the captives
return to their homes?”

18All the kings of the nations lie in state,
each in his own tomb.e

19But you are cast out of your grave like a rejected branch,
covered by those slain with the sword,
and dumped into a rocky pit
like a carcass trampled underfoot.

20You will not join them in burial,
since you have destroyed your land
and slaughtered your own people.

The offspring of the wicked
will never again be mentioned.

21Prepare a place to slaughter his sons
for the iniquities of their forefathers.

They will never rise up to possess a land
or cover the earth with their cities.

22“I will rise up against them,”

declares the LORD of Hosts.

“I will cut off from Babylon
her name and her remnant,
her offspring and her posterity,”

declares the LORD.

23“I will make her a place
for owls and for swamplands;

I will sweep her away
with the broom of destruction,”

declares the LORD of Hosts.

God’s Purpose against Assyria

24The LORD of Hosts has sworn:

“Surely, as I have planned, so will it be;
as I have purposed, so will it stand.

25I will break Assyria in My land;

I will trample him on My mountain.

His yoke will be taken off My people,
and his burden removed from their shoulders.”

26This is the plan devised for the whole earth,
and this is the hand stretched out over all the nations.

27The LORD of Hosts has purposed,
and who can thwart Him?

His hand is outstretched,
so who can turn it back?

Philistia Will Be Destroyed

28In the year that King Ahaz died, this burden was received:

29Do not rejoice, all you Philistines,
that the rod that struck you is broken.

For a viper will spring from the root of the snake,
and a flying serpent from its egg.

30Then the firstborn of the poor will find pasture,
and the needy will lie down in safety,
but I will kill your root by famine,
and your remnant will be slain.

31Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city!

Melt away, all you Philistines!

For a cloud of smoke comes from the north,
and there are no stragglers in its ranks.

32What answer will be given
to the envoys of that nation?

“The LORD has founded Zion,
where His afflicted people will find refuge.”

Footnotes:

4 a DSS, LXX, and Syriac; MT the golden city

8 b Or pines or junipers or firs

12 c Or morning star or shining one or Lucifer

13 d Or in the remote parts of Zaphon or on the heights of Zaphon

18 e Hebrew house

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 15   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Burden against Moab
(Jeremiah 48:1–47)

1This is the burden against Moab:

Ar in Moab is ruined,
destroyed in a night!

Kir in Moab is devastated,
destroyed in a night!

2Dibon goes up to its temple
to weep at its high places.

Moab wails over Nebo,
as well as over Medeba.

Every head is shaved,
every beard is cut off.

3In its streets they wear sackcloth;
on the rooftops and in the public squares
they all wail, falling down weeping.

4Heshbon and Elealeh cry out;
their voices are heard as far as Jahaz.

Therefore the soldiers of Moab cry out;
their souls tremble within.

5My heart cries out over Moab;
her fugitives flee as far as Zoar,
as far as Eglath-shelishiyah.a

With weeping they ascend the slope of Luhith;
they lament their destruction on the road to Horonaim.

6The waters of Nimrim are dried up,
and the grass is withered;
the vegetation is gone,
and the greenery is no more.

7So they carry their wealth and belongings
over the Brook of the Willows.b

8For their outcry echoes to the border of Moab.

Their wailing reaches Eglaim;
it is heard in Beer-elim.

9The waters of Dimonc are full of blood,
but I will bring more upon Dimon—
a lion upon the fugitives of Moab
and upon the remnant of the land.

Footnotes:

5 a Or Zoar, like a heifer three years of age.

7 b Or Poplars

9 c MT, twice in this verse; DSS and Vulgate Dibon; Dimon, a wordplay on Dibon (see verse 2), sounds like the Hebrew for blood.

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 16   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Moab’s Destruction
(Zephaniah 2:8–11)

1Send the tribute lambs
to the ruler of the land,
from Sela in the desert
to the mount of Daughter Zion.

2Like fluttering birds
pushed out of the nest,
so are the daughters of Moab
at the fords of the Arnon:

3“Give us counsel;
render a decision.

Shelter us at noonday
with shade as dark as night.

Hide the refugees;
do not betray the one who flees.

4Let my fugitives stay with you;
be a refuge for Moab from the destroyer.”

When the oppressor has gone, destruction has ceased,
and the oppressors have vanished from the land,

5in loving devotiona a throne will be established
in the tent of David.

A judge seeking justice and hastening righteousness
will sit on it in faithfulness.

6We have heard of Moab’s pomposity,
his exceeding pride and conceit,
his overflowing arrogance.

But his boasting is empty.

7Therefore let Moab wail;
let them wail together for Moab.

Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth,
you who are utterly stricken.

8For the fields of Heshbon have withered,
along with the grapevines of Sibmah.

The rulers of the nations
have trampled its choicest vines,
which had reached as far as Jazer
and spread toward the desert.

Their shoots had spread out
and passed over the sea.b

9So I weep with Jazer
for the vines of Sibmah;

I drench Heshbon and Elealeh
with my tears.

Triumphant shouts have fallen silent
over your summer fruit and your harvest.

10Joy and gladness are removed from the orchard;
no one sings or shouts in the vineyards.

No one tramples the grapes in the winepresses;

I have put an end to the cheering.

11Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp,
my inmost being for Kir-heres.c

12When Moab appears on the high place,
when he wearies himself
and enters his sanctuary to pray,
it will do him no good.

13This is the message that the LORD spoke earlier concerning Moab. 14And now the LORD says, “In three years, as a hired worker counts the years, Moab’s splendor will become an object of contempt, with all her many people. And those who are left will be few and feeble.”

Footnotes:

5 a Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

8 b Or and had gone as far as the sea; that is, probably the Dead Sea

11 c Kir-heres is a variant of Kir-hareseth; see verse 7.

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 17   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Burden against Damascus
(Jeremiah 49:23–27)

1This is the burden against Damascus:

“Behold, Damascus is no longer a city;
it has become a heap of ruins.

2The cities of Aroer are forsaken;
they will be left to the flocks,
which will lie down with no one to fear.

3The fortress will disappear from Ephraim,a
and the sovereignty from Damascus.

The remnant of Aram will be
like the splendor of the Israelites,”

declares the LORD of Hosts.

4“In that day the splendor of Jacob will fade,
and the fat of his body will waste away,

5as the reaper gathers the standing grain
and harvests the ears with his arm,
as one gleans heads of grain
in the Valley of Rephaim.

6Yet gleanings will remain,
like an olive tree that has been beaten—
two or three berries atop the tree,
four or five on its fruitful branches,”

declares the LORD, the God of Israel.

7In that day men will look to their Maker
and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.

8They will not look to the altars
they have fashioned with their hands
or to the Asherahs and incense altars
they have made with their fingers.

9In that day their strong cities
will be like forsaken thickets and summits,
abandoned to the Israelites
and to utter desolation.

10For you have forgotten the God of your salvation
and failed to remember the Rock of your refuge.

Therefore, though you cultivate delightful plots
and set out cuttings from exotic vines—

11though on the day you plant
you make them grow,
and on that morning
you help your seed sprout—
yet the harvest will vanish
on the day of disease and incurable pain.

12Alas, the tumult of many peoples;
they rage like the roaring seas and clamoring nations;
they rumble like the crashing of mighty waters.

13The nations rage like the rush of many waters.

He rebukes them, and they flee far away,
driven before the wind like chaff on the hills,
like tumbleweeds before a gale.

14In the evening, there is sudden terror!

Before morning, they are no more!

This is the portion of those who loot us
and the lot of those who plunder us.

Footnotes:

3 a Or The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, that is, from the northern kingdom of Israel

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 18   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Message to Cush

1Woe to the land of whirring wings,a
along the rivers of Cush,b

2which sends couriers by sea,
in papyrus vessels on the waters.

Go, swift messengers,
to a people tall and smooth-skinned,
to a people widely feared,
to a powerful nation of strange speech,
whose land is divided by rivers.

3All you people of the world
and dwellers of the earth,
when a banner is raised on the mountains,
you will see it;
when a ram’s horn sounds,
you will hear it.

4For this is what the LORD has told me:

“I will quietly look on from My dwelling place,
like shimmering heat in the sunshine,
like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”

5For before the harvest, when the blossom is gone
and the flower becomes a ripening grape,

He will cut off the shoots with a pruning knife
and remove and discard the branches.

6They will all be left to the mountain birds of prey,
and to the beasts of the land.

The birds will feed on them in summer,
and all the wild animals in winter.

7At that time gifts will be brought to the LORD of Hosts—
from a people tall and smooth-skinned,
from a people widely feared,
from a powerful nation of strange speech,
whose land is divided by rivers—
to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the LORD of Hosts.

Footnotes:

1 a Or of many locusts

1 b That is, the upper Nile region

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 19   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Burden against Egypt

1This is the burden against Egypt:

Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud;

He is coming to Egypt.

The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him,
and the hearts of the Egyptians will melt within them.

2“So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian;
brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor,
city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

3Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them,
and I will frustrate their plans,
so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead,
to mediums and spiritists.

4I will deliver the Egyptians into the hands of harsh masters,
and a fierce king will rule over them,”

declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

5The waters of the Nile will dry up,
and the riverbed will be parched and empty.

6The canals will stink;
the streams of Egypt will trickle and dry up;
the reeds and rushes will wither.

7The bulrushes by the Nile,
by the mouth of the river,
and all the fields sown along the Nile,
will wither, blow away, and be no more.

8Then the fishermen will mourn,
all who cast a hook into the Nile will lament,
and those who spread nets on the waters will pine away.

9The workers in flax will be dismayed,
and the weavers of fine linen will turn pale.

10The workers in clotha will be dejected,
and all the hired workers will be sick at heart.

11The princes of Zoan are mere fools;

Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice.

How can you say to Pharaoh,

“I am one of the wise,
a son of eastern kings”?

12Where are your wise men now?

Let them tell you and reveal
what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt.

13The princes of Zoan have become fools;
the princes of Memphisb are deceived.

The cornerstones of her tribes
have led Egypt astray.

14The LORD has poured into her
a spirit of confusion.

Egypt has been led astray in all she does,
as a drunkard staggers through his own vomit.

15There is nothing Egypt can do—
head or tail, palm or reed.

A Blessing upon the Earth

16In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will tremble with fear beneath the uplifted hand of the LORD of Hosts, when He brandishes it against them. 17The land of Judah will bring terror to Egypt; whenever Judah is mentioned, Egypt will tremble over what the LORD of Hosts has planned against it.

18In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of Hosts. One of them will be called the City of the Sun.c

19In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the center of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD near her border. 20It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender to rescue them. 21The LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and on that day Egypt will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and fulfill them.

22And the LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; He will strike them but heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and He will hear their prayers and heal them.

23In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt, and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.

24In that day Israel will join a three-party alliance with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing upon the earth. 25The LORD of Hosts will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt My people, Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance.”

Footnotes:

10 a Or Its pillars

13 b LXX; Hebrew Noph

18 c Some MT manuscripts, DSS, and Vulgate; most MT manuscripts City of Destruction

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 20   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Sign against Egypt and Cush

1Before the year that the chief commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it, 2the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.”

And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot.

3Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush,a
4so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame.

5Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed. 6And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’ ”

Footnotes:

3 a That is, the upper Nile region; similarly in verses 4 and 5

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 21   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Babylon Is Fallen
(Revelation 18:1–8)

1This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea:

Like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev,
an invader comes from the desert,
from a land of terror.

2A dire vision is declared to me:

“The traitor still betrays,
and the destroyer still destroys.

Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media!

I will put an end to all her groaning.”

3Therefore my body is filled with anguish.

Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor.

I am bewildered to hear,

I am dismayed to see.

4My heart falters;
fear makes me tremble.

The twilight of my desire
has turned to horror.

5They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet,
they eat, they drink!

Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!

6For this is what the Lord says to me:

“Go, post a lookout
and have him report what he sees.

7When he sees chariots with teams of horsemen,
riders on donkeys, riders on camels,
he must be alert, fully alert.”

8Then the lookouta shouted:

“Day after day, my lord,

I stand on the watchtower;
night after night

I stay at my post.

9Look, here come the riders,
horsemen in pairs.”

And one answered, saying:

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon!b

All the images of her gods
lie shattered on the ground!”

10O my people, crushed on the threshing floor,

I tell you what I have heard
from the LORD of Hosts,
the God of Israel.

The Burden against Edom
(Isaiah 34:5–17)

11This is the burden against Dumah:c

One calls to me from Seir,d

“Watchman, what is left of the night?

Watchman, what is left of the night?”

12The watchman replies,

“Morning has come, but also the night.

If you would inquire, then inquire.

Come back yet again.”

The Burden against Arabia

13This is the burden against Arabia:

In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge,

O caravans of Dedanites.

14Bring water for the thirsty,

O dwellers of Tema;
meet the refugees with food.

15For they flee from the sword—
the sword that is drawn—
from the bow that is bent,
and from the stress of battle.

16For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone. 17The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.”

For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.

Footnotes:

8 a DSS and Syriac; MT lion

9 b See Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 18:2.

11 c Dumah is a wordplay on Edom, meaning silence.

11 d Seir is another name for Edom.

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 22   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Valley of Vision

1This is the burden against the Valley of Vision:

What ails you now,
that you have all gone up to the rooftops,

2O city of commotion,

O town of revelry?

Your slain did not die by the sword,
nor were they killed in battle.

3All your rulers have fled together,
captured without a bow.

All your fugitives were captured together,
having fled to a distant place.

4Therefore I said,

“Turn away from me, let me weep bitterly!

Do not try to console me
over the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

5For the Lord GOD of Hosts has set a day
of tumult and trampling and confusion in the Valley of Vision—
of breaking down the walls
and crying to the mountains.

6Elam takes up a quiver, with chariots and horsemen,
and Kir uncovers the shield.

7Your choicest valleys are full of chariots,
and horsemen are posted at the gates.

8He has uncovered
the defenses of Judah.

On that day you looked to the weapons in the House of the Forest. 9You saw that there were many breaches in the walls of the City of David. You collected water from the lower pool. 10You counted the houses of Jerusalem and tore them down to strengthen the wall. 11You built a reservoir between the walls for the waters of the ancient pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or consider Him who planned it long ago.

12On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts
called for weeping and wailing,
for shaven heads
and the wearing of sackcloth.

13But look, there is joy and gladness,
butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep,
eating of meat and drinking of wine:

“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”a

14The LORD of Hosts has revealed in my hearing:

“Until your dying day,
this sin of yours will never be atoned for,”

says the Lord GOD of Hosts.

A Message for Shebna

15This is what the Lord GOD of Hosts says: “Go, say to Shebna, the steward in charge of the palace: 16What are you doing here, and who authorized you to carve out a tomb for yourself here—to chisel your tomb in the height and cut your resting place in the rock?

17Look, O mighty man! The LORD is about to shake you violently. He will take hold of you, 18roll you into a ball, and sling you into a wide land. There you will die, and there your glorious chariots will remain—a disgrace to the house of your master. 19I will remove you from office, and you will be ousted from your position.

20On that day I will summon My servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. 21I will clothe him with your robe and tie your sash around him. I will put your authority in his hand, and he will be a father to the dwellers of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.b
23I will drive him like a peg into a firm place, and he will be a throne of glory for the house of his father.

24So they will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house: the descendants and the offshoots—all the lesser vessels, from bowls to every kind of jar.

25In that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, the peg driven into a firm place will give way; it will be sheared off and fall, and the load upon it will be cut down.”

Indeed, the LORD has spoken.

Footnotes:

13 a Cited in 1 Corinthians 15:32

22 b See Revelation 3:7.

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 23   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Burden against Tyre
(Ezekiel 26:1–21)

1This is the burden against Tyre:

Wail, O ships of Tarshish,a
for Tyre is laid waste,
without house or harbor.

Word has reached them
from the land of Cyprus.b

2Be silent, O dwellers of the coastland,
you merchants of Sidon,
whose traders have crossed the sea.c

3On the great waters
came the grain of Shihor;
the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre;
she was the merchant of the nations.

4Be ashamed, O Sidon, the stronghold of the sea,
for the sea has spoken:

“I have not been in labor
or given birth.

I have not raised young men
or brought up young women.”

5When the report reaches Egypt,
they will writhe in agony over the news of Tyre.

6Cross over to Tarshish;
wail, O inhabitants of the coastland!

7Is this your jubilant city,
whose origin is from antiquity,
whose feet have taken her
to settle far away?

8Who planned this against Tyre,
the bestower of crowns,
whose traders are princes,
whose merchants are renowned on the earth?

9The LORD of Hosts planned it,
to defile all its glorious beauty,
to disgrace all the renowned of the earth.

10Cultivated your land like the Nile, O Daughter of Tarshish;
there is no longer a harbor.

11The LORD has stretched out His hand over the sea;

He has made kingdoms tremble.

He has given a command
that the strongholds of Canaan be destroyed.

12He said, “You shall rejoice no more,

O oppressed Virgin Daughter of Sidon.

Get up and cross over to Cyprus—
even there you will find no rest.”

13Look at the land of the Chaldeanse—
a people now of no account.

The Assyrians destined it for the desert creatures;
they set up their siege towers and stripped its palaces.

They brought it to ruin.

14Wail, O ships of Tarshish,
for your harbor has been destroyed!

15At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years—the span of a king’s life. But at the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:

16“Take up your harp,
stroll through the city,

O forgotten harlot.

Make sweet melody,
sing many a song,
so you will be remembered.”

17And at the end of seventy years, the LORD will restore Tyre. Then she will return to hire as a prostitute and sell herself to all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. 18Yet her profits and wages will be set apart to the LORD; they will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothing.

Footnotes:

1 a Or Wail, O fleet of trading ships; also in verse 14

1 b Hebrew Kittim; also in verse 12

2 c DSS and LXX; MT whom the seafarers have enriched

10 d DSS and some LXX manuscripts; MT Overflow

13 e That is, the Babylonians

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 24   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

God’s Judgment on the Earth

1Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth
and leaves it in ruins.

He will twist its surface
and scatter its inhabitants—

2people and priest alike, servant and master,
maid and mistress, buyer and seller,
lender and borrower, creditor and debtor.

3The earth will be utterly laid waste
and thoroughly plundered.

For the LORD has spoken this word.

4The earth mourns and withers;
the world languishes and fades;
the exalted of the earth waste away.

5The earth is defiled by its people;
they have transgressed the laws;
they have overstepped the decrees
and broken the everlasting covenant.

6Therefore a curse has consumed the earth,
and its inhabitants must bear the guilt;
the earth’s dwellers have been burned,
and only a few survive.

7The new wine dries up, the vine withers.

All the merrymakers now groan.

8The joyful tambourines have ceased;
the noise of revelers has stopped;
the joyful harp is silent.

9They no longer sing and drink wine;
strong drink is bitter to those who consume it.

10The city of chaos is shattered;
every house is closed to entry.

11In the streets they cry out for wine.

All joy turns to gloom;
rejoicing is exiled from the land.

12The city is left in ruins;
its gate is reduced to rubble.

13So will it be on the earth
and among the nations,
like a harvested olive tree,
like a gleaning after a grape harvest.

14They raise their voices, they shout for joy;
from the westa they proclaim the majesty of the LORD.

15Therefore glorify the LORD in the east.

Extol the name of the LORD, the God of Israel
in the islandsb of the sea.

16From the ends of the earth we hear singing:

“Glory to the Righteous One.”

But I said, “I am wasting away! I am wasting away!

Woe is me.”

The treacherous betray;
the treacherous deal in treachery.

17Terror and pit and snare await you,

O dweller of the earth.

18Whoever flees the sound of panic
will fall into the pit,
and whoever climbs from the pit
will be caught in the snare.

For the windows of heaven are open,
and the foundations of the earth are shaken.

19The earth is utterly broken apart,
the earth is split open,
the earth is shaken violently.

20The earth staggers like a drunkard
and sways like a shack.

Earth’s rebellion weighs it down,
and it falls, never to rise again.

21In that day the LORD will punish
the host of heaven above
and the kings of the earth below.

22They will be gathered together
like prisoners in a pit.

They will be confined to a dungeon
and punished after many days.

23The moon will be confounded
and the sun will be ashamed;
for the LORD of Hosts will reign
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
and before His elders with great glory.

Footnotes:

14 a Or from the sea

15 b Or coastlands

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 25   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Praise to the Victorious God
(Jeremiah 51:15–19)

1O LORD, You are my God!

I will exalt You;

I will praise Your name.

For You have worked wonders—
plans formed long ago—
in perfect faithfulness.

2Indeed, You have made the city a heap of rubble,
the fortified town a ruin.

The fortress of strangers is a city no more;
it will never be rebuilt.

3Therefore, a strong people will honor You.

The cities of ruthless nations will revere You.

4For You have been a refuge for the poor,
a stronghold for the needy in distress,
a refuge from the storm,
a shade from the heat.

For the breath of the ruthless
is like rain against a wall,

5like heat in a dry land.

You subdue the uproar of foreigners.

As the shade of a cloud cools the heat,
so the song of the ruthless is silenced.

6On this mountain the LORD of Hosts
will prepare a banquet for all the peoples,
a feast of aged wine, of choice meat,
of finely aged wine.

7On this mountain He will swallow up
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;

8He will swallow up death forever.a

The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every faceb
and remove the disgrace of His people
from the whole earth.

For the LORD has spoken.

9And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God;
we have waited for Him, and He has saved us.

This is the LORD for whom we have waited.

Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

10For the hand of the LORD
will rest on this mountain.

But Moab will be trampled in his place
as straw is trodden into the dung pile.

11He will spread out his hands within it,
as a swimmer spreads his arms to swim.

His pride will be brought low,
despitec the skill of his hands.

12The high-walled fortress will be brought down,
cast to the ground, into the dust.

Footnotes:

8 a Or He will swallow up death in victory; cited in 1 Corinthians 15:54

8 b Cited in Revelation 7:17 and Revelation 21:4

11 c Or along with

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 26   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Song of Salvation

1In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

We have a strong city;
salvation is established as its walls and ramparts.

2Open the gates so a righteous nation may enter—
one that remains faithful.

3You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind,
because he trusts in You.

4Trust in the LORD forever,
because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal.

5For He has humbled those who dwell on high;

He lays the lofty city low.

He brings it down to the ground;

He casts it into the dust.

6Feet trample it down—
the feet of the oppressed,
the steps of the poor.

7The path of the righteous is level;

You clear a straight path for the upright.

8Yes, we wait for You, O LORD;
we walk in the path of Your judgments.

Your name and renown
are the desire of our souls.

9My soul longs for You in the night;
indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn.a

For when Your judgments come upon the earth,
the people of the world learn righteousness.

10Though grace is shown to the wicked man,
he does not learn righteousness.

In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly
and fails to see the majesty of the LORD.

11O LORD, Your hand is upraised,
but they do not see it.

They will see Your zeal for Your people
and be put to shame.

The fire set for Your enemies
will consume them!

12O LORD, You will establish peace for us.

For all that we have accomplished,

You have done for us.

13O LORD our God, other lords besides You have had dominion,
but Your name alone do we confess.

14The dead will not live;
the departed spirits will not rise.

Therefore You have punished and destroyed them;

You have wiped out all memory of them.

15You have enlarged the nation, O LORD;

You have enlarged the nation.

You have gained glory for Yourself;

You have extended all the borders of the land.

16O LORD, they sought You in their distress;
when You disciplined them, they poured out a quiet prayer.

17As a woman with child about to give birth
writhes and cries out in pain,
so were we in Your presence, O LORD.

18We were with child; we writhed in pain;
but we gave birth to wind.

We have given no salvation to the earth,
nor brought any life into the world.

19Your dead will live; their bodies will rise.

Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust!

For your dew is like the dew of the morning,
and the earth will bring forth her dead.

20Go, my people, enter your rooms
and shut your doors behind you.

Hide yourselves a little while
until the wrath has passed.

21For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling
to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.

The earth will reveal her bloodshed
and will no longer conceal her slain.

Footnotes:

9 a Or my spirit within me seeks You.

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 27   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD’s Vineyard
(John 15:1–8)

1In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpenta—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea. 2In that day:

“Sing about a fruitful vineyard.

3I, the LORD, am its keeper;

I water it continually.

I guard it night and day
so no one can disturb it;

4I am not angry.

If only thorns and briers confronted Me,

I would march and trample them,

I would burn them to the ground.

5Or let them lay claim to My protection;
let them make peace with Me—
yes, let them make peace with Me.”

6In the days to come, Jacob will take root.

Israel will bud and blossom
and fill the whole world with fruit.

7Has the LORD struck Israel as He struck her oppressors?

Was she killed like those who slayed her?

8By warfare and exileb You contended with her
and removed her with a fierce wind,
as on the day the east wind blows.

9Therefore Jacob’s guilt will be atoned for,
and the full fruit of the removal of his sin will be this:c

When he makes all the altar stones
like crushed bits of chalk,
no Asherah poles or incense altars
will remain standing.

10For the fortified city lies deserted—
a homestead abandoned, a wilderness forsaken.

There the calves graze, and there they lie down;
they strip its branches bare.

11When its limbs are dry,
they are broken off.

Women come and use them for kindling;
for this is a people without understanding.

Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them,
and their Creator shows them no favor.

12In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphratesd to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered one by one. 13And in that day a great ram’s horn will sound, and those who were perishing in Assyria will come forth with those who were exiles in Egypt. And they will worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew nachash; translated in most cases as snake; twice in this verse

8 b Or By driving her away into exile or Measure by measure, by exile

9 c LXX Therefore the guilt of Jacob will be taken away, and this is his blessing when I take away his sin; cited in Romans 11:27

12 d Hebrew River

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 28   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Captivity of Ephraim

1Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’sa drunkards,
to the fading flower of his glorious splendor,
set on the summit above the fertile valley,
the pride of those overcome by wine.

2Behold, the Lord has one
who is strong and mighty.

Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest,
like a driving rain or flooding downpour,
he will smash that crown to the ground.

3The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards
will be trampled underfoot.

4The fading flower of his beautiful splendor,
set on the summit above the fertile valley,
will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest:

Whoever sees it will take it in his hand and swallow it.

5On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a crown of glory,
a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people,

6a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,
and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.

7These also stagger from wine
and stumble from strong drink:

Priests and prophets reel from strong drink
and are befuddled by wine.

They stumble because of strong drink,
muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.

8For all their tables are covered with vomit;
there is not a place without filth.

9Whom is He trying to teach?

To whom is He explaining His message?

To infants just weaned from milk?

To babies removed from the breast?

10For they hear:b

“Order on order, order on order,
line on line, line on line;c
a little here, a little there.”

11Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues,

He will speak to this peopled
12to whom He has said:

“This is the place of rest, let the weary rest;
this is the place of repose.”

But they would not listen.

13Then the word of the LORD to them will become:

“Order on order, order on order,
line on line, line on line;
a little here, a little there,”

so that they will go stumbling backward
and will be injured, ensnared, and captured.

A Cornerstone in Zion
(1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22; 1 Peter 2:1–8)

14Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers
who rule this people in Jerusalem.

15For you said, “We have made a covenant with death;
we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol.

When the overwhelming scourge passes through
it will not touch us,
because we have made lies our refuge
and falsehoode our hiding place.”

16So this is what the Lord GOD says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
the one who believes will never be shaken.f

17I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the level.

Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies,
and water will flood your hiding place.

18Your covenant with death will be dissolved,
and your agreement with Sheol will not stand.

When the overwhelming scourge passes through,
you will be trampled by it.

19As often as it passes through,
it will carry you away;
it will sweep through morning after morning,
by day and by night.”

The understanding of this message
will bring sheer terror.

20Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on,
and the blanket too small to wrap around you.

21For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim.

He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon,
to do His work, His strange work,
and to perform His task, His disturbing task.

22So now, do not mock,
or your shackles will become heavier.

Indeed, I have heard from the Lord GOD of Hosts
a decree of destruction against the whole land.

Listen and Hear

23Listen and hear my voice.

Pay attention and hear what I say.

24Does the plowman plow for planting every day?

Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil?

25When he has leveled its surface,
does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?

He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots,
and rye within its border.

26For his God instructs
and teaches him properly.

27Surely caraway is not threshed with a sledge,
and the wheel of a cart is not rolled over the cumin.

But caraway is beaten out with a stick,
and cumin with a rod.

28Grain for bread must be ground,
but it is not endlessly threshed.

Though the wheels of the cart roll over it,
the horses do not crush it.

29This also comes from the LORD of Hosts,
who is wonderful in counsel
and excellent in wisdom.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 3

10 b Or For He says; or For it is; literally For

10 c Or Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; Hebrew sav lasav sav lasav kav lakav kav lakav (possibly meaningless sounds to demonstrate an inability to understand); also in verse 13

11 d Cited in 1 Corinthians 14:21

15 e Or false gods

16 f LXX will never be put to shame; cited in Romans 9:33, Romans 10:11, and 1 Peter 2:6

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 29   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Woe to David’s City
(Luke 19:41–44)

1Woe to you, O Ariel,a
the city of Ariel where David camped!

Year upon year
let your festivals recur.

2And I will constrain Ariel,
and there will be mourning and lamentation;
she will be like an altar hearthb before Me.

3I will camp in a circle around you;

I will besiege you with towers
and set up siege works against you.

4You will be brought low,
you will speak from the ground,
and out of the dust
your words will be muffled.

Your voice will be like a spirit from the ground;
your speech will whisper out of the dust.

5But your many foes will be like fine dust,
the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff.

Then suddenly, in an instant,

6you will be visited by the LORD of Hosts
with thunder and earthquake and loud noise,
with windstorm and tempest and consuming flame of fire.

7All the many nations
going out to battle against Ariel—
even all who war against her,
laying siege and attacking her—
will be like a dream,
like a vision in the night,

8as when a hungry man dreams he is eating,
then awakens still hungry;
as when a thirsty man dreams he is drinking,
then awakens faint and parched.

So will it be for all the many nations
who go to battle against Mount Zion.

9Stop and be astonished;
blind yourselves and be sightless;
be drunk, but not with wine;
stagger, but not from strong drink.

10For the LORD has poured out on you
a spirit of deep sleep.

He has shut your eyes, O prophets;

He has covered your heads, O seers.

11And the entire vision will be to you like the words sealed in a scroll. If it is handed to someone to read, he will say, “I cannot, because it is sealed.” 12Or if the scroll is handed to one unable to read, he will say, “I cannot read.”

13Therefore the Lord said:

“These people draw near to Me with their mouths
and honor Me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from Me.

Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.c

14Therefore I will again confound these people
with wonder upon wonder.

The wisdom of the wise will vanish,
and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.d”

15Woe to those who dig deep
to hide their plans from the LORD.

In darkness they do their works and say,

“Who sees us, and who will know?”

16You have turned things upside down,
as if the potter were regarded as clay.

Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,

“He did not make me”?e

Can the pottery say of the potter,

“He has no understanding”?

Sanctification for the Godly

17In a very short time,
will not Lebanon become an orchard,
and the orchard seem like a forest?

18On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll,
and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see.

19The humble will increase their joy in the LORD,
and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

20For the ruthless will vanish,
the mockers will disappear,
and all who look for evil
will be cut down—

21those who indict a man with a word,
who ensnare the mediator at the gate,
and who with false charges
deprive the innocent of justice.

22Therefore the LORD who redeemed Abraham says of the house of Jacob:

“No longer will Jacob be ashamed
and no more will his face grow pale.

23For when he sees his children around him,
the work of My hands,
they will honor My name,
they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
and they will stand in awe
of the God of Israel.

24Then the wayward in spirit will come to understanding,
and those who grumble will accept instruction.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or Altar Hearth or Lion of God; probably a nickname for Jerusalem; twice in this verse, twice in verse 2, and once in verse 7

2 b Or like Ariel; see the footnote for verse 1.

13 c Hebrew; LXX They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men. Cited in Matthew 15:8–9 and Mark 7:6–7

14 d Hebrew; LXX I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will hide the intelligence of the intelligent. Cited in 1 Corinthians 1:19

16 e Cited in Romans 9:20

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 30   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Worthless Treaty with Egypt

1“Woe to the rebellious children,”

declares the LORD,

“to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine,
who form an alliance, but against My will,
heaping up sin upon sin.

2They set out to go down to Egypt
without asking My advice,
to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection
and take refuge in Egypt’s shade.

3But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame,
and the refuge of Egypt’s shade your disgrace.

4For though their princes are at Zoan
and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,

5everyone will be put to shame
because of a people useless to them.

They cannot be of help;
they are good for nothing but shame and reproach.”

6This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev:

Through a land of hardship and distress,
of lioness and lion,
of viper and flying serpent,
they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys
and their treasures on the humps of camels,
to a people of no profit to them.

7Egypt’s help is futile and empty;
therefore I have called her

Rahab Who Sits Still.a

8Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence
and inscribe it on a scroll;
it will be for the days to come,
a witness forever and ever.

9These are rebellious people, deceitful children,
children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction.

10They say to the seers,

“Stop seeing visions!”

and to the prophets,

“Do not prophesy to us the truth!

Speak to us pleasant words;
prophesy illusions.

11Get out of the way; turn off the road.

Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!”

12Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says:

“Because you have rejected this message,
trusting in oppression and relying on deceit,

13this iniquity of yours is like a breach about to fail,
a bulge in a high wall,
whose collapse will come suddenly—
in an instant!

14It will break in pieces like a potter’s jar,
shattered so that no fragment can be found.

Not a shard will be found in the dust
large enough to scoop the coals from a hearth
or to skim the water from a cistern.”

15For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said:

“By repentance and rest
you would be saved;
your strength would lie in quiet confidence—
but you were not willing.”

16“No,” you say, “we will flee on horses.”

Therefore you will flee!

“We will ride swift horses,”

but your pursuers will be faster.

17A thousand will flee at the threat of one;
at the threat of five you will all flee,
until you are left alone like a pole on a mountaintop,
like a banner on a hill.

God Will Be Gracious

18Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
therefore He rises to show you compassion,
for the LORD is a just God.

Blessed are all who wait for Him.

19O people in Zion who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will surely be gracious when you cry for help; when He hears, He will answer you. 20The Lord will give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, but your Teacher will no longer hide Himself—with your own eyes you will see Him.

21And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” 22So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!”

23Then He will send rain for the seed that you have sown in the ground, and the food that comes from your land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in open pastures. 24The oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder, winnowed with shovel and pitchfork.

25And from every high mountain and every raised hill, streams of water will flow in the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26The light of the moon will be as bright as the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter—like the light of seven days—on the day that the LORD binds up the brokenness of His people and heals the wounds He has inflicted.

27Behold, the Name of the LORD comes from afar,
with burning anger and dense smoke.

His lips are full of fury,
and His tongue is like a consuming fire.

28His breath is like a rushing torrent
that rises to the neck.

He comes to sift the nations in a sieve of destruction;

He bridles the jaws of the peoples to lead them astray.

29You will sing
as on the night of a holy festival,
and your heart will rejoice
like one who walks to the music of a flute,
going up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the Rock of Israel.

30And the LORD will cause His majestic voice to be heard
and His mighty arm to be revealed,
striking in angry wrath with a flame of consuming fire,
and with cloudburst, storm, and hailstones.

31For Assyria will be shattered at the voice of the LORD;

He will strike them with His scepter.

32And with every stroke of the rod of punishmentb
that the LORD brings down on them,
the tambourines and lyres will sound
as He battles with weapons brandished.

33For Topheth has long been prepared;
it has been made ready for the king.

Its funeral pyre is deep and wide,
with plenty of fire and wood.

The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur,
sets it ablaze.

Footnotes:

7 a Hebrew Rahab-hem-shebeth

32 b Some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac; MT the rod of foundation; DSS the rod of His foundation

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 31   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt

1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
who rely on horses,
who trust in their abundance of chariots
and in their multitude of horsemen.

They do not look to the Holy One of Israel;
they do not seek the LORD.

2Yet He too is wise and brings disaster;

He does not call back His words.

He will rise up against the house of the wicked
and against the allies of evildoers.

3But the Egyptians are men, not God;
their horses are flesh, not spirit.

When the LORD stretches out His hand,
the helper will stumble,
and the one he helps will fall;
both will perish together.

4For this is what the LORD has said to me:

“Like a lion roaring
or a young lion over its prey—
and though a band of shepherds is called out against it,
it is not terrified by their shouting
or subdued by their clamor—
so the LORD of Hosts will come down
to do battle on Mount Zion and its heights.

5Like birds hovering overhead,
so the LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem.

He will shield it and deliver it;

He will pass over it and preserve it.”

6Return to the One against whom you have so blatantly rebelled, O children of Israel. 7For on that day, every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold that your own hands have sinfully made.

8“Then Assyria will fall,
but not by the sword of man;
a sword will devour them,
but not one made by mortals.

They will flee before the sword,
and their young men will be put to forced labor.

9Their rock will pass away for fear,
and their princes will panic at the sight of the battle standard,”

declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion,
whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 32   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Righteous King

1Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,
and princes will rule with justice.

2Each will be like a shelter from the wind,
a refuge from the storm,
like streams of water in a dry land,
like the shadow of a great rock in an arid land.

3Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed,
and the ears of those who hear will listen.

4The mind of the rash will know and understand,
and the stammering tongue will speak clearly and fluently.

5No longer will a fool be called noble,
nor a scoundrel be respected.

6For a fool speaks foolishness;
his mind plots iniquity.

He practices ungodliness
and speaks falsely about the LORD;
he leaves the hungry empty
and deprives the thirsty of drink.

7The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive;
he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies,
even when the plea of the needy is just.

8But a noble man makes honorable plans;
he stands up for worthy causes.

The Women of Jerusalem

9Stand up, you complacent women;
listen to me.

Give ear to my word,
you overconfident daughters.

10In a little more than a year you will tremble,

O secure ones.

For the grape harvest will fail
and the fruit harvest will not arrive.

11Shudder, you ladies of leisure;
tremble, you daughters of complacency.

Strip yourselves bare
and put sackcloth around your waists.

12Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,
for the fruitful vines,

13and for the land of my people,
overgrown with thorns and briers—
even for every house of merriment
in this city of revelry.

14For the palace will be forsaken,
the busy city abandoned.

The hilla and the watchtower will become caves forever—
the delight of wild donkeys
and a pasture for flocks—

15until the Spirit is poured out
upon us from on high.

Then the desert will be an orchard,
and the orchard will seem like a forest.

16Then justice will inhabit the wilderness,
and righteousness will dwell in the fertile field.

17The work of righteousness will be peace;
the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.

18Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place,
in safe and secure places of rest.

19But hail will level the forest,
and the city will sink to the depths.

20Blessed are those who sow beside abundant waters,
who let the ox and donkey range freely.

Footnotes:

14 a Hebrew the Ophel

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 33   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Is Exalted

1Woe to you, O destroyer never destroyed,

O traitor never betrayed!

When you have finished destroying,
you will be destroyed.

When you have finished betraying,
you will be betrayed.

2O LORD, be gracious to us!

We wait for You.

Be our strength every morning
and our salvation in time of trouble.

3The peoples flee the thunder of Your voice;
the nations scatter when You rise.

4Your spoil, O nations,a is gathered as by locusts;
like a swarm of locusts men sweep over it.

5The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high;

He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

6He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.

The fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.

7Behold, their valiant ones cry aloud in the streets;
the envoys of peace weep bitterly.

8The highways are deserted;
travel has ceased.

The treatyb has been broken,
the witnessesc are despised,
and human life is disregarded.

9The land mourns and languishes;

Lebanon is ashamed and decayed.

Sharon is like a desert;

Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.

10“Now I will arise,” says the LORD.

“Now I will lift Myself up. Now I will be exalted.

11You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble.

Your breath is a fire that will consume you.

12The peoples will be burned to ashes,
like thorns cut down and set ablaze.

13You who are far off, hear what I have done;
you who are near, acknowledge My might.”

14The sinners in Zion are afraid;
trembling grips the ungodly:

“Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire?

Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?”

15He who walks righteously
and speaks with sincerity,
who refuses gain from extortion,
whose hand never takes a bribe,
who stops his ears against murderous plots
and shuts his eyes tightly against evil—

16he will dwell on the heights;
the mountain fortress will be his refuge;
his food will be provided
and his water assured.

17Your eyes will see the King in His beauty
and behold a land that stretches afar.

18Your mind will ponder the former terror:

“Where is he who tallies? Where is he who weighs?

Where is he who counts the towers?”

19You will no longer see the insolent,
a people whose speech is unintelligible,
who stammer in a language you cannot understand.

20Look upon Zion,
the city of our appointed feasts.

Your eyes will see Jerusalem,
a peaceful pasture, a tent that does not wander;
its tent pegs will not be pulled up,
nor will any of its cords be broken.

21But there the Majestic One, our LORD,
will be for us a place of rivers and wide canals,
where no galley with oars will row,
and no majestic vessel will pass.

22For the LORD is our Judge,
the LORD is our lawgiver,
the LORD is our King.

It is He who will save us.

23Your ropes are slack;
they cannot secure the mast or spread the sail.

Then an abundance of spoils will be divided,
and even the lame will carry off plunder.

24And no resident of Zion will say, “I am sick.”

The people who dwell there
will be forgiven of iniquity.

Footnotes:

4 a O nations is added for clarity.

8 b Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant.

8 c DSS; MT the cities

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 34   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Judgment on the Nations

1Come near, O nations, to listen;
pay attention, O peoples.

Let the earth hear, and all that fills it,
the world and all that springs from it.

2The LORD is angry with all the nations
and furious with all their armies.

He will devote them to destruction;a

He will give them over to slaughter.

3Their slain will be left unburied,
and the stench of their corpses will rise;
the mountains will flow with their blood.

4All the stars of heaven will be dissolved.

The skies will be rolled up like a scroll,
and all their stars will fall
like withered leaves from the vine,
like foliage from the fig tree.

Judgment on Edom
(Isaiah 21:11–12)

5When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens,
then it will come down upon Edom,
upon the people I have devoted to destruction.

6The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood.

It drips with fat—
with the blood of lambs and goats,
with the fat of the kidneys of rams.

For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah,
a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

7And the wild oxen will fall with them,
the young bulls with the strong ones.

Their land will be drenched with blood,
and their soil will be soaked with fat.

8For the LORD has a day of vengeance,
a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.b

9Edom’s streams will be turned to tar,
and her soil to sulfur;
her land will become a blazing pitch.

10It will not be quenched—day or night.

Its smoke will ascend forever.

From generation to generation it will lie desolate;
no one will ever again pass through it.

11The desert owl and screech owl will possess it,
and the great owl and raven will dwell in it.c

The LORD will stretch out over Edom
a measuring line of chaos
and a plumb line of destruction.

12No nobles will be left to proclaim a king,
and all her princes will come to nothing.

13Her towers will be overgrown with thorns,
her fortresses with thistles and briers.

She will become a haunt for jackals,d
an abode for ostriches.e

14The desert creatures will meet with hyenas,
and one wild goat will call to another.

There the night creaturef will settle
and find her place of repose.

15There the owl will make her nest;
she will lay and hatch her eggs
and gather her brood under her shadow.

Even there the birds of prey will gather,
each with its mate.

16Search and read the scroll of the LORD:

Not one of these will go missing,
not one will lack her mate,
because He has ordered it by His mouth,
and He will gather them by His Spirit.

17He has allotted their portion;

His hand has distributed it by measure.

They will possess it forever;
they will dwell in it from generation to generation.

Footnotes:

2 a Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in verse 5.

8 b Or of recompense for (Edom’s) hostility against Zion.

11 c The precise identification of these birds is uncertain.

13 d Or serpents or dragons

13 e Literally for daughters of an ostrich or for daughters of an owl

14 f Hebrew Lilith

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 35   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Glory of Zion

1The wilderness and the land will be glad;
the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.

2It will bloom profusely
and rejoice with joy and singing.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.

They will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.

3Strengthen the limp hands
and steady the feeble knees!a

4Say to those with anxious hearts:

“Be strong, do not fear!

Behold, your God will come with vengeance.

With divine retribution He will come to save you.”

5Then the eyes of the blind will be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

6Then the lame will leap like a deer
and the mute tongue will shout for joy.

For waters will gush forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert.

7The parched ground will become a pool,
the thirsty land springs of water.

In the haunt where jackalsb once lay,
there will be grass and reeds and papyrus.

8And there will be a highway
called the Way of Holiness.

The unclean will not travel it—
only those who walk in the Way—
and fools will not stray onto it.

9No lion will be there,
and no vicious beast will go up on it.

Such will not be found there,
but the redeemed will walk upon it.

10So the redeemed of the LORD will return
and enter Zion with singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee.

Footnotes:

3 a Cited in Hebrews 12:12

7 b Or serpents or dragons

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 36   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
(2 Kings 18:13–37; 2 Chronicles 32:1–8)

1In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked and captured all the fortified cities of Judah. 2And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh,a with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And he stopped by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.

3Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, went out to him.

4The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours? 5You claim to haveb a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?

6Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 7But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is He not the One whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before this altar’?

8Now, therefore, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them! 9For how can you repel a single officer among the least of my master’s servants when you depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 10So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’ ”

11Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak to us in Hebrewc in the hearing of the people on the wall.”

12But the Rabshakeh replied, “Has my master sent me to speak these words only to you and your master, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are destined with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?”

13Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he cannot deliver you. 15Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, ‘The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’

16Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with med and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and drink water from his own cistern, 17until I come and take you away to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

18Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 19Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 20Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

21But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

22Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.

Footnotes:

2 a Hebrew Rabshakeh is the title of a high-ranking Assyrian military officer; here and throughout chapters 36 and 37, as well as 2 Kings 18 and 19

5 b Literally You speak; see DSS and 2 Kings 18:20; MT I speak.

11 c Or in the dialect of Judah; also in verse 13

16 d Or Make a blessing with me

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 37   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Isaiah’s Message of Deliverance
(2 Kings 19:1–7)

1On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD. 2And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz 3to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them. 4Perhaps the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to defy the living God, and He will rebuke him for the words that the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up a prayer for the remnant that still survives.”

5So the servants of King Hezekiah went to Isaiah, 6who replied, “Tell your master that this is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid of the words you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. 7Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’ ”

Sennacherib’s Blasphemous Letter
(2 Kings 19:8–13)

8When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

9Now Sennacherib had been warned about Tirhakah king of Cush:a “He has set out to fight against you.”

On hearing this, Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10“Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah:

‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries, devoting them to destruction.b Will you then be spared? 12Did the gods of the nations destroyed by my fathers rescue those nations—the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and of the people of Eden in Telassar? 13Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’ ”

Hezekiah’s Prayer
(2 Kings 19:14–19)

14So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD:

16“O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. 17Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to all the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.

18Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all these countries and their lands. 19They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.

20And now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.c”

Sennacherib’s Fall Prophesied
(2 Kings 19:20–34)

21Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Because you have prayed to Me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22this is the word that the LORD has spoken against him:

‘The Virgin Daughter of Zion
despises you and mocks you;
the Daughter of Jerusalem
shakes her head behind you.

23Whom have you taunted and blasphemed?

Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes in pride?

Against the Holy One of Israel!

24Through your servants you have taunted the Lord,
and you have said:

“With my many chariots

I have ascended
to the heights of the mountains,
to the remote peaks of Lebanon.

I have cut down its tallest cedars,
the finest of its cypresses.d

I have reached its farthest heights,
the densest of its forests.

25I have dug wells
and drunk foreigne waters.

With the soles of my feet

I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.”

26Have you not heard?

Long ago I ordained it;
in days of old I planned it.

Now I have brought it to pass,
that you should crush fortified cities
into piles of rubble.

27Therefore their inhabitants, devoid of power,
are dismayed and ashamed.

They are like plants in the field,
tender green shoots,
grass on the rooftops,
scorchedf before it is grown.

28But I know your sitting down,
your going out and coming in,
and your raging against Me.

29Because your rage and arrogance against Me
have reached My ears,

I will put My hook in your nose
and My bit in your mouth;

I will send you back
the way you came.’

30And this will be a sign to you, O Hezekiah:

This year you will eat
what grows on its own,
and in the second year
what springs from the same.

But in the third year you will sow and reap;
you will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

31And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah
will again take root below
and bear fruit above.

32For a remnant will go forth from Jerusalem,
and survivors from Mount Zion.

The zeal of the LORD of Hosts
will accomplish this.

33So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria:

‘He will not enter this city
or shoot an arrow into it.

He will not come before it with a shield
or build up a siege ramp against it.

34He will go back the way he came,
and he will not enter this city,’

declares the LORD.

35‘I will defend this city
and save it
for My own sake
and for the sake of My servant David.’ ”

Jerusalem Delivered from the Assyrians
(2 Kings 19:35–37; 2 Chronicles 32:20–23)

36Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got upg the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!

37So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. 38One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

9 a That is, the upper Nile region

11 b Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

20 c DSS (see also 2 Kings 19:19); MT You alone are the LORD

24 d Or pines or junipers or firs

25 e DSS (see also 2 Kings 19:24); MT does not include foreign.

27 f DSS, some MT manuscripts, and some LXX manuscripts (see also 2 Kings 19:26); most MT manuscripts on the rooftops and terraced fields

36 g Hebrew When they got up

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 38   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery
(2 Kings 20:1–11; 2 Chronicles 32:24–31)

1In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’ ”

2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3saying, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, 5“Go and tell Hezekiah that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.a
7This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: 8I will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.’ ”

So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.

Hezekiah’s Song of Thanksgiving

9This is a writing by Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:

10I said, “In the primeb of my life

I must go through the gates of Sheol
and be deprived of the remainder of my years.”

11I said, “I will never again see the LORD,
even the LORD, in the land of the living;

I will no longer look on mankind
with those who dwell in this world.

12My dwelling has been picked up and removed from me
like a shepherd’s tent.

I have rolled up my life like a weaver;

He cuts me off from the loom;
from day until night You make an end of me.

13I composed myselfc until the morning.

Like a lion He breaks all my bones;
from day until night You make an end of me.

14I chirp like a swallow or crane;

I moan like a dove.

My eyes grow weak as I look upward.

O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.”

15What can I say?

He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done this.

I will walk slowly all my years
because of the anguish of my soul.

16O Lord, by such things men live,
and in all of them my spirit finds life.

You have restored me to health
and have let me live.

17Surely for my own welfare

I had such great anguish;
but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion,
for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

18For Sheol cannot thank You;

Death cannot praise You.

Those who descend to the Pit
cannot hope for Your faithfulness.

19The living, only the living, can thank You,
as I do today;
fathers will tell their children
about Your faithfulness.

20The LORD will save me;
we will play songs on stringed instruments
all the days of our lives
in the house of the LORD.

21Now Isaiah had said, “Prepare a lump of pressed figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.”

22And Hezekiah had asked, “What will be the sign that I will go up to the house of the LORD?”

Footnotes:

6 a MT and LXX; DSS includes for My sake and for the sake of My servant David; see 2 Kings 20:6.

10 b Or In the quiet or In the middle

13 c Or I cried out; see Targum Yonaton.

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 39   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Hezekiah Shows His Treasures
(2 Kings 20:12–19)

1At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness and recovery. 2And Hezekiah welcomed the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his entire armory—all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.

3Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked, “Where did those men come from, and what did they say to you?”

“They came to me from a distant land,” Hezekiah replied, “from Babylon.”

4“What have they seen in your palace?” Isaiah asked.

“They have seen everything in my palace,” answered Hezekiah. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”

5Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD of Hosts: 6The time will surely come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. 7And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

8But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “At least there will be peace and security in my lifetime.”

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 40   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Prepare the Way for the LORD
(Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20; John 1:19–28)

1“Comfort, comfort My people,”

says your God.

2“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her forced labor has been completed;
her iniquity has been pardoned.

For she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.”

3A voice of one calling:

“Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness;a
make a straight highway for our God in the desert.b

4Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill made low;
the uneven ground will become smooth,
and the rugged land a plain.c

5And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all humanity together will see it.d

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

The Enduring Word
(1 Peter 1:22–25)

6A voice says, “Cry out!”

And I asked, “What should I cry out?”

“All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like the flowers of the field.

7The grass withers and the flowers fall
when the breath of the LORD blows on them;
indeed, the people are grass.

8The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever.”e

Here Is Your God!
(Romans 11:33–36)

9Go up on a high mountain,

O Zion, herald of good news.

Raise your voice loudly,

O Jerusalem, herald of good news.

Lift it up,f
do not be afraid!

Say to the cities of Judah,

“Here is your God!”

10Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,
and His arm establishes His rule.

His reward is with Him,
and His recompense accompanies Him.

11He tends His flock like a shepherd;

He gathers the lambs in His arms
and carries them close to His heart.

He gently leads the nursing ewes.

12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand?

Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
or weighed the mountains on a scale
and the hills with a balance?

13Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD,g
or informed Him as His counselor?h

14Whom did He consult to enlighten Him,
and who taught Him the paths of justice?

Who imparted knowledge to Him
and showed Him the way of understanding?

15Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
they are considered a speck of dust on the scales;

He lifts up the islandsi like fine dust.

16Lebanon is not sufficient for fuel,
nor its animals enough for a burnt offering.

17All the nations are as nothing before Him;

He regards them as nothingness and emptiness.

18To whom will you liken God?

To what image will you compare Him?

19To an idol that a craftsman casts
and a metalworker overlays with gold
and fits with silver chains?

20To one bereft of an offering
who chooses wood that will not rot,
who seeks a skilled craftsman
to set up an idol that will not topple?

21Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?

Have you not understood since the foundation of the earth?

22He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth;
its dwellers are like grasshoppers.

He stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

23He brings the princes to nothing
and makes the rulersj of the earth meaningless.

24No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown,
no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground,
than He blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.

25“To whom will you liken Me,
or who is My equal?” asks the Holy One.

26Lift up your eyes on high:

Who created all these?

He leads forth the starry host by number;

He calls each one by name.

Because of His great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.

27Why do you say, O Jacob,
and why do you assert, O Israel,

“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my claim is ignored by my God”?

28Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary;

His understanding is beyond searching out.

29He gives power to the faint
and increases the strength of the weak.

30Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall.

31But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength;
they will mount up with wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not faint.

Footnotes:

3 a Or A voice of one calling in the wilderness: “Prepare the way for the LORD

3 b LXX make straight the paths of our God; cited in Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4, and John 1:23

4 c LXX Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low. All the crooked ways shall become straight, and the rough places plains. Cited in Luke 3:5

5 d Literally and all flesh together will see it. Cited in Luke 3:6

8 e Cited in 1 Peter 1:24–25

9 f Or O herald of good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. O herald of good news to Jerusalem, lift it up,

13 g Or mind of the LORD; see also LXX.

13 h Cited in Romans 11:34 and 1 Corinthians 2:16

15 i Or coastlands

23 j Or judges

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 41   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

God’s Help to Israel

1“Be silent before Me, O islands,a
and let the peoples renew their strength.

Let them come forward and testify;
let us together draw near for judgment.

2Who has aroused one from the east
and called him to his feet in righteousnessb?

He hands nations over to him
and subdues kings before him.

He turns them to dust with his sword,
to windblown chaff with his bow.

3He pursues them, going on safely,
hardly touching the path with his feet.

4Who has performed this and carried it out,
calling forth the generations from the beginning?

I, the LORD—the first and the last—

I am He.”

5The islands see and fear;
the ends of the earth tremble.

They approach and come forward.

6Each one helps the other
and says to his brother, “Be strong!”

7The craftsman encourages the goldsmith,
and he who wields the hammer
cheers him who strikes the anvil,
saying of the welding, “It is good.”

He nails it down so it will not be toppled.

8“But you, O Israel, My servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,
descendant of Abraham My friend—

9I brought you from the ends of the earth
and called you from its farthest corners.

I said, ‘You are My servant.’

I have chosen and not rejected you.

10Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you; I will surely help you;

I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.

11Behold, all who rage against you
will be ashamed and disgraced;
those who contend with you
will be reduced to nothing and will perish.

12You will seek them but will not find them.

Those who wage war against you will come to nothing.

13For I am the LORD your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and tells you: Do not fear,

I will help you.

14Do not fear, O worm of Jacob,

O few men of Israel.

I will help you,” declares the LORD.

“Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

15Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge,
new and sharp, with many teeth.

You will thresh the mountains and crush them,
and reduce the hills to chaff.

16You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away;
a gale will scatter them.

But you will rejoice in the LORD;
you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

17The poor and needy seek water, but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.

I, the LORD, will answer them;

I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

18I will open rivers on the barren heights,
and fountains in the middle of the valleys.

I will turn the desert into a pool of water,
and the dry land into flowing springs.

19I will plant cedars in the wilderness,
acacias, myrtles, and olive trees.

I will set cypressesc in the desert,
elms and boxwood together,

20so that all may see and know,
may consider and understand,
that the hand of the LORD has done this
and the Holy One of Israel has created it.”

Meaningless Idols

21“Present your case,” says the LORD.

“Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob.

22“Let them come and tell us what will happen.

Tell the former things,
so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome.

Or announce to us what is coming.

23Tell us the things that are to come,
so that we may know that you are gods.

Yes, do something good or evil,
that we may look on together in dismay.

24Behold, you are nothing
and your work is of no value.

Anyone who chooses you is detestable.

25I have raised up one from the north, and he has come—
one from the east who calls on My name.

He will march over rulers as if they were mortar,
like a potter who treads the clay.

26Who has declared this from the beginning,
so that we may know,
and from times past,
so that we may say: ‘He was right’?

No one announced it, no one foretold it,
no one heard your words.

27I was the first to tell Zion:d

‘Look, here they are!’

And I gave to Jerusalem
a herald of good news.

28When I look, there is no one;
there is no counselor among them;
when I ask them,
they have nothing to say.

29See, they are all a delusion;
their works amount to nothing;
their images are as empty as the wind.

Footnotes:

1 a Or coastlands; also in verse 5

2 b Or from the east, whom victory meets at every step

19 c Or pines or junipers or firs

27 d Or Formerly I said to Zion:

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 42   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Here Is My Servant
(Matthew 12:15–21)

1“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold,

My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights.

I will put My Spirit on Him,
and He will bring justice to the nations.

2He will not cry out or raise His voice,
nor make His voice heard in the streets.

3A bruised reed He will not break
and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish;

He will faithfully bring forth justice.

4He will not grow weak or discourageda
before He has established justice on the earth.

In His law the islands will put their hope.”b

5This is what God the LORD says—

He who created the heavens
and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and its offspring,
who gives breath to the people on it
and life to those who walk in it:

6“I, the LORD, have called you
for a righteous purpose,
and I will take hold of your hand.

I will keep you and appoint you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light to the nations,

7to open the eyes of the blind,
to bring prisoners out of the dungeon
and those sitting in darkness
out from the prison house.

8I am the LORD;
that is My name!

I will not yield My glory to another
or My praise to idols.

9Behold, the former things have happened,
and now I declare new things.

Before they spring forth

I proclaim them to you.”

A New Song of Praise
(Psalm 98:1–9; Psalm 149:1–9)

10Sing to the LORD a new song—

His praise from the ends of the earth—
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
you islands,c and all who dwell in them.

11Let the desert and its cities raise their voices;
let the villages of Kedar cry aloud.

Let the people of Sela sing for joy;
let them cry out from the mountaintops.

12Let them give glory to the LORD
and declare His praise in the islands.

13The LORD goes forth like a mighty one;

He stirs up His zeal like a warrior.

He shouts; yes, He roars
in triumph over His enemies:

14“I have kept silent from ages past;

I have remained quiet and restrained.

But now I will groan like a woman in labor;

I will at once gasp and pant.

15I will lay waste the mountains and hills
and dry up all their vegetation.

I will turn the rivers into dry landd
and drain the marshes.

16I will lead the blind by a way they did not know;

I will guide them on unfamiliar paths.

I will turn darkness into light before them
and rough places into level ground.

These things I will do for them,
and I will not forsake them.

17But those who trust in idols
and say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’

will be turned back in utter shame.

Israel Is Deaf and Blind

18Listen, you deaf ones;
look, you blind ones, that you may see!

19Who is blind but My servant,
or deaf like the messenger I am sending?

Who is blind like My covenant partner,
or blind like the servant of the LORD?

20Though seeing many things, you do not keep watch.

Though your ears are open, you do not hear.”

21The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness,
to magnify His law and make it glorious.

22But this is a people plundered and looted,
all trapped in caves or imprisoned in dungeons.

They have become plunder with no one to rescue them,
and loot with no one to say, “Send them back!”

23Who among you will pay attention to this?

Who will listen and obey hereafter?

24Who gave Jacob up for spoil,
and Israel to the plunderers?

Was it not the LORD,
against whom we have sinned?

They were unwilling to walk in His ways,
and they would not obey His law.

25So He poured out on them His furious anger
and the fierceness of battle.

It enveloped them in flames,
but they did not understand;
it consumed them,
but they did not take it to heart.

Footnotes:

4 a Or bruised

4 b Or In His teaching the coastlands will put their hope; LXX In His name the nations will put their hope; cited in Matthew 12:18–21

10 c Or coastlands; also in verse 12

15 d Or coastlands or islands

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 43   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Israel’s Only Savior

1Now this is what the LORD says—

He who created you, O Jacob,
and He who formed you, O Israel:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name; you are Mine!

2When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;
and when you go through the rivers,
they will not overwhelm you.

When you walk through the fire,
you will not be scorched;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

3For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

I give Egypt for your ransom,

Cusha and Seba in your place.

4Because you are precious and honored in My sight,
and because I love you,

I will give men in exchange for you
and nations in place of your life.

5Do not be afraid, for I am with you;

I will bring your offspring from the east
and gather you from the west.

6I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’

and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back!’

Bring My sons from afar,
and My daughters from the ends of the earth—

7everyone called by My name and created for My glory,
whom I have indeed formed and made.”

8Bring out a people who have eyes but are blind,
and who have ears but are deaf.

9All the nations gather together
and the peoples assemble.

Who among them can declare this,
and proclaim to us the former things?

Let them present their witnesses to vindicate them,
so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

10“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD,

“and My servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may consider and believe Me
and understand that I am He.

Before Me no god was formed,
and after Me none will come.

11I, yes I, am the LORD,
and there is no Savior but Me.

12I alone decreed and saved and proclaimed—

I, and not some foreign god among you.

So you are My witnesses,” declares the LORD,

“that I am God.

13Even from eternity I am He,
and none can deliver out of My hand.

When I act, who can reverse it?”

A Way in the Wilderness

14Thus says the LORD your Redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:

“For your sake, I will send to Babylon
and bring them all as fugitives,
even the Chaldeans,b
in the ships in which they rejoice.

15I am the LORD, your Holy One,
the Creator of Israel, and your King.”

16Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea
and a path through the surging waters,

17who brings out the chariots and horses,
the armies and warriors together,
to lie down, never to rise again;
to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

18“Do not call to mind the former things;
pay no attention to the things of old.

19Behold, I am about to do something new;
even now it is coming. Do you not see it?

Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.

20The beasts of the field will honor Me,
the jackalsc and the ostriches,d
because I provide water in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert,
to give drink to My chosen people.

21The people I formed for Myself
will declare My praise.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness
(Judges 2:10–15; Jeremiah 2:23–37)

22But you have not called on Me, O Jacob,
because you have grown weary of Me, O Israel.

23You have not brought Me sheep for burnt offerings,
nor honored Me with your sacrifices.

I have not burdened you with offerings,
nor wearied you with frankincense.

24You have not bought Me sweet cane with your silver,
nor satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices.

But you have burdened Me with your sins;
you have wearied Me with your iniquities.

25I, yes I, am He
who blots out your transgressions for My own sake
and remembers your sins no more.

26Remind Me, let us argue the matter together.

State your case, so that you may be vindicated.

27Your first father sinned,
and your spokesmen rebelled against Me.

28So I will disgrace the princes of your sanctuary,
and I will devote Jacob to destructione and Israel to reproach.”

Footnotes:

3 a That is, the upper Nile region

14 b That is, the Babylonians

20 c Or serpents or dragons

20 d Literally and daughters of an ostrich or and daughters of an owl

28 e Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 44   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Has Chosen Israel

1But now listen, O Jacob My servant,

Israel, whom I have chosen.

2This is the word of the LORD, your Maker,
who formed you from the womb and who will help you:

“Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant,

Jeshurun,a whom I have chosen.

3For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and currents on the dry ground.

I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants,
and My blessing on your offspring.

4They will sprout among the grass
like willowsb by flowing streams.

5One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD,’

another will call himself by the name of Jacob,
and still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’

and will take the name of Israel.”

6Thus says the LORD,
the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts:

“I am the first and I am the last,
and there is no God but Me.

7Who then is like Me?

Let him say so!

Let him declare his case before Me,
since I established an ancient people.

Let him foretell the things to come,
and what is to take place.

8Do not tremble or fear.

Have I not told you and declared it long ago?

You are My witnesses!

Is there any God but Me?

There is no other Rock;

I know not one.”

9All makers of idols are nothing,
and the things they treasure are worthless.

Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend,
so they are put to shame.

10Who fashions a god or casts an idol
which profits him nothing?

11Behold, all his companions will be put to shame,
for the craftsmen themselves are only human.

Let them all assemble and take their stand;
they will all be brought to terror and shame.

12The blacksmith takes a tool
and labors over the coals;
he fashions an idol with hammers
and forges it with his strong arms.

Yet he grows hungry and loses his strength;
he fails to drink water and grows faint.

13The woodworker extends a measuring line;
he marks it out with a stylus;
he shapes it with chisels
and outlines it with a compass.

He fashions it in the likeness of man,
like man in all his glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine.

14He cuts down cedars
or retrieves a cypressc or oak.

He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest.

He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.

15It serves as fuel for man.

He takes some of it to warm himself,
and he kindles a fire
and bakes his bread;
he even fashions it into a god and worships it;
he makes an idol and bows down to it.

16He burns half of it in the fire,
and he roasts meat on that half.

He eats the roast and is satisfied.

Indeed, he warms himself and says,

“Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”

17From the rest he makes a god, his graven image.

He bows down to it and worships;
he prays to it and says,

“Save me, for you are my god.”

18They do not comprehend or discern,
for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see
and closed their minds so they cannot understand.

19And no one considers in his heart,
no one has the knowledge or insight to say,

“I burned half of it in the fire,
and I baked bread on its coals;

I roasted meat and I ate.

Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it?

Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

20He feeds on ashes.

His deluded heart has led him astray,
and he cannot deliver himself or say,

“Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”

Jerusalem to Be Restored

21Remember these things, O Jacob,
for you are My servant, O Israel.

I have made you, and you are My servant;

O Israel, I will never forget you.

22I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud,
and your sins like a mist.

Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.

23Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this;
shout aloud, O depths of the earth.

Break forth in song, O mountains,
you forests and all your trees.

For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
and revealed His glory in Israel.

24Thus says the LORD,
your Redeemer who formed you from the womb:

“I am the LORD,
who has made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who by Myself spread out the earth,

25who foils the signs of false prophets
and makes fools of diviners,
who confounds the wise
and turns their knowledge into nonsense,

26who confirms the message of His servant
and fulfills the counsel of His messengers,
who says of Jerusalem,

‘She will be inhabited,’

and of the cities of Judah,

‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’

27who says to the depths of the sea,

‘Be dry, and I will dry up your currents,’

28who says of Cyrus,

‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’

who says of Jerusalem,

‘She will be rebuilt,’

and of the temple,

‘Let its foundation be laid.’ ”

Footnotes:

2 a Jeshurun means the upright one, a term of endearment for Israel.

4 b Or poplars

14 c Or pine or juniper or fir

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 45   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

God Calls Cyrus
(2 Chronicles 36:22–23; Ezra 1:1–4)

1This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed,
whose right hand I have grasped
to subdue nations before him,
to disarm kings,
to open the doors before him,
so that the gates will not be shut:

2“I will go before you
and level the mountains;a

I will break down the gates of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron.

3I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the riches hidden in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who calls you by name.

4For the sake of Jacob My servant
and Israel My chosen one,

I call you by name;

I have given you a title of honor,
though you have not known Me.

5I am the LORD, and there is no other;
there is no God but Me.

I will equip you for battle,
though you have not known Me,

6so that all may know,
from where the sun rises to where it sets,
that there is none but Me;

I am the LORD, and there is no other.

7I form the light and create the darkness;

I bring prosperity and create calamity.

I, the LORD, do all these things.

8Drip down, O heavens, from above,
and let the skies pour down righteousness.

Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout
and righteousness spring up with it;

I, the LORD, have created it.

9Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—
one clay pot among many.

Does the clay ask the potter,

‘What are you making?’b

Does your work say,

‘He has no hands’?

10Woe to him who says to his father,

‘What have you begotten?’

or to his mother,

‘What have you brought forth?’ ”

11Thus says the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:

“How dare you question Me about My sons,
or instruct Me in the work of My hands?

12It is I who made the earth
and created man upon it.

It was My hands that stretched out the heavens,
and I ordained all their host.

13I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness,
and I will make all his ways straight.

He will rebuild My city
and set My exiles free,
but not for payment or reward,
says the LORD of Hosts.”

14This is what the LORD says:

“The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,c
along with the Sabeans, men of stature,
will come over to you
and will be yours;
they will trudge behind you;
they will come over in chains and bow down to you.

They will confess to you:

‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other;
there is no other God.’ ”

15Truly You are a God who hides Himself,

O God of Israel, the Savior.

16They will all be put to shame and humiliated;
the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace.

17But Israel will be saved by the LORD
with an everlasting salvation;
you will not be put to shame or humiliated,
to ages everlasting.

18For thus says the LORD,
who created the heavens—He is God;

He formed the earth and fashioned it;

He established it;

He did not create it to be empty,
but formed it to be inhabited:

“I am the LORD,
and there is no other.

19I have not spoken in secret,
from a place in a land of darkness.

I did not say to the descendants of Jacob,

‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’

I, the LORD, speak the truth;

I say what is right.

20Come, gather together, and draw near,
you fugitives from the nations.

Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood
and pray to a god that cannot save.

21Speak up and present your case—
yes, let them take counsel together.

Who foretold this long ago?

Who announced it from ancient times?

Was it not I, the LORD?

There is no other God but Me,
a righteous God and Savior;
there is none but Me.

22Turn to Me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth;
for I am God,
and there is no other.

23By Myself I have sworn;
truth has gone out from My mouth,
a word that will not be revoked:

Every knee will bow before Me,
every tongue will swear allegiance.d

24Surely they will say of Me,

‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’ ”

All who rage against Him
will come to Him and be put to shame.

25In the LORD all descendants of Israel
will be justified and will exult.

Footnotes:

2 a DSS and LXX; MT level the terrain

9 b Cited in Romans 9:20

14 c That is, the upper Nile region

23 d Literally every tongue will swear; LXX every tongue will swear by God; cited in Romans 14:11

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 46   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Babylon’s Idols

1Bel crouches; Nebo cowers.

Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle.

The images you carry are burdensome,
a load to the weary animal.

2The gods cower; they crouch together,
unable to relieve the burden;
but they themselves go into captivity.

3“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been sustained from the womb,
carried along since birth.

4Even to your old age, I will be the same,
and I will bear you up when you turn gray.

I have made you, and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and deliver you.

5To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal?

To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?

6They pour out their bags of gold
and weigh out silver on scales;
they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god,
so they can bow down and worship.

7They lift it to their shoulder
and carry it along;
they set it in its place, and there it stands,
not budging from that spot.

They cry out to it, but it does not answer;
it saves no one from his troubles.

8Remember this and be brave;
take it to heart, you transgressors!

9Remember what happened long ago,
for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like Me.

10I declare the end from the beginning,
and ancient times from what is still to come.

I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

11I summon a bird of prey from the east,
a man for My purpose from a far-off land.

Truly I have spoken,
and truly I will bring it to pass.

I have planned it,
and I will surely do it.

12Listen to Me, you stubborn people,
far removed from righteousness:

13I am bringing My righteousness near;
it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed.

I will grant salvation to Zion
and adorn Israel with My splendor.

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 47   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Humiliation of Babylon

1“Go down and sit in the dust,

O Virgin Daughter of Babylon.

Sit on the ground without a throne,

O Daughter of Chaldea!a

For you will no longer be called
tender or delicate.

2Take millstones and grind flour;
remove your veil;
strip off your skirt, bare your thigh,
and wade through the streams.

3Your nakedness will be uncovered
and your shame will be exposed.

I will take vengeance;

I will spare no one.”

4Our Redeemer—the LORD of Hosts is His name—
is the Holy One of Israel.

5“Sit in silence and go into darkness,

O Daughter of Chaldea.

For you will no longer be called
the queen of kingdoms.

6I was angry with My people;

I profaned My heritage,
and I placed them under your control.

You showed them no mercy;
even on the elderly you laid a most heavy yoke.

7You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’

You did not take these things to heart
or consider their outcome.

8So now hear this,

O lover of luxury who sits securely,
who says to herself,

‘I am, and there is none besides me.

I will never be a widow
or know the loss of children.’

9These two things will overtake you in a moment,
in a single day:

loss of children, and widowhood.

They will come upon you in full measure,
in spite of your many sorceries
and the potency of your spells.

10You were secure in your wickedness;
you said, ‘No one sees me.’

Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray;
you told yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’

11But disaster will come upon you;
you will not know how to charm it away.

A calamity will befall you
that you will be unable to ward off.

Devastation will happen to you
suddenly and unexpectedly.

12So take your stand with your spells
and with your many sorceries,
with which you have wearied yourself
from your youth.

Perhaps you will succeed;
perhaps you will inspire terror!

13You are wearied by your many counselors;
let them come forward now and save you—
your astrologers who observe the stars,
who monthly predict your fate.

14Surely they are like stubble;
the fire will burn them up.

They cannot deliver themselves
from the power of the flame.

There will be no coals to warm them
or fire to sit beside.

15This is what they are to you—
those with whom you have labored and traded from youth—
each one strays in his own direction;
not one of them can save you.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, Babylon; also in verse 5

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 48   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Israel’s Stubbornness

1“Listen to this, O house of Jacob,
you who are called by the name of Israel,
who have descended from the line of Judah,
who swear by the name of the LORD,
who invoke the God of Israel—
but not in truth or righteousness—

2who indeed call yourselves after the holy city
and lean on the God of Israel;
the LORD of Hosts is His name.

3I foretold the former things long ago;
they came out of My mouth and I proclaimed them.

Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.

4For I knew that you are stubborn;
your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze.

5Therefore I declared it to you long ago;

I announced it before it came to pass,
so that you could not claim, ‘My idol has done this;
my carved image and molten god has ordained it.’

6You have heard these things; look at them all.

Will you not acknowledge them?

From now on I will tell you of new things,
hidden things unknown to you.

7They are created now, and not long ago;
you have not heard of them before today.

So you cannot claim,

‘I already knew them!’

8You have never heard; you have never understood;
for a long time your ears have not been open.

For I knew how deceitful you are;
you have been called a rebel from birth.

9For the sake of My name I will delay My wrath;
for the sake of My praise I will restrain it,
so that you will not be cut off.

10See, I have refined you, but not as silver;

I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

11For My own sake, My very own sake, I will act;
for how can I let Myself be defamed?

I will not yield My glory to another.

Deliverance Promised to Israel

12Listen to Me, O Jacob,
and Israel, whom I have called:

I am He; I am the first,
and I am the last.

13Surely My own hand founded the earth,
and My right hand spread out the heavens;
when I summon them,
they stand up together.

14Come together, all of you, and listen:

Which of the idols has foretold these things?

The LORD’s chosen ally will carry out His desire against Babylon,
and His arm will be against the Chaldeans.a

15I, even I, have spoken;
yes, I have called him.

I have brought him,
and he will succeed in his mission.

16Come near to Me and listen to this:

From the beginning I have not spoken in secret;
from the time it happened, I was there.”

And now the Lord GOD has sent me,
accompanied by His Spirit.

17Thus says the LORD your Redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:

“I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you for your benefit,
who directs you in the way you should go.

18If only you had paid attention to My commandments,
your peace would have been like a river,
and your righteousness like waves of the sea.

19Your descendants would have been as countless as the sand,
and your offspring as numerous as its grains;b
their name would never be cut off
or eliminated from My presence.”

20Leave Babylon!

Flee from the Chaldeans!

Declare it with a shout of joy,
proclaim it,
let it go out to the ends of the earth, saying,

“The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!”

21They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts;

He made water flow for them from the rock;

He split the rock, and water gushed out.

22“There is no peace,” says the LORD,

“for the wicked.”

Footnotes:

14 a That is, the Babylonians; also in verse 20

19 b Literally like the sand, and your offspring like its grains

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 49   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Servant and Light to the Gentiles
(Acts 13:42–52)

1Listen to Me, O islands;a
pay attention, O distant peoples:

The LORD called Me from the womb;
from the body of My mother He named Me.

2He made My mouth like a sharp sword;

He hid Me in the shadow of His hand.

He made Me like a polished arrow;

He hid Me in His quiver.

3He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel,
in whom I will display My glory.”

4But I said, “I have labored in vain,

I have spent My strength in futility and vanity;
yet My vindication is with the LORD,
and My reward is with My God.”

5And now says the LORD,
who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,
to bring Jacob back to Him,
that Israel might be gathered to Him—
for I am honored in the sight of the LORD,
and My God is My strength—

6He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and to restore the protected ones of Israel.

I will also make You a light for the nations,
to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”b

7Thus says the LORD,
the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel,
to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,
to the Servant of rulers:

“Kings will see You and rise,
and princes will bow down,
because of the LORD, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”

8This is what the LORD says:

“In the time of favor I will answer You,
and in the day of salvation I will help You;c

I will keep You and appoint You
to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land,
to apportion its desolate inheritances,

9to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’

and to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’

They will feed along the pathways,
and find pasture on every barren hill.

10They will not hunger or thirst,
nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them.d

For He who has compassion on them will guide them
and lead them beside springs of water.

11I will turn all My mountains into roads,
and My highways will be raised up.

12Behold, they will come from far away,
from the north and from the west,e
and from the land of Aswan.f”

13Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth;
break forth in song, O mountains!

For the LORD has comforted His people,
and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.

14But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;
the Lord has forgotten me!”

15“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
or lack compassion for the son of her womb?

Even if she could forget,

I will not forget you!

16Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
your walls are ever before Me.

17Your buildersg hasten back;
your destroyers and wreckers depart from you.

18Lift up your eyes and look around.

They all gather together; they come to you.

As surely as I live,” declares the LORD,

“you will wear them all as jewelry
and put them on like a bride.

19For your ruined and desolate places
and your ravaged land
will now indeed be too small for your people,
and those who devoured you will be far away.

20Yet the children of your bereavement
will say in your hearing,

‘This place is too small for us;
make room for us to live here.’

21Then you will say in your heart,

‘Who has begotten these for me?

I was bereaved and barren;

I was exiled and rejected.

So who has reared them?

Look, I was left all alone,
so where did they come from?’ ”

22This is what the Lord GOD says:

“Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations,
and raise My banner to the peoples.

They will bring your sons in their armsh
and carry your daughters on their shoulders.

23Kings will be your foster fathers,
and their queens your nursing mothers.

They will bow to you facedown
and lick the dust at your feet.

Then you will know that I am the LORD;
those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”

24Can the plunder be snatched from the mighty,
or the captives of a tyranti be delivered?

25Indeed, this is what the LORD says:

“Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away,
and the plunder of the tyrant will be retrieved;

I will contend with those who contend with you,
and I will save your children.

26I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh;
they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine.

Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD,
am your Savior and your Redeemer,
the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or coastlands

6 b Cited in Acts 13:47

8 c LXX In the time of favor I heard You, and in the day of salvation I helped You; cited in 2 Corinthians 6:2

10 d Cited in Revelation 7:16

12 e Or from the sea

12 f That is, a region in southern Egypt (from DSS); MT the land of Sinim

17 g DSS; MT Your sons

22 h Hebrew in their bosom

24 i DSS, Syriac, and Vulgate (see also verse 25); MT of the righteous

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 50   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Israel’s Sin

1This is what the LORD says:

“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce
with which I sent her away?

Or to which of My creditors
did I sell you?

Look, you were sold for your iniquities,
and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.

2Why was no one there when I arrived?

Why did no one answer when I called?

Is My hand too short to redeem you?

Or do I lack the strength to deliver you?

Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea;

I turn the rivers into a desert;
the fish rot for lack of water
and die of thirst.

3I clothe the heavens in black
and make sackcloth their covering.”

The Servant’s Obedience
(Matthew 27:27–31; Mark 15:16–20; Luke 22:63–65; John 19:1–15)

4The Lord GOD has given Me
the tongue of discipleship,
to sustain the weary with a word.

He awakens Me morning by morning;

He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

5The Lord GOD has opened My ears,
and I have not been rebellious,
nor have I turned back.

6I offered My back to those who struck Me,
and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard.

I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

7Because the Lord GOD helps Me,

I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set My face like flint,
and I know that I will not be put to shame.

8The One who vindicates Me is near.

Who will dare to contend with Me?

Let us confront each other!

Who has a case against Me?

Let him approach Me!

9Surely the Lord GOD helps Me.

Who is there to condemn Me?

See, they will all wear out like a garment;
the moths will devour them.

10Who among you fears the LORD
and obeys the voice of His Servant?

Who among you walks in darkness
and has no light?

Let him trust in the name of the LORD;
let him lean on his God.

11Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
who array yourselves with firebrands,
walk in the light of your fire
and of the firebrands you have lit!

This is what you will receive from My hand:

You will lie down in a place of torment.

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 51   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Salvation for Zion

1“Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness,
you who seek the LORD:

Look to the rock from which you were cut,
and to the quarry from which you were hewn.

2Look to Abraham your father,
and to Sarah who gave you birth.

When I called him, he was but one;
then I blessed him and multiplied him.

3For the LORD will comfort Zion
and will look with compassion on all her ruins;

He will make her wilderness like Eden
and her desert like the garden of the LORD.

Joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and melodious song.

4Pay attention to Me, My people,
and listen to Me, My nation;
for a law will go out from Me,
and My justice will become a light to the nations;

I will bring it about quickly.

5My righteousness draws near,

My salvation is on the way,
and My arms will bring justice to the nations.

The islandsa will look for Me
and wait in hope for My arm.

6Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth below;
for the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and its people will die like gnats.

But My salvation will last forever,
and My righteousness will never fail.

7Listen to Me, you who know what is right,
you people with My law in your hearts:

Do not fear the scorn of men;
do not be broken by their insults.

8For the moth will devour them like a garment,
and the worm will eat them like wool.

But My righteousness will last forever,

My salvation through all generations.”

9Awake, awake,
put on strength, O arm of the LORD.

Wake up as in days past,
as in generations of old.

Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces,
who pierced through the dragon?

10Was it not You who dried up the sea,
the waters of the great deep,
who made a road in the depths of the sea
for the redeemed to cross over?

11So the redeemed of the LORD will return
and enter Zion with singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee.

12“I, even I, am He who comforts you.

Why should you be afraid of mortal man,
of a son of man who withers like grass?

13But you have forgotten the LORD, your Maker,
who stretched out the heavens
and laid the foundations of the earth.

You live in terror all day long
because of the fury of the oppressor
who is bent on destruction.

But where is the fury of the oppressor?

14The captive will soon be freed;
he will not die in the dungeon,
and his bread will not be lacking.

15For I am the LORD your God
who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
the LORD of Hosts is His name.

16I have put My words in your mouth,
and covered you with the shadow of My hand,
to establishb the heavens, to found the earth,
and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’ ”

God’s Fury Removed

17Awake, awake!

Rise up, O Jerusalem,
you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD
the cup of His fury;
you who have drained the goblet to the dregs—
the cup that makes men stagger.

18Among all the sons she bore,
there is no one to guide her;
among all the sons she brought up,
there is no one to take her hand.

19These pairs have befallen you:

devastation and destruction,
famine and sword.

Who will grieve for you?

Who can comfort you?c

20Your sons have fainted;
they lie at the head of every street,
like an antelope in a net.

They are full of the wrath of the LORD,
the rebuke of your God.

21Therefore now hear this, you afflicted one,
drunken, but not with wine.

22Thus says your Lord, the LORD,
even your God, who defends His people:

“See, I have removed from your hand
the cup of staggering.

From that goblet, the cup of My fury,
you will never drink again.

23I will place it in the hands of your tormentors,
who told you: ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you,’

so that you made your back like the ground,
like a street to be traversed.”

Footnotes:

5 a Or coastlands

16 b Or to plant

19 c DSS, LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; MT How can I comfort you?

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 52   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Deliverance for Jerusalem

1Awake, awake,
clothe yourself with strength, O Zion!

Put on your garments of splendor,

O Jerusalem, holy city!

For the uncircumcised and unclean
will no longer enter you.

2Shake off your dust!

Rise up and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem.

Remove the chains from your neck,

O captive Daughter of Zion.

3For this is what the LORD says:

“You were sold for nothing,
and without money you will be redeemed.”

4For this is what the Lord GOD says:

“At first My people went down to Egypt to live,
then Assyria oppressed them without cause.

5And now what have I here?

declares the LORD.

For My people have been taken without cause;
those who rule them taunt,a
declares the LORD,
and My name is blasphemed continually
all day long.b

6Therefore My people will know My name;
therefore they will know on that day
that I am He who speaks.

Here I am!”

7How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,c
who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

8Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,
together they shout for joy.

For every eye will see
when the LORD returns to Zion.

9Break forth in joy, sing together,

O ruins of Jerusalem,
for the LORD has comforted His people;

He has redeemed Jerusalem.

10The LORD has bared His holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.

11Depart, depart, go out from there!

Touch no unclean thing;d
come out from it, purify yourselves,
you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

12For you will not leave in a hurry
nor flee in haste,
for the LORD goes before you,
and the God of Israel is your rear guard.

The Servant Exalted
(Philippians 2:5–11)

13Behold, My Servant will prosper;e

He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

14Just as many were appalled at Himf—

His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man,
and His form was marred beyond human likeness—

15so He will sprinkleg many nations.

Kings will shut their mouths because of Him.

For they will see what they have not been told,
and they will understand what they have not heard.h

Footnotes:

5 a DSS and Vulgate; MT wail

5 b LXX —on account of you My name is blasphemed continually among the Gentiles; cited in Romans 2:24

7 c Cited in Romans 10:15

11 d Cited in 2 Corinthians 6:17

13 e Or will act wisely

14 f Syriac; Hebrew at You

15 g Or startle

15 h LXX For those who were not told will see, and those who have not heard will understand. Cited in Romans 15:21

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 53   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Suffering Servant
(Acts 8:26–40; 1 Peter 2:21–25)

1Who has believed our message?

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?a

2He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no stately form or majesty to attract us,
no beauty that we should desire Him.

3He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

Like one from whom men hide their faces,

He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

4Surely He took on our infirmities
and carried our sorrows;b
yet we considered Him stricken by God,
struck down and afflicted.

5But He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,
and by His stripes we are healed.c

6We all like sheep have gone astray,d
each one has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid upon Him
the iniquity of us all.

7He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet He did not open His mouth.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so He did not open His mouth.

8By oppression and judgment He was taken away,
and who can recount His descendants?

For He was cut off from the land of the living;e

He was stricken for the transgression of My people.

A Grave Assigned
(Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42)

9He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with a rich man in His death,
although He had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in His mouth.f

10Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him
and to cause Him to suffer;
and when His soul is made a guilt offering,g

He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days,
and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

11After the anguish of His soul,

He will see the light of lifeh and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many,
and He will bear their iniquities.

12Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great,i
and He will divide the spoils with the strong,j
because He has poured out His life unto death,
and He was numbered with the transgressors.k

Yet He bore the sin of many
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in John 12:38 and Romans 10:16

4 b LXX This One bears our sins and is pained for us; cited in Matthew 8:17 and 1 Peter 2:24

5 c Cited in 1 Peter 2:24

6 d Cited in 1 Peter 2:25

8 e LXX In humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth; cited in Acts 8:32–33.

9 f Cited in 1 Peter 2:22

10 g Or and though He makes His life a guilt offering

11 h DSS (see also LXX); MT does not include the light of life.

12 i Or many

12 j Or numerous

12 k Cited in Luke 22:37

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 54   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Future Blessings for Zion

1“Shout for joy, O barren woman,
who bears no children;
break forth in song and cry aloud,
you who have never travailed;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,”a
says the LORD.

2“Enlarge the site of your tent,
stretch out the curtains of your dwellings,
do not hold back.

Lengthen your ropes
and drive your stakes in deep.b

3For you will spread out to the right and left;
your descendants will dispossess the nations
and inhabit the desolate cities.

4Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame;
do not be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated.

For you will forget the shame of your youth
and will remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

5For your husband is your Maker—
the LORD of Hosts is His name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;

He is called the God of all the earth.

6For the LORD has called you back,
like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit,
like the rejected wife of one’s youth,”

says your God.

7“For a brief moment I forsook you,
but with great compassion I will bring you back.

8In a surge of anger

I hid My face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,”

says the LORD your Redeemer.

9“For to Me this is like the days of Noah,c
when I swore that the waters of Noah
would never again cover the earth.

So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
or rebuke you.

10Though the mountains may be removed
and the hills may be shaken,

My loving devotion will not depart from you,
and My covenant of peace will not be broken,”

says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

11“O afflicted city, lashed by storms,
without solace,
surely I will set your stones in antimony
and lay your foundations with sapphires.d

12I will make your pinnacles of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.

13Then all your sons will be taught by the LORD,e
and great will be their prosperity.

14In righteousness you will be established,
far from oppression,
for you will have no fear.

Terror will be far removed,
for it will not come near you.

15If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me;
whoever assails you will fall before you.

16Behold, I have created the craftsman
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its task;
and I have created the destroyer
to wreak havoc.

17No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.

This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and their vindication is from Me,”

declares the LORD.

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in Galatians 4:27

2 b Or and strengthen your stakes

9 c Some manuscripts For this is like the waters of Noah

11 d Or lapis lazuli

13 e Cited in John 6:45

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 55   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Invitation to the Needy

1“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you without money,
come, buy, and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost!

2Why spend money on that which is not bread,
and your labor on that which does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.

3Incline your ear and come to Me;
listen, so that your soul may live.

I will make with you an everlasting covenant—

My loving devotion promised to David.a

4Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations,
a leader and commander of the peoples.

5Surely you will summon a nation you do not know,
and nations who do not know you will run to you.

For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,
has bestowed glory on you.”

6Seek the LORD while He may be found;
call on Him while He is near.

7Let the wicked man forsake his own way
and the unrighteous man his own thoughts;
let him return to the LORD,
that He may have compassion,
and to our God,
for He will freely pardon.

8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways,”

declares the LORD.

9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so My ways are higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts.

10For just as rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return without watering the earth,
making it bud and sprout,
and providing seed to sow and food to eat,

11so My word that proceeds from My mouth
will not return to Me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please,
and it will prosper where I send it.

12You will indeed go out with joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

13Instead of the thornbush, a cypressb will grow,
and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up;
they will make a name for the LORD,
an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”

Footnotes:

3 a Cited in Acts 13:34

13 b Or pine or juniper or fir

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 56   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Salvation for Foreigners

1This is what the LORD says:

“Maintain justice and do what is right,
for My salvation is coming soon,
and My righteousness will be revealed.

2Blessed is the man who does this,
and the son of man who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it
and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

3Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say,

“The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.”

And let the eunuch not say,

“I am but a dry tree.”

4For this is what the LORD says:

“To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,
who choose what pleases Me
and hold fast to My covenant—

5I will give them, in My house and within My walls,
a memorial and a name
better than that of sons and daughters.

I will give them an everlasting name
that will not be cut off.

6And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD
to minister to Him,
to love the name of the LORD,
and to be His servants—
all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it
and who hold fast to My covenant—

7I will bring them to My holy mountain
and make them joyful in My house of prayer.

Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on My altar,
for My house will be called a house of prayera
for all the nations.”

8Thus declares the Lord GOD,
who gathers the dispersed of Israel:

“I will gather to them still others
besides those already gathered.”

Israel’s Sinful Leaders

9Come, all you beasts of the field;
eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest.

10Israel’s watchmen are blind,
they are all oblivious;
they are all mute dogs,
they cannot bark;
they are dreamers lying around,
loving to slumber.

11Like ravenous dogs,
they are never satisfied.

They are shepherds with no discernment;
they all turn to their own way,
each one seeking his own gain:

12“Come, let me get the wine,
let us imbibe the strong drink,
and tomorrow will be like today,
only far better!”

Footnotes:

7 a Cited in Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, and Luke 19:46

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 57   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Blessed Death of the Righteous

1The righteous perish,
and no one takes it to heart;
devout men are swept away,
while no one considers
that the righteous are guided
from the presence of evil.

2Those who walk uprightly enter into peace;
they find rest, lying down in death.

God Condemns Idolatry

3“But come here, you sons of a sorceress,
you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!

4Whom are you mocking?

At whom do you snarl and stick out your tongue?

Are you not children of transgression,
offspring of deceit,

5who burn with lust among the oaks,
under every luxuriant tree,
who slaughter your children in the valleys,
under the clefts of the rocks?

6Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley;
indeed, they are your lot.

Even to them you have poured out a drink offering
and offered a grain offering.

Should I relent because of these?

7On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed,
and there you went up to offer sacrifices.

8Behind the door and doorpost
you have set up your memorial.

Forsaking Me, you uncovered your bed;
you climbed up and opened it wide.

And you have made a pact with those whose bed you have loved;
you have gazed upon their nakedness.

9You went to Molecha with oil
and multiplied your perfumes.

You have sent your envoysb a great distance;
you have descended even to Sheol itself.

10You are wearied by your many journeys,
but you did not say, “There is no hope!”

You found renewal of your strength;
therefore you did not grow weak.

11Whom have you dreaded and feared,
so that you lied and failed
to remember Me or take this to heart?

Is it not because I have long been silent
that you do not fear Me?

12I will expose your righteousness and your works,
and they will not profit you.

13When you cry out,
let your companies of idols deliver you!

Yet the wind will carry off all of them,
a breath will take them away.

But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land
and possess My holy mountain.”

Healing for the Repentant

14And it will be said,

“Build it up, build it up, prepare the way,
take every obstacle out of the way of My people.”

15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

“I dwell in a high and holy place,
and with the oppressed and humble in spirit,
to restore the spirit of the lowly
and revive the heart of the contrite.

16For I will not accuse you forever,
nor will I always be angry;
for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me,
with the breath of those I have made.

17I was enraged by his sinful greed,
so I struck him and hid My face in anger;
yet he kept turning back
to the desires of his heart.

18I have seen his ways,
but I will heal him;

I will guide him and restore comfort
to him and his mourners,

19bringing praise to their lips.

Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD,

“and I will heal them.”

20But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea,
for it cannot be still,
and its waves churn up mire and muck.

21“There is no peace,” says my God,

“for the wicked.”

Footnotes:

9 a Or to the king

9 b Or idols

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 58   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

True Fasts and Sabbaths

1“Cry aloud, do not hold back!

Raise your voice like a ram’s horn.

Declare to My people their transgression
and to the house of Jacob their sins.

2For day after day they seek Me
and delight to know My ways,
like a nation that does what is right
and does not forsake the justice of their God.

They ask Me for righteous judgments;
they delight in the nearness of God.”

3“Why have we fasted,
and You have not seen?

Why have we humbled ourselves,
and You have not noticed?”

“Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please,
and you oppress all your workers.

4You fast with contention and strife
to strike viciously with your fist.

You cannot fast as you do today
and have your voice be heard on high.

5Is this the fast I have chosen:

a day for a man to deny himself,
to bow his head like a reed,
and to spread out sackcloth and ashes?

Will you call this a fast
and a day acceptable to the LORD?

6Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen:

to break the chains of wickedness,
to untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and tear off every yoke?

7Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry,
to bring the poor and homeless into your home,
to clothe the naked when you see him,
and not to turn away
from your own flesh and blood?

8Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will come quickly.

Your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you remove the yoke from your midst,
the pointing of the finger and malicious talk,

10and if you give yourself to the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted soul,
then your light will go forth in the darkness,
and your night will be like noonday.

11The LORD will always guide you;

He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land
and strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

12Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins;
you will restore the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of the Breach,

Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.

13If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath,
from doing as you please on My holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight,
and the LORD’s holy day honorable,
if you honor it by not going your own way
or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words,

14then you will delight yourself in the LORD,
and I will make you ride on the heights of the land
and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.”

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 59   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Sin Separates Us from God
(Psalm 14:1–7; Psalm 53:1–6; Romans 3:9–20)

1Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
nor His ear too dull to hear.

2But your iniquities have built barriers
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden His face from you,
so that He does not hear.

3For your hands are stained with blood,
and your fingers with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies,
and your tongue mutters injustice.

4No one calls for justice;
no one pleads his case honestly.

They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies;
they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.

5They hatch the eggs of vipers
and weave a spider’s web.

Whoever eats their eggs will die;
crack one open, and a viper is hatched.

6Their cobwebs cannot be made into clothing,
and they cannot cover themselves with their works.

Their deeds are sinful deeds,
and acts of violence are in their hands.

7Their feet run to evil;
they are swift to shed innocent blood.

Their thoughts are sinful thoughts;
ruin and destructiona lie in their wake.

8The way of peace they have not known,b
and there is no justice in their tracks.

They have turned them into crooked paths;
no one who treads on them will know peace.

9Therefore justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us.

We hope for light, but there is darkness;
for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

10Like the blind, we feel our way along the wall,
groping like those without eyes.

We stumble at midday as in the twilight;
among the vigorous we are like the dead.

11We all growl like bears
and moan like doves.

We hope for justice, but find none,
for salvation, but it is far from us.

12For our transgressions are multiplied before You,
and our sins testify against us.

Our transgressions are indeed with us,
and we know our iniquities:

13rebelling and denying the LORD,
turning away from our God,
speaking oppression and revolt,
conceiving and uttering lies from the heart.

14So justice is turned away,
and righteousness stands at a distance.

For truth has stumbled in the public square,
and honesty cannot enter.

15Truth is missing,
and whoever turns from evil becomes prey.

The LORD looked and was displeasedc
that there was no justice.

16He saw that there was no man;

He was amazed that there was no one to intercede.

So His own arm brought salvation,
and His own righteousness sustained Him.

17He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
and the helmet of salvation on His head;

He put on garments of vengeance
and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.

The Covenant of the Redeemer

18So He will repay according to their deeds:

fury to His enemies,
retribution to His foes,
and recompense to the islands.d

19So shall they fear the name of the LORD
where the sun sets,
and His glory where it rises.

For He will come like a raging flood,
driven by the breath of the LORD.e

20“The Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,f”

declares the LORD.

21“As for Me, this is My covenant with them,”g says the LORD. “My Spirit will not depart from you,h and My words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and grandchildren, from now on and forevermore,” says the LORD.

Footnotes:

7 a LXX misery

8 b Cited in Romans 3:15–17

15 c Hebrew and it was evil in His eyes

18 d Or coastlands

19 e Or When the enemy comes like a raging flood, the Spirit of the LORD will drive him back

20 f LXX to remove godlessness from Jacob; cited in Romans 11:26

21 g Cited in Romans 11:27

21 h Literally My Spirit, who is upon you,

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 60   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Future Glory for Zion

1Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

2For behold, darkness covers the earth,
and thick darkness is over the peoples;
but the LORD will rise upon you,
and His glory will appear over you.

3Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

4Lift up your eyes and look around:

They all gather and come to you;
your sons will come from afar,
and your daughters will be carried on the arm.

5Then you will look and be radiant,
and your heart will tremble and swell with joy,
because the riches of the sea will be brought to you,
and the wealth of the nations will come to you.

6Caravans of camels will cover your land,
young camels of Midian and Ephah,
and all from Sheba will come,
bearing gold and frankincense
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

7All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you;
the rams of Nebaioth will serve you
and go up on My altar with acceptance;

I will adorn My glorious house.

8Who are these who fly like clouds,
like doves to their shelters?

9Surely the islandsa will wait for Me,
with the ships of Tarshishb in the lead,
to bring your children from afar,
with their silver and gold,
to the honor of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for He has glorified you.

10Foreigners will rebuild your walls,
and their kings will serve you.

Although I struck you in anger,
yet in favor I will show you mercy.

11Your gates will always stand open;
they will never be shut, day or night,
so that the wealth of the nations may be brought into you,
with their kings being led in procession.

12For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish;
it will be utterly destroyed.

13The glory of Lebanon will come to you—
its cypress,c elm, and boxwood together—
to adorn the place of My sanctuary,
and I will glorify the place of My feet.

14The sons of your oppressors
will come and bow down to you;
all who reviled you
will fall facedown at your feet
and call you the City of the LORD,

Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15Whereas you have been forsaken and despised,
with no one passing through,

I will make you an everlasting pride,
a joy from age to age.

16You will drink the milk of nations
and nurse at the breasts of royalty;
you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

17Instead of bronze I will bring you gold;

I will bring silver in place of iron,
bronze instead of wood,
and iron instead of stones.

I will appoint peace as your governor
and righteousness as your ruler.

18No longer will violence be heard in your land,
nor ruin or destruction within your borders.

But you will name your walls Salvation
and your gates Praise.

19No longer will the sun be your light by day,
nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night;d
for the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your splendor.e

20Your sun will no longer set,
and your moon will not wane;
for the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and the days of your sorrow will cease.

21Then all your people will be righteous;
they will possess the land forever;
they are the branch of My planting,
the work of My hands,
so that I may be glorified.

22The least of you will become a thousand,
and the smallest a mighty nation.

I am the LORD;
in its time I will accomplish it quickly.

Footnotes:

9 a Or coastlands

9 b Or a fleet of trading ships

13 c Or pine or juniper or fir

19 d DSS, LXX, and Targum Yonaton; MT shine on you

19 e Or your beauty

(Home)

◀   ◀   Isaiah 61   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Year of the LORD’s Favor
(Luke 4:16–30)

1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me,
because the LORD has anointed Me
to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and freedom to the prisoners,a

2to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favorb
and the day of our God’s vengeance,
to comfort all who mourn,

3to console the mourners in Zion—
to give them a crown of beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair.

So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

4They will rebuild the ancient ruins;
they will restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities,
the desolations of many generations.

5Strangers will stand and feed your flocks,
and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers.

6But you will be called the priests of the LORD;
they will speak of you as ministers of our God;
you will feed on the wealth of nations,
and you will boast in their riches.

7Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion,
and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.

8For I, the LORD, love justice;

I hate robbery and iniquity;
in My faithfulness I will give them their recompense
and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9Their descendants will be known among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed.

10I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,
my soul will exult in my God;
for He has clothed me with garments of salvation
and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress,
as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11For as the earth brings forth its growth,
and as a garden enables seed to spring up,
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew; LXX to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; cited in Luke 4:18

2 b Or to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD; cited in Luke 4:19

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 62   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Zion’s Salvation and New Name

1For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep still,
until her righteousness shines like a bright light,
her salvation like a blazing torch.

2Nations will see your righteousness,
and all kings your glory.

You will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.

3You will be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem in the palm of your God.

4No longer will you be called Forsaken,a
nor your land named Desolate;b
but you will be called Hephzibah,c
and your land Beulah;d
for the LORD will take delight in you,
and your land will be His bride.

5For as a young man marries a young woman,
so your sons will marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
so your God will rejoice over you.

6On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen;
they will never be silent day or night.

You who call on the LORD
shall take no rest for yourselves,

7nor give Him any rest
until He establishes Jerusalem
and makes her the praise of the earth.

8The LORD has sworn by His right hand
and by His mighty arm:

“Never again will I give your grain
to your enemies for food,
nor will foreigners drink the new wine
for which you have toiled.

9For those who harvest grain
will eat it and praise the LORD,
and those who gather grapes
will drink the wine in My holy courts.”

10Go out, go out through the gates;
prepare the way for the people!

Build it up, build up the highway;
clear away the stones;
raise a banner for the nations!

11Behold, the LORD has proclaimed
to the ends of the earth,

“Say to Daughter Zion:

See, your Savior comes!

Look, His reward is with Him,
and His recompense goes before Him.”

12And they will be called the Holy People,
the Redeemed of The LORD;
and you will be called Sought Out,

A City Not Forsaken.

Footnotes:

4 a Hebrew Azubah

4 b Hebrew Shemamah

4 c Hephzibah means My delight is in her.

4 d Beulah means married.

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 63   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

God’s Vengeance on the Nations

1Who is this coming from Edom,
from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments?

Who is this robed in splendor,
marching in the greatness of His strength?

“It is I, proclaiming vindication,a
mighty to save.”

2Why are Your clothes red,
and Your garments like one who treads the winepress?

3“I have trodden the winepress alone,
and no one from the nations was with Me.

I trampled them in My anger
and trod them down in My fury;
their blood spattered My garments,
and all My clothes were stained.

4For the day of vengeance was in My heart,
and the year of My redemption had come.

5I looked, but there was no one to help;

I was appalled that no one assisted.

So My arm brought Me salvation,
and My own wrath upheld Me.

6I trampled the nations in My anger;
in My wrath I made them drunk
and poured out their blood on the ground.”

God’s Mercies Recalled

7I will make known the LORD’s loving devotion
and His praiseworthy acts,
because of all that the LORD has done for us—
the many good things for the house of Israel
according to His great compassion and loving devotion.

8For He said, “They are surely My people,
sons who will not be disloyal.”

So He became their Savior.

9In all their distress, He too was afflicted,
and the Angel of His Presenceb saved them.

In His love and compassion He redeemed them;

He lifted them up and carried them
all the days of old.

10But they rebelled
and grieved His Holy Spirit.

So He turned and became their enemy,
and He Himself fought against them.

11Then His people remembered the days of old,
the days of Moses.

Where is He who brought them through the sea
with the shepherds of His flock?

Where is the One who set

His Holy Spirit among them,

12who sent His glorious arm
to lead them by the right hand of Moses,
who divided the waters before them
to gain for Himself everlasting renown,

13who led them through the depths
like a horse in the wilderness,
so that they did not stumble?

14Like cattle going down to the valley,
the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest.

You led Your people this way
to make for Yourself a glorious name.

A Prayer for Mercy
(Jeremiah 14:19–22)

15Look down from heaven and see,
from Your holy and glorious habitation.

Where are Your zeal and might?

Your yearning and compassion for me are restrained.

16Yet You are our Father,
though Abraham does not know us
and Israel does not acknowledge us.

You, O LORD, are our Father;
our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.

17Why, O LORD, do You make us stray from Your ways
and harden our hearts from fearing You?

Return, for the sake of Your servants,
the tribes of Your heritage.

18For a short while Your people possessed Your holy place,
but our enemies have trampled Your sanctuary.

19We have become like those You never ruled,
like those not called by Your name.

Footnotes:

1 a Or It is I, speaking in righteousness,

9 b Or angel of His presence

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 64   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Prayer for God’s Power

1If only You would rend the heavens and come down,
so that mountains would quake at Your presence,

2as fire kindles the brushwood
and causes the water to boil,
to make Your name known to Your enemies,
so that the nations will tremble at Your presence!

3When You did awesome works that we did not expect,

You came down, and the mountains trembled at Your presence.

4From ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides You,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.a

5You welcome those who gladly do right,
who remember Your ways.

Surely You were angry, for we sinned.

How can we be saved if we remain in our sins?

6Each of us has become like something unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;b
we all wither like a leaf,
and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

7No one calls on Your name
or strives to take hold of You.

For You have hidden Your face from us
and delivered us into the handc of our iniquity.

8But now, O LORD, You are our Father;
we are the clay, and You are the potter;
we are all the work of Your hand.

9Do not be angry, O LORD, beyond measure;
do not remember our iniquity forever.

Oh, look upon us, we pray;
we are all Your people!

10Your holy cities have become a wilderness.

Zion has become a wasteland and Jerusalem a desolation.

11Our holy and beautiful temple,
where our fathers praised You,
has been burned with fire,
and all that was dear to us lies in ruins.

12After all this, O LORD,
will You restrain Yourself?

Will You keep silent
and afflict us beyond measure?

Footnotes:

4 a Cited in 1 Corinthians 2:9

6 b Or like a stained menstrual garment

7 c LXX, Syriac, and Targum Yonaton; MT have made us melt in the hand

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 65   ▶   ▶

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Judgments and Promises
(Romans 10:1–21)

1“I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me;

I was found by those who did not seek Me.a

To a nation that did not call My name,

I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’

2All day long I have held out My hands
to an obstinate peopleb
who walk in the wrong path,
who follow their own imaginations,

3to a people who continually provoke Me to My face,
sacrificing in the gardens
and burning incense on altars of brick,

4sitting among the graves,
spending nights in secret places,
eating the meat of pigs
and polluted broth from their bowls.

5They say, ‘Keep to yourself;
do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’

Such people are smoke in My nostrils,
a fire that burns all day long.

6Behold, it is written before Me:

I will not keep silent, but I will repay;

I will pay it back into their laps,

7both for your iniquities
and for those of your fathers,”

says the LORD.

“Because they burned incense on the mountains
and scorned Me on the hills,

I will measure into their laps
full payment for their former deeds.”

8This is what the LORD says:

“As the new wine is found in a cluster of grapes,
and men say, ‘Do not destroy it, for it contains a blessing,’

so I will act on behalf of My servants;

I will not destroy them all.

9And I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
and heirs from Judah;

My elect will possess My mountains,c
and My servants will dwell there.

10Sharon will become a pasture for flocks,
and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds,
for My people who seek Me.

11But you who forsake the LORD,
who forget My holy mountain,
who set a table for Fortuned
and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,e

12I will destine you for the sword,
and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered,
because I called and you did not answer,

I spoke and you did not listen;
you did evil in My sight
and chose that in which I did not delight.”

13Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says:

“My servants will eat,
but you will go hungry;

My servants will drink,
but you will go thirsty;

My servants will rejoice,
but you will be put to shame.

14My servants will shout for joy with a glad heart,
but you will cry out with a heavy heart
and wail with a broken spirit.

15You will leave behind your name
as a curse for My chosen ones,
and the Lord GOD will slay you;
but to His servants He will give another name.

16Whoever invokes a blessing in the land
will do so by the God of truth,
and whoever takes an oath in the land
will swear by the God of truth.

For the former troubles will be forgotten
and hidden from My sight.

A New Heaven and a New Earth
(Revelation 21:1–8)

17For behold, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.f

The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.

18But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I create;
for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy
and its people to be a delight.

19I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and take delight in My people.

The sounds of weeping and crying
will no longer be heard in her.

20No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days,
or an old man fail to live out his years.

For the youth will die at a hundred years,
and he who fails to reach a hundred
will be considered accursed.

21They will build houses and dwell in them;
they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

22No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit,
nor plant for others to eat.

For as is the lifetime of a tree,
so will be the days of My people,
and My chosen ones will fully enjoy
the work of their hands.

23They will not labor in vain
or bear children doomed to disaster;
for they will be a people blessed by the LORD—
they and their descendants with them.

24Even before they call, I will answer,
and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

25The wolf and the lamb will feed together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
but the food of the serpentg will be dust.

They will neither harm nor destroy
on all My holy mountain,”

says the LORD.

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in Romans 10:20

2 b LXX to a disobedient and obstinate people; cited in Romans 10:21

9 c Or and heirs to My mountains out of Judah; My elect will possess them

11 d Hebrew Gad, the Babylonian god of fortune

11 e Hebrew Meni, the Babylonian god of fate

17 f LXX a new heaven and a new earth; see also Isaiah 66:22 and Revelation 21:1.

25 g Hebrew nachash; translated in most cases as snake

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◀   ◀   Isaiah 66   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Heaven Is My Throne

1This is what the LORD says:

“Heaven is My throne,
and earth is My footstool.

What kind of house will you build for Me?

Or where will My place of repose be?

2Has not My hand made all these things?a

And so they came into being,”

declares the LORD.

“This is the one I will esteem:

he who is humble and contrite in spirit,
who trembles at My word.

3Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man;
whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood;
whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol.

Indeed, they have chosen their own ways
and delighted in their abominations.

4So I will choose their punishment
and I will bring terror upon them,
because I called and no one answered,

I spoke and no one listened.

But they did evil in My sight
and chose that in which I did not delight.”

5You who tremble at His word,
hear the word of the LORD:

“Your brothers who hate you
and exclude you because of My name
have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified
that we may see your joy!’

But they will be put to shame.”

6Hear the uproar from the city;
listen to the voice from the temple!

It is the voice of the LORD,
repaying His enemies what they deserve!

Rejoice with Jerusalem

7“Before she was in labor, she gave birth;
before she was in pain, she delivered a boy.

8Who has heard of such as this?

Who has seen such things?

Can a country be born in a day
or a nation be delivered in an instant?

Yet as soon as Zion was in labor,
she gave birth to her children.

9Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?”

says the LORD.

“Or will I who deliver close the womb?”

says your God.

10Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her,
all who love her.

Rejoice greatly with her,
all who mourn over her,

11so that you may nurse and be satisfied
at her comforting breasts;
you may drink deeply and delight yourselves
in her glorious abundance.

12For this is what the LORD says:

“I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream;
you will nurse and be carried on her arm,
and bounced upon her knees.

13As a mother comforts her son,
so will I comfort you,
and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.”

14When you see, you will rejoice,
and you will flourish like grass;
then the hand of the LORD will be revealed to His servants,
but His wrath will be shown to His enemies.

Final Judgments against the Wicked

15For behold, the LORD will come with fire—

His chariots are like a whirlwind—
to execute His anger with fury
and His rebuke with flames of fire.

16For by fire and by His sword,
the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh,
and many will be slain by the LORD.

17“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD.

18“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am comingb to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.

19I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islandsc far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory.

So they will proclaim My glory among the nations. 20And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the LORD on horses and chariots and wagons, on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.”

21“And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

22“For just as the new heavens and the new earth,d
which I will make, will endure before Me,”

declares the LORD,

“so your descendants and your name will endure.

23From one New Moon to another
and from one Sabbath to another,
all mankind will come to worship before Me,”

says the LORD.

24“As they go forth, they will see the corpses
of the men who have rebelled against Me;
for their worm will never die,
their fire will never be quenched,e
and they will be a horror
to all mankind.”

Footnotes:

2 a Cited in Acts 7:49–50

18 b Literally And I, their deeds and their thoughts, am coming

19 c Or coastlands

22 d LXX the new heaven and the new earth; see also Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:1.

24 e Cited in Mark 9:48

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52)

The Call of Jeremiah

1These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

2The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, 3and through the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

4The word of the LORD came to me, saying:

5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I set you apart
and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

6“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”

7But the LORD told me:

“Do not say,

‘I am only a child.’

For to everyone I send you,
you must go,
and all that I command you,
you must speak.

8Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,”

declares the LORD.

9Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me:

“Behold, I have put My words
in your mouth.

10See, I have appointed you today
over nations and kingdoms
to uproot and tear down,
to destroy and overthrow,
to build and plant.”

11And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”

“I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

12“You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watchinga over My word to accomplish it.”

13Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “What do you see?”

“I see a boiling pot,” I replied, “and it is tilting toward us from the north.”

14Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15For I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD.

“Their kings will come and set up their thrones
at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem.

They will attack all her surrounding walls
and all the other cities of Judah.

16I will pronounce My judgments against them
for all their wickedness,
because they have forsaken Me
to burn incense to other gods
and to worship the works of their own hands.

17Get yourself ready.b Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. 19They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

Footnotes:

12 a The Hebrew for watching sounds like the Hebrew for almond tree.

17 b Hebrew Gird up your loins.

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Israel Has Forsaken God

1Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says:

‘I remember the devotion of your youth,
your love as a bride,
how you followed Me in the wilderness,
in a land not sown.

3Israel was holy to the LORD,
the firstfruits of His harvest.

All who devoured her
found themselves guilty;
disaster came upon them,’ ”

declares the LORD.

4Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel. 5This is what the LORD says:

“What fault did your fathers find in Me
that they strayed so far from Me,
and followed worthless idols,
and became worthless themselves?

6They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD
who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
who led us through the wilderness,
through a land of deserts and pits,
a land of drought and darkness,
a land where no one travels and no one lives?’

7I brought you into a fertile land
to eat its fruit and bounty,
but you came and defiled My land,
and made My inheritance detestable.

8The priests did not ask,

‘Where is the LORD?’

The experts in the law no longer knew Me,
and the leaders rebelled against Me.

The prophets prophesied by Baal
and followed useless idols.

9Therefore, I will contend with you again,
declares the LORD,
and I will bring a case
against your children’s children.

10Cross over to the coasts of Cyprusa
and take a look;
send to Kedar and consider carefully;
see if there has ever been anything like this:

11Has a nation ever changed its gods,
though they are no gods at all?

Yet My people have exchanged their Gloryb
for useless idols.

12Be stunned by this, O heavens;
be shocked and utterly appalled,”

declares the LORD.

13“For My people have committed two evils:

They have forsaken Me,
the fountain of living water,
and they have dug their own cisterns—
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

The Consequence of Israel’s Sin

14Is Israel a slave?

Was he born into slavery?

Why then has he become prey?

15The young lions have roared at him;
they have growled with a loud voice.

They have laid waste his land;
his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant.

16The men of Memphisc and Tahpanhes
have shaved the crown of your head.

17Have you not brought this on yourself
by forsaking the LORD your God
when He led you in the way?

18Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt
to drink the waters of the Niled?

What will you gain on your way to Assyria
to drink the waters of the Euphratese?

19Your own evil will discipline you;
your own apostasies will reprimand you.

Consider and realize
how evil and bitter it is
for you to forsake the LORD your God
and to have no fear of Me,”

declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

20“For long ago you broke your yoke
and tore off your chains,
saying, ‘I will not serve!’

Indeed, on every high hill
and under every green tree
you lay down as a prostitute.

21I had planted you like a choice vine
from the very best seed.

How could you turn yourself before Me
into a rotten, wild vine?

22Although you wash with lye
and use an abundance of soap,
the stain of your guilt
is still before Me,”

declares the Lord GOD.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness
(Judges 2:10–15; Isaiah 43:22–28)

23“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled;

I have not run after the Baals’?

Look at your behavior in the valley;
acknowledge what you have done.

You are a swift young she-camel
galloping here and there,

24a wild donkey at home in the wilderness,
sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire.

Who can restrain her passion?

All who seek her need not weary themselves;
in mating season they will find her.

25You should have kept your feet from going bare
and your throat from being thirsty.

But you said, ‘It is hopeless!

For I love foreign gods,
and I must go after them.’

26As the thief is ashamed when he is caught,
so the house of Israel is disgraced.

They, their kings, their officials,
their priests, and their prophets

27say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’

and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’

For they have turned their backs to Me
and not their faces,
yet in the time of trouble they beg,

‘Rise up and save us!’

28But where are the gods you made for yourselves?

Let them rise up in your time of trouble
and save you if they can;
for your gods are as numerous
as your cities, O Judah.

29Why do you bring a case against Me?

You have all rebelled against Me,”

declares the LORD.

30“I have struck your sons in vain;
they accepted no discipline.

Your own sword has devoured your prophets
like a voracious lion.”

31You people of this generation, consider the word of the LORD:

“Have I been a wilderness to Israel
or a land of dense darkness?

Why do My people say,

‘We are free to roam;
we will come to You no more’?

32Does a maiden forget her jewelry
or a bride her wedding sash?

Yet My people have forgotten Me
for days without number.

33How skillfully you pursue love!

Even the most immoral of women
could learn from your ways.

34Moreover, your skirts are stained
with the blood of the innocent poor,
though you did not find them breaking in.

But in spite of all these things

35you say, ‘I am innocent.

Surely His anger will turn from me.’

Behold, I will judge you,
because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

36How unstable you are,
constantly changing your ways!

You will be disappointed by Egypt
just as you were by Assyria.

37Moreover, you will leave that place
with your hands on your head,
for the LORD has rejected those you trust;
you will not prosper by their help.”

Footnotes:

10 a Hebrew Kittim

11 b Or their glorious God

16 c LXX; Hebrew Noph

18 d Hebrew of Shihor, a branch of the Nile River

18 e Hebrew the River

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Wages of the Harlot

1“If a man divorces his wife
and she leaves him to marry another,
can he ever return to her?

Would not such a land be completely defiled?

But you have played the harlot with many lovers—
and you would return to Me?”

declares the LORD.

2“Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see.

Is there any place where you have not been violated?

You sat beside the highways waiting for your lovers,
like a nomad in the desert.

You have defiled the land
with your prostitution and wickedness.

3Therefore the showers have been withheld,
and no spring rains have fallen.

Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute;
you refuse to be ashamed.

4Have you not just called to Me,

‘My Father, You are my friend from youth.

5Will He be angry forever?

Will He be indignant to the end?’

This you have spoken,
but you keep doing all the evil you can.”

Judah Follows Israel’s Example

6Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. 7I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.

8She sawa that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. 9Indifferent to her own infidelity, Israel had defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. 10Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD.

A Call to Repentance
(Hosea 14:1–3; Zechariah 1:1–6)

11And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than unfaithful Judah. 12Go, proclaim this message toward the north:

‘Return, O faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD.

‘I will no longer look on you with anger,
for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD.

‘I will not be angry forever.

13Only acknowledge your guilt,
that you have rebelled against the LORD your God.

You have scattered your favors to foreign gods
under every green tree
and have not obeyed My voice,’ ”

declares the LORD.

14“Return, O faithless children,” declares the LORD, “for I am your master, and I will take you—one from a city and two from a family—and bring you to Zion. 15Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

16“In those days, when you multiply and increase in the land,” declares the LORD, “they will no longer discuss the ark of the covenant of the LORD. It will never come to mind, and no one will remember it or miss it, nor will another one be made.

17At that time Jerusalem will be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations will be gathered in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. 18In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave to your fathers as an inheritance.

19Then I said, ‘How I long to make you My sons
and give you a desirable land,
the most beautiful inheritance
of all the nations!’

I thought you would call Me ‘Father’

and never turn away from following Me.

20But as a woman may betray her husband,
so you have betrayed Me, O house of Israel,”

declares the LORD.

21A voice is heard on the barren heights,
the children of Israel weeping and begging for mercy,
because they have perverted their ways
and forgotten the LORD their God.

22“Return, O faithless children,
and I will heal your faithlessness.”

“Here we are. We come to You,
for You are the LORD our God.

23Surely deception comes from the hills,
and commotion from the mountains.

Surely the salvation of Israel
is in the LORD our God.

24From our youth, that shameful god
has consumed what our fathers have worked for—
their flocks and herds,
their sons and daughters.

25Let us lie down in our shame;
let our disgrace cover us.

We have sinned against the LORD our God,
both we and our fathers;
from our youth even to this day
we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”

Footnotes:

8 a DSS, one LXX manuscript, and Syriac; MT I saw

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Plea to Return

1“If you will return, O Israel,
return to Me,” declares the LORD.

“If you will remove your detestable idols from My sight
and no longer waver,

2and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’

in truth, in justice, and in righteousness,
then the nations will be blessed by Him,
and in Him they will glory.”

3For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:

“Break up your unplowed ground,
and do not sow among the thorns.

4Circumcise yourselves to the LORD,
and remove the foreskins of your hearts,

O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem.

Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire
and burn with no one to extinguish it,
because of your evil deeds.”

Disaster from the North

5Announce in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say:

“Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land.

Cry aloud and say,

‘Assemble yourselves
and let us flee to the fortified cities.’

6Raise a signal flag toward Zion.

Seek refuge! Do not delay!

For I am bringing disaster from the north,
and terrible destruction.

7A lion has gone up from his thicket,
and a destroyer of nations has set out.

He has left his lair
to lay waste your land.

Your cities will be reduced to ruins
and lie uninhabited.

8So put on sackcloth,
mourn and wail,
for the fierce anger of the LORD
has not turned away from us.”

9“In that day,” declares the LORD,

“the king and officials will lose their courage.

The priests will tremble in fear,
and the prophets will be astounded.”

10Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, how completely You have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ while a sword is at our throats.”

11At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A searing wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward the daughter of My people, but not to winnow or to sift; 12a wind too strong for that comes from Me. Now I also pronounce judgments against them.”

13Behold, he advances like the clouds,
his chariots like the whirlwind.

His horses are swifter than eagles.

Woe to us, for we are ruined!

14Wash the evil from your heart, O Jerusalem,
so that you may be saved.

How long will you harbor
wicked thoughts within you?

15For a voice resounds from Dan,
proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim.

16Warn the nations now!

Proclaim to Jerusalem:

“A besieging army comes from a distant land;
they raise their voices against the cities of Judah.

17They surround her like men guarding a field,
because she has rebelled against Me,” declares the LORD.

18“Your ways and deeds
have brought this upon you.

This is your punishment; how bitter it is,
because it pierces to the heart!”

Lamentation for Judah

19My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain!

Oh, the pain in my chest!

My heart pounds within me;

I cannot be silent.

For I have heard the sound of the horn,
the alarm of battle.

20Disaster after disaster is proclaimed,
for the whole land is laid waste.

My tents are destroyed in an instant,
my curtains in a moment.

21How long must I see the signal flag
and hear the sound of the horn?

22“For My people are fools;
they have not known Me.

They are foolish children,
without understanding.

They are skilled in doing evil,
but they know not how to do good.”

23I looked at the earth,
and it was formless and void;

I looked to the heavens,
and they had no light.

24I looked at the mountains,
and behold, they were quaking;
all the hills were swaying.

25I looked, and no man was left;
all the birds of the air had fled.

26I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert.

All its cities were torn down
before the LORD,
before His fierce anger.

27For this is what the LORD says:

“The whole land will be desolate,
but I will not finish its destruction.

28Therefore the earth will mourn
and the heavens above will grow dark.

I have spoken, I have planned,
and I will not relent or turn back.”

29Every city flees
at the sound of the horseman and archer.

They enter the thickets
and climb among the rocks.

Every city is abandoned;
no inhabitant is left.

30And you, O devastated one, what will you do,
though you dress yourself in scarlet,
though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry,
though you enlarge your eyes with paint?

You adorn yourself in vain; your lovers despise you;
they want to take your life.

31For I hear a cry like a woman in labor,
a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child—
the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath,
stretching out her hands to say,

“Woe is me,
for my soul faints before the murderers!”

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

No One Is Just

1“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem.

Look now and take note; search her squares.

If you can find a single person,
anyone who acts justly,
anyone who seeks the truth,
then I will forgive the city.

2Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’

they are swearing falsely.”

3O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth?

You struck them, but they felt no pain.

You finished them off,
but they refused to accept discipline.

They have made their faces harder than stone
and refused to repent.

4Then I said, “They are only the poor;
they have played the fool,
for they do not know the way of the LORD,
the justice of their God.

5I will go to the powerful
and speak to them.

Surely they know the way of the LORD,
the justice of their God.”

But they too, with one accord, had broken the yoke
and torn off the chains.

6Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down,
a wolf from the desert will ravage them.

A leopard will lie in wait near their cities,
and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces.

For their rebellious acts are many,
and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.

7“Why should I forgive you?

Your children have forsaken Me
and sworn by gods that are not gods.

I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery
and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.

8They are well-fed, lusty stallions,
each neighing after his neighbor’s wife.

9Should I not punish them for these things?”

declares the LORD.

“Should I not avenge Myself
on such a nation as this?

10Go up through her vineyards and ravage them,
but do not finish them off.

Strip off her branches,
for they do not belong to the LORD.

11For the house of Israel and the house of Judah
have been utterly unfaithful to Me,”

declares the LORD.

12They have lied about the LORD and said:

“He will not do anything; harm will not come to us;
we will not see sword or famine.

13The prophets are but wind,
for the word is not in them.

So let their own predictions befall them.a”

Judgment Proclaimed

14Therefore this is what the LORD God of Hosts says:

“Because you have spoken this word,

I will make My words a fire in your mouth
and this people the wood it consumes.

15Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you,

O house of Israel,” declares the LORD.

“It is an established nation,
an ancient nation,
a nation whose language you do not know
and whose speech you do not understand.

16Their quivers are like open graves;
they are all mighty men.

17They will devour your harvest and food;
they will consume your sons and daughters;
they will eat up your flocks and herds;
they will feed on your vines and fig trees.

With the sword they will destroy
the fortified cities in which you trust.”

18“Yet even in those days,” declares the LORD, “I will not make a full end of you. 19And when the people ask, ‘For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ You are to tell them, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.’ ”

20Declare this in the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah:

21“Hear this,

O foolish and senseless people,
who have eyes but do not see,
who have ears but do not hear.

22Do you not fear Me?”

declares the LORD.

“Do you not tremble before Me,
the One who set the sand as the boundary for the sea,
an enduring barrier it cannot cross?

The waves surge, but they cannot prevail.

They roar but cannot cross it.

23But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts.

They have turned aside and gone away.

24They have not said in their hearts,

‘Let us fear the LORD our God,
who gives the rains, both autumn and spring, in season,
who keeps for us the appointed weeks of harvest.’

25Your iniquities have diverted these from you;
your sins have deprived you of My bounty.

26For among My people are wicked men;
they watch like fowlers lying in wait;
they set a trap to catch men.

27Like cages full of birds,
so their houses are full of deceit.

Therefore they have become powerful and rich.

28They have grown fat and sleek,
and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked.

They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless,
that they might prosper;
nor have they defended
the rights of the needy.

29Should I not punish them for these things?”

declares the LORD.

“Should I not avenge Myself
on such a nation as this?

30A horrible and shocking thing
has happened in the land.

31The prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests rule by their own authority.

My people love it so,
but what will you do in the end?

Footnotes:

13 a Literally let this befall them.

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jerusalem’s Final Warning

1“Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin;
flee from Jerusalem!

Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa;
send up a signal over Beth-haccherem,
for disaster looms from the north,
even great destruction.

2Though she is beautiful and delicate,

I will destroy the Daughter of Zion.a

3Shepherds and their flocks
will come against her;
they will pitch their tents all around her,
each tending his own portion:

4‘Prepare for battle against her;
rise up, let us attack at noon.

Woe to us, for the daylight is fading;
the evening shadows grow long.

5Rise up, let us attack by night
and destroy her fortresses!’ ”

6For this is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Cut down the trees
and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem.

This city must be punished;
there is nothing but oppression in her midst.

7As a well gushes its water,
so she pours out her evil.

Violence and destruction resound in her;
sickness and wounds are ever before Me.

8Be forewarned, O Jerusalem,
or I will turn away from you;

I will make you a desolation,
a land without inhabitant.”

9This is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Glean the remnant of Israel
as thoroughly as a vine.

Pass your hand once more like a grape gatherer
over the branches.”

10To whom can I give this warning?

Who will listen to me?

Look, their ears are closed,b
so they cannot hear.

See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them;
they find no pleasure in it.

11But I am full of the LORD’s wrath;

I am tired of holding it back.

“Pour it out on the children in the street,
and on the young men gathered together.

For both husband and wife will be captured,
the old and the very old alike.

12Their houses will be turned over to others,
their fields and wives as well,
for I will stretch out My hand
against the inhabitants of the land,”

declares the LORD.

13“For from the least of them to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;
from prophet to priest,
all practice deceit.

14They dress the wound of My people
with very little care,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’

when there is no peace at all.

15Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed?

No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.

So they will fall among the fallen;
when I punish them, they will collapse,”

says the LORD.

16This is what the LORD says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look.

Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’

Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’

17I appointed watchmen over you and said,

‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’

But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’

18Therefore hear, O nations,
and learn, O congregations,
what will happen to them.

19Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people,
the fruit of their own schemes,
because they have paid no attention to My word
and have rejected My instruction.

20What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba
or sweet cane from a distant land?

Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;
your sacrifices do not please Me.”

21Therefore this is what the LORD says:

“I will lay stumbling blocks before this people;
fathers and sons alike will be staggered;
friends and neighbors will perish.”

An Invasion from the North

22This is what the LORD says:

“Behold, an army is coming
from the land of the north;
a great nation is stirred up
from the ends of the earth.

23They grasp the bow and spear;c
they are cruel and merciless.

Their voice roars like the sea,
and they ride upon horses,
lined up like men in formation
against you, O Daughter of Zion.”

24We have heard the report;
our hands hang limp.

Anguish has gripped us,
pain like that of a woman in labor.

25Do not go out to the fields;
do not walk the road.

For the enemy has a sword;
terror is on every side.

26O daughter of my people,
dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes.

Mourn with bitter wailing,
as you would for an only son,
for suddenly the destroyer
will come upon us.

27“I have appointed you to examine My people like ore,d
so you may know and try their ways.

28All are hardened rebels,
walking around as slanderers.

They are bronze and iron;
all of them are corrupt.

29The bellows blow fiercely,
blasting away the lead with fire.

The refining proceeds in vain,
for the wicked are not purged.

30They are called rejected silver,
because the LORD has rejected them.”

Footnotes:

2 a Or To a lovely and delicate woman I have likened the Daughter of Zion

10 b Hebrew uncircumcised

23 c Or javelin

27 d Or to examine My people, a fortress

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 7   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jeremiah’s Message at the Temple Gate

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2“Stand in the gate of the house of the LORD and proclaim this message: Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who enter through these gates to worship the LORD. 3Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: Correct your ways and deeds, and I will let you live in this place. 4Do not trust in deceptive words, chanting:

‘This is the temple of the LORD,
the temple of the LORD,
the temple of the LORD.’

5For if you really correct your ways and deeds, if you act justly toward one another, 6if you no longer oppress the foreigner and the fatherless and the widow, and if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods to your own harm, 7then I will let you live in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

8But look, you keep trusting in deceptive words to no avail. 9Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, 10and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’? 11Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbersa in your sight? Yes, I too have seen it, declares the LORD.

12But go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for My Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. 13And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and againb but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer, 14therefore what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears My Name, the house in which you trust, the place that I gave to you and your fathers. 15And I will cast you out of My presence, just as I have cast out all your brothers, all the descendants of Ephraim.

Judah’s Idolatry Persists

16As for you, do not pray for these people, do not offer a plea or petition on their behalf, and do not beg Me, for I will not listen to you. 17Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger. 19But am I the One they are provoking? declares the LORD. Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame?

20Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, My anger and My fury will be poured out on this place, on man and beast, on the trees of the field and the produce of the land, and it will burn and not be extinguished.

21This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! 22For when I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not merely command them about burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you.

24Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. 25From the day your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets again and again.c
26Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers.

27When you tell them all these things, they will not listen to you. When you call to them, they will not answer. 28Therefore you must say to them, ‘This is the nation that would not listen to the voice of the LORD their God and would not receive correction. Truth has perished; it has disappeared from their lips. 29Cut off your hair and throw it away. Raise up a lamentation on the barren heights, for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.’

The Valley of Slaughter

30For the people of Judah have done evil in My sight, declares the LORD. They have set up their abominations in the house that bears My Name, and so have defiled it. 31They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.

32So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth and the Valley of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. For they will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. 33The corpses of this people will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to scare them away.

34I will remove from the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem the sounds of joy and gladness and the voices of the bride and bridegroom, for the land will become a wasteland.”

Footnotes:

11 a Cited in Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, and Luke 19:46

13 b Literally I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking,

25 c Literally I have sent you all My servants the prophets daily, rising up early and sending (them).

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Judah’s Sin and Punishment

1“At that time,” declares the LORD, “the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of the officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves. 2They will be exposed to the sun and moon, and to all the host of heaven which they have loved, served, followed, consulted, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up or buried, but will become like dung lying on the ground. 3And wherever I have banished them, the remnant of this evil family will choose death over life,” declares the LORD of Hosts.

4So you are to tell them this is what the LORD says:

“Do men fall and not get up again?

Does one turn away and not return?

5Why then have these people turned away?

Why does Jerusalem always turn away?

They cling to deceit;
they refuse to return.

6I have listened and heard;
they do not speak what is right.

No one repents of his wickedness,
asking, ‘What have I done?’

Everyone has pursued his own course
like a horse charging into battle.

7Even the stork in the sky
knows her appointed seasons.

The turtledove, the swift, and the thrusha
keep their time of migration,
but My people do not know
the requirements of the LORD.

8How can you say, ‘We are wise,
and the Law of the LORD is with us,’

when in fact the lying pen of the scribes
has produced a deception?

9The wise will be put to shame;
they will be dismayed and trapped.

Since they have rejected the word of the LORD,
what wisdom do they really have?

10Therefore I will give their wives to other men
and their fields to new owners.

For from the least of them to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;
from prophet to priest,
all practice deceit.

11They dress the wound of the daughter of My people
with very little care,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’

when there is no peace at all.

12Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed?

No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.

So they will fall among the fallen;
when I punish them, they will collapse,
says the LORD.

13I will take away their harvest,
declares the LORD.

There will be no grapes on the vine,
nor figs on the tree,
and even the leaf will wither.

Whatever I have given them will be lost to them.”

The People Respond

14Why are we just sitting here?

Gather together,
let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there,
for the LORD our God has doomed us.

He has given us poisoned water to drink,
because we have sinned against the LORD.

15We hoped for peace,
but no good has come,
for a time of healing,
but there was only terror.

16The snorting of enemy horses
is heard from Dan.

At the sound of the neighing of mighty steeds,
the whole land quakes.

They come to devour the land and everything in it,
the city and all who dwell in it.

17“For behold, I will send snakes among you,
vipers that cannot be charmed,
and they will bite you,”

declares the LORD.

Jeremiah Weeps for His People

18My sorrow is beyond healing;b
my heart is faint within me.

19Listen to the cry of the daughter of my people
from a land far away:

“Is the LORD no longer in Zion?

Is her King no longer there?”

“Why have they provoked Me to anger
with their carved images,
with their worthless foreign idols?”

20“The harvest has passed, the summer has ended,
but we have not been saved.”

21For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am crushed.

I mourn; horror has gripped me.

22Is there no balm in Gilead?

Is no physician there?

Why then has the health of the daughter of my people
not been restored?

Footnotes:

7 a The precise identification of some of these birds is uncertain.

18 b Or O my Comforter in sorrow,

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Lament over Zion

1Oh, that my head were a spring of water,
and my eyes a fountain of tears!

I would weep day and night
over the slain daughter of my people.

2If only I had a traveler’s lodge in the wilderness,

I would abandon my people and depart from them,
for they are all adulterers,
a crowd of faithless people.

3“They bend their tongues like bows;
lies prevail over truth in the land.

For they proceed from evil to evil,
and they do not take Me into account,”

declares the LORD.

4“Let everyone guard against his neighbor;
do not trust any brother,
for every brother deals craftily,
and every friend spreads slander.

5Each one betrays his friend;
no one tells the truth.

They have taught their tongues to lie;
they wear themselves out committing iniquity.

6You dwella in the midst of deception;
in their deceit they refuse to know Me,”

declares the LORD.

7Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Behold, I will refine them and test them,
for what else can I do
because ofb the daughter of My people?

8Their tongues are deadly arrows;
they speak deception.

With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor,
but in his heart he sets a trap for him.

9Should I not punish them for these things?

declares the LORD.

Should I not avenge Myself
on such a nation as this?”

10I will take up a weeping and wailing for the mountains,
a dirge over the wilderness pasture,
for they have been scorched so no one passes through,
and the lowing of cattle is not heard.

Both the birds of the air and the beasts have fled;
they have gone away.

11“And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble,
a haunt for jackals;c
and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation,
without inhabitant.”

12Who is the man wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, that he may explain it? Why is the land destroyed and scorched like a desert, so no one can pass through it?

13And the LORD answered, “It is because they have forsaken My law, which I set before them; they have not walked in it or obeyed My voice. 14Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts and gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.”

15Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. 16I will scatter them among the nations that neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send a sword after them until I have finished them off.”

17This is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Take note, and summon the wailing women;
send for the most skillful among them.

18Let them come quickly
and take up a lament over us,
that our eyes may overflow with tears,
and our eyelids may gush with water.

19For the sound of wailing
is heard from Zion:

‘How devastated we are!

How great is our shame!

For we have abandoned the land
because our dwellings have been torn down.’ ”

20Now, O women, hear the word of the LORD.

Open your ears to the word of His mouth.

Teach your daughters to wail,
and one another to lament.

21For death has climbed in through our windows;
it has entered our fortresses
to cut off the children from the streets,
the young men from the town squares.

22Declare that this is what the LORD says:

“The corpses of men will fall like dung
upon the open field,
like newly cut grain behind the reaper,
with no one to gather it.”

23This is what the LORD says:

“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,
nor the strong man in his strength,
nor the wealthy man in his riches.

24But let him who boasts boast in this,
that he understands and knows Me,
that I am the LORD,d
who exercises loving devotion,e
justice and righteousness on the earth—
for I delight in these things,”

declares the LORD.

25“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish all who are circumcised yet uncircumcised: 26Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and all the inhabitants of the desert who clip the hair of their temples. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”

Footnotes:

6 a That is, Jeremiah dwells (the Hebrew is singular)

7 b LXX because of the wickedness of

11 c Or serpents or dragons

24 d Cited in 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17

24 e Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 10   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Sovereignty of God

1Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2This is what the LORD says:

“Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by the signs in the heavens,
though the nations themselves are terrified by them.

3For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut down a tree from the forest;
it is shaped with a chisel
by the hands of a craftsman.

4They adorn it with silver and gold
and fasten it with hammer and nails,
so that it will not totter.

5Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch,
their idols cannot speak.

They must be carried
because they cannot walk.

Do not fear them, for they can do no harm,
and neither can they do any good.”

6There is none like You, O LORD.

You are great, and Your name is mighty in power.

7Who would not fear You, O King of nations?

This is Your due.

For among all the wise men of the nations,
and in all their kingdoms,
there is none like You.

8But they are altogether senseless and foolish,
instructed by worthless idols made of wood!

9Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish,
and gold from Uphaz—
the work of a craftsman
from the hands of a goldsmith.

Their clothes are blue and purple,
all fashioned by skilled workers.

10But the LORD is the true God;

He is the living God and eternal King.

The earth quakes at His wrath,
and the nations cannot endure His indignation.

11Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.”a

12The LORD made the earth by His power;

He established the world by His wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

13When He thunders,
the waters in the heavens roar;

He causes the clouds to rise
from the ends of the earth.

He generates the lightning with the rain
and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

14Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge;
every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols.

For his molten images are a fraud,
and there is no breath in them.

15They are worthless, a work to be mocked.

In the time of their punishment they will perish.

16The Portion of Jacob is not like these,
for He is the Maker of all things,
and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance—
the LORD of Hosts is His name.

The Coming Captivity of Judah

17Gather up your belongings from this land, you who live under siege. 18For this is what the LORD says:

“Behold, at this time I will sling out
the inhabitants of the land
and bring distress upon them
so that they may be captured.”

19Woe to me because of my brokenness;
my wound is grievous!

But I said, “This is truly my sickness,
and I must bear it.”

20My tent is destroyed,
and all its ropes are snapped.

My sons have departed from me
and are no more.

I have no one left to pitch my tent
or set up my curtains.

21For the shepherds have become senseless;
they do not seek the LORD.

Therefore they have not prospered,
and all their flock is scattered.

22Listen! The sound of a report is coming—
a great commotion from the land to the north.

The cities of Judah will be made a desolation,
a haunt for jackals.b

23I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own;
no one who walks directs his own steps.

24Correct me, O LORD,
but only with justice—
not in Your anger,
or You will bring me to nothing.

25Pour out Your wrath on the nations
that do not acknowledge You,
and on the families
that do not call on Your name.

For they have devoured Jacob;
they have consumed him and finished him off;
they have devastated his homeland.

Footnotes:

11 a The original text of this verse is in Aramaic.

22 b Or serpents or dragons

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 11   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Broken Covenant

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2“Listen to the words of this covenant and tell them to the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem. 3You must tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant, 4which I commanded your forefathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, ‘Obey Me, and do everything I command you, and you will be My people, and I will be your God.’ 5This was in order to establish the oath I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is to this day.”

“Amen, LORD,” I answered.

6Then the LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Hear the words of this covenant and carry them out. 7For from the time I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt until today, I strongly warned them again and again,a saying, ‘Obey My voice.’ 8Yet they would not obey or incline their ears, but each one followed the stubbornness of his evil heart. So I brought on them all the curses of this covenant I had commanded them to follow but they did not keep.”

9And the LORD told me, “There is a conspiracy among the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem. 10They have returned to the sins of their forefathers who refused to obey My words. They have followed other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant I made with their fathers.

11Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to bring upon them a disaster that they cannot escape. They will cry out to Me, but I will not listen to them. 12Then the cities of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to which they have been burning incense, but these gods certainly will not save them in their time of disaster. 13Your gods are indeed as numerous as your cities, O Judah; the altars of shame you have set up—the altars to burn incense to Baal—are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’

14As for you, do not pray for these people. Do not raise up a cry or a prayer on their behalf, for I will not be listening when they call out to Me in their time of disaster.

15What right has My beloved in My house,
having carried out so many evil schemes?

Can consecrated meat avert your doom,
so that you can rejoice?

16The LORD once called you a flourishing olive tree,
beautiful with well-formed fruit.

But with a mighty roar He will set it on fire,
and its branches will be consumed.

17The LORD of Hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you on account of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have brought upon themselves, provoking Me to anger by burning incense to Baal.”

A Plot against Jeremiah
(Jeremiah 18:18–23)

18And the LORD informed me, so I knew.

Then You showed me their deeds.

19For I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter;

I did not know that they had plotted against me:

“Let us destroy the tree with its fruit;
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
that his name may be remembered no more.”

20O LORD of Hosts, who judges righteously,
who examines the heartb and mind,
let me see Your vengeance upon them,
for to You I have committed my cause.

21Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning the people of Anathoth who are seeking your life and saying, “You must not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or you will die by our hand.” 22So this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. 23There will be no remnant, for I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.”

Footnotes:

7 a Literally I earnestly warned them, rising up early and warning (them),

20 b Hebrew the kidneys

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 12   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Prosperity of the Wicked

1Righteous are You, O LORD,
when I plead before You.

Yet about Your judgments

I wish to contend with You:

Why does the way of the wicked prosper?

Why do all the faithless live at ease?

2You planted them, and they have taken root.

They have grown and produced fruit.

You are ever on their lips,
but far from their hearts.a

3But You know me, O LORD;

You see me and test my heart toward You.

Drag away the wicked like sheep to the slaughter
and set them apart for the day of carnage.

4How long will the land mourn
and the grass of every field be withered?

Because of the evil of its residents,
the animals and birds have been swept away,
for the people have said,

“He cannot see what our end will be.”

God’s Answer to Jeremiah

5“If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?

If you stumble in a peaceful land,
how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?

6Even your brothers—
your own father’s household—
even they have betrayed you;
even they have cried aloud against you.

Do not trust them,
though they speak well of you.

7I have forsaken My house;

I have abandoned My inheritance.

I have given the love of My life
into the hands of her enemies.

8My inheritance has become to Me
like a lion in the forest.

She has roared against Me;
therefore I hate her.

9Is not My inheritance to Me
like a speckled bird of prey
with other birds of preyb circling against her?

Go, gather all the beasts of the field;
bring them to devour her.

10Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard;
they have trampled My plot of ground.

They have turned My pleasant field
into a desolate wasteland.

11They have made it a desolation;
desolate before Me, it mourns.

All the land is laid waste,
but no man takes it to heart.

12Over all the barren heights in the wilderness
the destroyers have come,
for the sword of the LORD devours
from one end of the earth to the other.

No flesh has peace.

13They have sown wheat but harvested thorns.

They have exhausted themselves to no avail.

Bear the shame of your harvest
because of the fierce anger of the LORD.”

A Message for Israel’s Neighbors
(Amos 1:1–15)

14This is what the LORD says: “As for all My evil neighbors who attack the inheritance that I bequeathed to My people Israel, I am about to uproot them from their land, and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them. 15But after I have uprooted them, I will once again have compassion on them and return each one to his inheritance and to his land.

16And if they will diligently learn the ways of My people and swear by My name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’—just as they once taught My people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among My people. 17But if they will not obey, then I will uproot that nation; I will uproot it and destroy it, declares the LORD.”

Footnotes:

2 a Hebrew their kidneys

9 b Or like a speckled hyena with birds of prey

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Linen Loincloth

1This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.”

2So I bought a loincloth as the LORD had instructed me, and I put it around my waist.

3Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time: 4“Take the loincloth that you bought and are wearing, and go at once to Peratha and hide it there in a crevice of the rocks.”

5So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD had commanded me.

6Many days later the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to Perath, and get the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there.” 7So I went to Perath and dug up the loincloth, and I took it from the place where I had hidden it. But now it was ruined—of no use at all.

8Then the word of the LORD came to me: 9“This is what the LORD says: In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10These evil people, who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who go after other gods to serve and worship them, they will be like this loincloth—of no use at all.

11For just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I have made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to Me, declares the LORD, so that they might be My people for My renown and praise and glory. But they did not listen.

The Wineskins

12Therefore you are to tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Every wineskin shall be filled with wine.’

And when they reply, ‘Don’t we surely know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?’ 13then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land—the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem. 14I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’ ”

Captivity Threatened

15Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant,
for the LORD has spoken.

16Give glory to the LORD your God
before He brings darkness,
before your feet stumble
on the dusky mountains.

You wait for light,
but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness.

17But if you do not listen,

I will weep in secret because of your pride.

My eyes will overflow with tears,
because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.

18Say to the king
and to the queen mother:

“Take a lowly seat,
for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.”

19The cities of the Negev have been shut tight,
and no one can open them.

All Judah has been carried into exile,
wholly taken captive.

20Lift up your eyes and see
those coming from the north.

Where is the flock entrusted to you,
the sheep that were your pride?

21What will you say when He sets over you
close allies whom you yourself trained?

Will not pangs of anguish grip you,
as they do a woman in labor?

22And if you ask yourself,

“Why has this happened to me?”

It is because of the magnitude of your iniquity
that your skirts have been stripped off
and your body has been exposed.b

23Can the Ethiopianc change his skin,
or the leopard his spots?

Neither are you able to do good—
you who are accustomed to doing evil.

24“I will scatter you like chaff
driven by the desert wind.

25This is your lot,
the portion I have measured to you,”

declares the LORD,

“because you have forgotten Me
and trusted in falsehood.

26So I will pull your skirts up over your face,
that your shame may be seen.

27Your adulteries and lustful neighings,
your shameless prostitution
on the hills and in the fields—

I have seen your detestable acts.

Woe to you, O Jerusalem!

How long will you remain unclean?”

Footnotes:

4 a Or possibly to the Euphrates; similarly in verses 5–7

22 b Literally and your heels have suffered violence

23 c Hebrew that Cushite; that is, probably a person from the upper Nile region

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 14   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Drought, Famine, Sword, and Plague

1This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:

2“Judah mourns
and her gates languish.

Her people wail for the land,
and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.

3The nobles send their servants for water;
they go to the cisterns, but find no water;
their jars return empty.

They are ashamed and humiliated;
they cover their heads.

4The ground is cracked
because no rain has fallen on the land.

The farmers are ashamed;
they cover their heads.

5Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn
because there is no grass.

6Wild donkeys stand on barren heights;
they pant for air like jackals;a
their eyes fail for lack of pasture.”

7Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD,
act for the sake of Your name.

Indeed, our rebellions are many;
we have sinned against You.

8O Hope of Israel,
its Savior in times of distress,
why are You like a stranger in the land,
like a traveler who stays but a night?

9Why are You like a man taken by surprise,
like a warrior powerless to save?

Yet You are among us, O LORD,
and we are called by Your name.

Do not forsake us!

10This is what the LORD says about this people:

“Truly they love to wander;
they have not restrained their feet.

So the LORD does not accept them;

He will now remember their guilt
and call their sins to account.”

11Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of this people. 12Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.”

13“Ah, Lord GOD!” I replied, “Look, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’ ”

14“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

15Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who prophesy in My name: I did not send them, yet they say, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’

By sword and famine these very prophets will meet their end! 16And the people to whom they prophesy will be thrown into the streets of Jerusalem because of famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them or their wives, their sons or their daughters. I will pour out their own evil upon them.

17You are to speak this word to them:

‘My eyes overflow with tears;
day and night they do not cease,
for the virgin daughter of my people
has been shattered by a crushing blow,
a severely grievous wound.

18If I go out to the country,

I see those slain by the sword;
if I enter the city,

I see those ravaged by famine!

For both prophet and priest
travel to a land they do not know.’ ”

A Prayer for Mercy
(Isaiah 63:15–19)

19Have You rejected Judah completely?

Do You despise Zion?

Why have You stricken us
so that we are beyond healing?

We hoped for peace,
but no good has come,
and for the time of healing,
but there was only terror.

20We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD,
the guilt of our fathers;
indeed, we have sinned against You.

21For the sake of Your name do not despise us;
do not disgrace Your glorious throne.

Remember Your covenant with us;
do not break it.

22Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain?

Do the skies alone send showers?

Is this not by You, O LORD our God?

So we put our hope in You,
for You have done all these things.

Footnotes:

6 a Or serpents or dragons

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 15   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Judgment to Continue

1Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Send them from My presence, and let them go. 2If they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says:

‘Those destined for death, to death;
those destined for the sword, to the sword;a
those destined for famine, to famine;
and those destined for captivity, to captivity.’

3I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the LORD: the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the air and beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. 4I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.

5Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem?

Who will mourn for you?

Who will turn aside
to ask about your welfare?

6You have forsaken Me, declares the LORD.

You have turned your back.

So I will stretch out My hand against you
and I will destroy you;

I am weary of showing compassion.

7I will scatter them with a winnowing fork
at the gates of the land.

I will bereave and destroy My people
who have not turned from their ways.

8I will make their widows more numerous
than the sand of the sea.

I will bring a destroyer at noon
against the mothers of young men.

I will suddenly bring upon them
anguish and dismay.

9The mother of seven will grow faint;
she will breathe her last breath.

Her sun will set while it is still day;
she will be disgraced and humiliated.

And the rest I will put to the sword
in the presence of their enemies,”

declares the LORD.

Jeremiah’s Woe

10Woe to me, my mother,
that you have borne me,
a man of strife and conflict
in all the land.

I have neither lent nor borrowed,
yet everyone curses me.

11The LORD said:

“Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose;
surely I will intercede with your enemy
in your time of trouble,
in your time of distress.

12Can anyone smash iron—
iron from the north—or bronze?

13Your wealth and your treasures

I will give up as plunder,
without charge for all your sins
within all your borders.

14Then I will enslave you to your enemies
in a landb you do not know,
for My anger will kindle a fire
that will burn against you.”

15You understand, O LORD;
remember me and attend to me.

Avenge me against my persecutors.

In Your patience, do not take me away.

Know that I endure reproach for Your honor.

16Your words were found, and I ate them.

Your words became my joy
and my heart’s delight.

For I bear Your name,

O LORD God of Hosts.

17I never sat with the band of revelers,
nor did I celebrate with them.

Because Your hand was on me, I sat alone,
for You have filled me with indignation.

18Why is my pain unending,
and my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?

You have indeed become like a mirage to me—
water that is not there.

The LORD’s Promise

19Therefore this is what the LORD says:

“If you return, I will restore you;
you will stand in My presence.

And if you speak words that are noble instead of worthless,
you will be My spokesman.

It is they who must turn to you,
but you must not turn to them.

20Then I will make you a wall to this people,
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
but will not overcome you,
for I am with you to save and deliver you,
declares the LORD.

21I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

Footnotes:

2 a See Revelation 13:10.

14 b Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac (see also Jeremiah 17:4); most Hebrew manuscripts Then I will cause your enemies to bring you into a land

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 16   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Disaster Predicted

1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“You must not marry or have sons or daughters in this place.”

3For this is what the LORD says concerning the sons and daughters born in this place, and the mothers who bore them, and the fathers who fathered them in this land: 4“They will die from deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried, but will lie like dung on the ground. They will be finished off by sword and famine, and their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and beasts of the earth.”

5Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal. Do not go to mourn or show sympathy, for I have removed from this people My peace, My loving devotion, and My compassion,” declares the LORD.

6“Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them. 7No food will be offered to comfort those who mourn the dead; not even a cup of consolation will be given for the loss of a father or mother.

8You must not enter a house where there is feasting and sit down with them to eat and drink. 9For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am going to remove from this place, before your very eyes and in your days, the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom.

10When you tell these people all these things, they will ask you, ‘Why has the LORD pronounced all this great disaster against us? What is our guilt? What is the sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?’

11Then you are to answer them: ‘It is because your fathers have forsaken Me, declares the LORD, and followed other gods, and served and worshiped them. They abandoned Me and did not keep My instruction. 12And you have done more evil than your fathers. See how each of you follows the stubbornness of his evil heart instead of obeying Me. 13So I will cast you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your fathers have known. There you will serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favor.’

God Will Restore Israel

14Yet behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of Egypt.’ 15Instead they will say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and all the other lands to which He had banished them.’ For I will return them to their land that I gave to their forefathers.

16But for now I will send for many fishermen, declares the LORD, and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill, even from the clefts of the rocks.

17For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from My face, and their guilt is not concealed from My eyes. 18And I will first repay them double their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and they have filled My inheritance with their abominations.”

19O LORD, my strength and my fortress,
my refuge in the day of distress,
the nations will come to You
from the ends of the earth, and they will say,

“Our fathers inherited nothing but lies,
worthless idols of no benefit at all.

20Can man make gods for himself?

Such are not gods!”

21“Therefore behold, I will inform them,
and this time I will make them know

My power and My might;
then they will know
that My name is the LORD.

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 17   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Sin and Punishment of Judah

1“The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus,
engraved with a diamond point
on the tablets of their hearts
and on the horns of their altars.

2Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles
by the green trees and on the high hills.

3O My mountain in the countryside,

I will give over your wealth
and all your treasures as plunder,
because of the sin of your high places,
within all your borders.

4And you yourself will relinquish
the inheritance that I gave you.

I will enslave you to your enemies
in a land that you do not know,
for you have kindled My anger;
it will burn forever.”

5This is what the LORD says:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind,
who makes the flesh his strengtha
and turns his heart from the LORD.

6He will be like a shrub in the desert;
he will not see when prosperity comes.

He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.

7But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in Him.

8He is like a tree planted by the waters
that sends out its roots toward the stream.

It does not fear when the heat comes,
and its leaves are always green.

It does not worry in a year of drought,
nor does it cease to produce fruit.

9The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?

10I, the LORD, search the heart;

I examine the mindb
to reward a man according to his way,
by what his deeds deserve.

11Like a partridge hatching eggs it did not lay
is the man who makes a fortune unjustly.

In the middle of his days his riches will desert him,
and in the end he will be the fool.”

Jeremiah’s Prayer for Deliverance

12A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning,
is the place of our sanctuary.

13O LORD, the hope of Israel,
all who abandon You will be put to shame.

All who turn away will be written in the dust,
for they have abandoned the LORD,
the fountain of living water.

14Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed;
save me, and I will be saved,
for You are my praise.

15Behold, they keep saying to me,

“Where is the word of the LORD?

Let it come now!”

16But I have not run away from being Your shepherd;

I have not desired the day of despair.

You know that the utterance of my lips
was spoken in Your presence.

17Do not become a terror to me;

You are my refuge in the day of disaster.

18Let my persecutors be put to shame,
but do not let me be put to shame.

Let them be terrified,
but do not let me be terrified.

Bring upon them the day of disaster
and shatter them with double destruction.

Restoring the Sabbath
(Nehemiah 13:15–22)

19This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and stand at the gate of the people, through which the kings of Judah go in and out; and stand at all the other gates of Jerusalem.

20Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, all people of Judah and Jerusalem who enter through these gates. 21This is what the LORD says: Take heed for yourselves; do not carry a load or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. 22You must not carry a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath day, but you must keep the Sabbath day holy, just as I commanded your forefathers. 23Yet they would not listen or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and would not listen or receive My discipline.

24If, however, you listen carefully to Me, says the LORD, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, and keep the Sabbath day holy, and do no work on it, 25then kings and princes will enter through the gates of this city. They will sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses with their officials, along with the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever. 26And people will come from the cities of Judah and the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, and from the foothills,c the hill country, and the Negev, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankincense, and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.

27But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in its gates to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.’ ”

Footnotes:

5 a Hebrew arm

10 b Hebrew kidneys

26 c Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 18   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Potter and the Clay

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2“Go down at once to the potter’s house, and there I will reveal My message to you.”

3So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working at the wheel. 4But the vessel that he was shaping from the clay became flawed in his hand; so he formed it into another vessel, as it seemed best for him to do.

5Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6“O house of Israel, declares the LORD, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

7At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed. 8But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring.

9And if at another time I announce that I will build up and establish a nation or kingdom, 10and if it does evil in My sight and does not listen to My voice, then I will relent of the good I had intended for it.

11Now therefore, tell the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I am planning a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways, and correct your ways and deeds.’

12But they will reply, ‘It is hopeless. We will follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ ”

13Therefore this is what the LORD says:

“Inquire among the nations:

Who has ever heard things like these?

Virgin Israel has done a most terrible thing.

14Does the snow of Lebanon
ever leave its rocky slopes?

Or do its cool waters flowing from a distance
ever run dry?

15Yet My people have forgotten Me.

They burn incense to worthless idols
that make them stumble in their ways,
leaving the ancient roads
to walk on rutted bypaths
instead of on the highway.

16They have made their land a desolation,
a perpetual object of scorn;
all who pass by will be appalled
and shake their heads.

17I will scatter them before the enemy
like the east wind.

I will show them My back and not My face
in the day of their calamity.”

Another Plot against Jeremiah
(Jeremiah 11:18–23)

18Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”

19Attend to me, O LORD.

Hear what my accusers are saying!

20Should good be repaid with evil?

Yet they have dug a pit for me.

Remember how I stood before You
to speak good on their behalf,
to turn Your wrath from them.

21Therefore, hand their children over to famine;
pour out the power of the sword upon them.

Let their wives become childless and widowed;
let their husbands be slain by disease,
their young men struck down by the sword in battle.

22Let a cry be heard from their houses
when You suddenly bring raiders against them,
for they have dug a pit to capture me
and have hidden snares for my feet.

23But You, O LORD, know all their deadly plots against me.

Do not wipe out their guilt
or blot out their sin from Your sight.

Let them be overthrown before You;
deal with them in the time of Your anger.

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 19   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Broken Jar

1This is what the LORD says: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take some of the elders of the people and leaders of the priests, 2and go out to the Valley of Ben-hinnom near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate.

Proclaim there the words I speak to you, 3saying, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and residents of Jerusalem. This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on this place that the ears of all who hear of it will ring, 4because they have abandoned Me and made this a foreign place. They have burned incense in this place to other gods that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have ever known. They have filled this place with the blood of the innocent. 5They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind.

6So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. 7And in this place I will ruina the plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will make them fall by the sword before their enemies, by the hands of those who seek their lives, and I will give their carcasses as food to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.

8I will make this city a desolation and an object of scorn.b All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds. 9I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’

10Then you are to shatter the jar in the presence of the men who accompany you, 11and you are to proclaim to them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter this nation and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them.

12This is what I will do to this place and to its residents, declares the LORD. I will make this city like Topheth. 13The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled like that place, Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops they burned incense to all the host of heaven and poured out drink offerings to other gods.”

14Then Jeremiah returned from Topheth, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy, and he stood in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and proclaimed to all the people, 15“This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I am about to bring on this city and on all the villages around it every disaster I have pronounced against them, because they have stiffened their necks so as not to heed My words.’ ”

Footnotes:

7 a The Hebrew term for ruin sounds like the Hebrew for jar; see verses 1 and 10.

8 b Literally and a hissing

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 20   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Pashhur Persecutes Jeremiah

1When Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer and the chief official in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, 2he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

3The next day, when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD does not call you Pashhur, but Magor-missabib.a
4For this is what the LORD says: ‘I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They will fall by the sword of their enemies before your very eyes. And I will hand Judah over to the king of Babylon, and he will carry them away to Babylon and put them to the sword. 5I will give away all the wealth of this city—all its products and valuables, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah—to their enemies. They will plunder them, seize them, and carry them off to Babylon. 6And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house, will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon, and there you will die and be buried—you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied these lies.’ ”

Jeremiah’s Complaint

7You have deceived me, O LORD, and I was deceived.

You have overcome me and prevailed.

I am a laughingstock all day long;
everyone mocks me.

8For whenever I speak, I cry out;

I proclaim violence and destruction.

For the word of the LORD has become to me
a reproach and derision all day long.

9If I say, “I will not mention Him
or speak any more in His name,”

His message becomes a fire burning in my heart,
shut up in my bones,
and I become weary of holding it in,
and I cannot prevail.

10For I have heard the whispering of many:

“Terror is on every side!

Report him; let us report him!”

All my trusted friends
watch for my fall:

“Perhaps he will be deceived
so that we may prevail against him
and take our vengeance upon him.”

11But the LORD is with me like a fearsome warrior.

Therefore, my persecutors will stumble and will not prevail.

Since they have not succeeded, they will be utterly put to shame,
with an everlasting disgrace that will never be forgotten.

12O LORD of Hosts, who examines the righteous,
who sees the heartb and mind,
let me see Your vengeance upon them,
for to You I have committed my cause.

13Sing to the LORD!

Praise the LORD!

For He rescues the life of the needy
from the hands of evildoers.

14Cursed be the day I was born!

May the day my mother bore me never be blessed.

15Cursed be the man who brought my father the news,
saying, “A son is born to you,”

bringing him great joy.

16May that man be like the cities
that the LORD overthrew without compassion.

May he hear an outcry in the morning
and a battle cry at noon,

17because he did not kill me in the womb
so that my mother might have been my grave,
and her womb forever enlarged.

18Why did I come out of the womb
to see only trouble and sorrow,
and to end my days in shame?

Footnotes:

3 a Magor-missabib means terror on every side or the man who lives in terror.

12 b Hebrew kidneys

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 21   ▶   ▶

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Jerusalem Will Fall to Babylon

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said, 2“Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf, since Nebuchadnezzara king of Babylon is waging war against us. Perhaps the LORD will perform for us something like all His past wonders, so that Nebuchadnezzar will withdraw from us.”

3But Jeremiah answered, “You are to tell Zedekiah that 4this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will turn against you the weapons of war in your hands, with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeansb who besiege you outside the wall, and I will assemble their forces in the center of this city. 5And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath. 6I will strike down the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a terrible plague.’

7‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’

8Furthermore, you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war. 10For I have set My face against this city to bring disaster and not good, declares the LORD. It will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, who will destroy it with fire.’

A Message to the House of David

11Moreover, tell the house of the king of Judah to hear the word of the LORD. 12O house of David, this is what the LORD says:

‘Administer justice every morning,
and rescue the victim of robbery
from the hand of his oppressor,
or My wrath will go forth like fire
and burn with no one to extinguish it
because of their evil deeds.

13Behold, I am against you who dwell above the valley,
atop the rocky plateau—
declares the LORD—
you who say, “Who can come against us?

Who can enter our dwellings?”

14I will punish you as your deeds deserve,
declares the LORD.

I will kindle a fire in your forest
that will consume everything around you.’ ”

Footnotes:

2 a Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, a variant of Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon), which occurs frequently in Jeremiah. The latter spelling is used throughout Jeremiah for consistency.

4 b That is, the Babylonians; also in verse 9

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 22   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Warning to Judah’s Kings

1This is what the LORD says: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and proclaim this message there, 2saying, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David—you and your officials and your people who enter these gates. 3This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.

4For if you will indeed carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David’s throne will enter through the gates of this palace riding on chariots and horses—they and their officials and their people. 5But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that this house will become a pile of rubble.’ ”

A Warning about the Palace

6For this is what the LORD says concerning the house of the king of Judah:

“You are like Gilead to Me,
like the summit of Lebanon;
but I will surely turn you into a desert,
like cities that are uninhabited.

7I will appoint destroyers against you,
each man with his weapons,
and they will cut down the choicest of your cedars
and throw them into the fire.

8And many nations will pass by this city and ask one another, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?’

9Then people will reply, ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and have worshiped and served other gods.’ ”

A Warning about Shallum

10Do not weep for the dead king;
do not mourn his loss.

Weep bitterly for the one who is exiled,
for he will never return
to see his native land.

11For this is what the LORD says concerning Shalluma son of Josiah, king of Judah, who succeeded his father Josiah but has gone forth from this place: “He will never return, 12but he will die in the place to which he was exiled; he will never see this land again.”

A Warning about Jehoiakim

13“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,
and his upper rooms without justice,
who makes his countrymen serve without pay,
and fails to pay their wages,

14who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace,
with spacious upper rooms.’

So he cuts windows in it,
panels it with cedar,
and paints it with vermilion.

15Does it make you a king to excelb in cedar?

Did not your father have food and drink?

He administered justice and righteousness,
and so it went well with him.

16He took up the cause of the poor and needy,
and so it went well with him.

Is this not what it means to know Me?”

declares the LORD.

17“But your eyes and heart are set on nothing
except your own dishonest gain,
on shedding innocent blood,
on practicing extortion and oppression.”

18Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

“They will not mourn for him:

‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’

They will not mourn for him:

‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’

19He will be buried like a donkey,
dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.

20Go up to Lebanon and cry out;
raise your voice in Bashan;
cry out from Abarim,
for all your lovers have been crushed.

21I warned you when you were secure.

You said, ‘I will not listen.’

This has been your way from youth,
that you have not obeyed My voice.

22The wind will drive away all your shepherds,
and your lovers will go into captivity.

Then you will be ashamed and humiliated
because of all your wickedness.

23O inhabitant of Lebanon,c
nestled in the cedars,
how you will groan when pangs of anguish come upon you,
agony like a woman in labor.”

A Warning to Coniah

24“As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “even if you, Coniahd son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on My right hand, I would pull you off. 25In fact, I will hand you over to those you dread, who want to take your life—to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the Chaldeans.e
26I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another land, where neither of you were born—and there you both will die. 27You will never return to the land for which you long.”

28Is this man Coniah a despised and shattered pot,
a jar that no one wants?

Why are he and his descendants hurled out
and cast into a land they do not know?

29O land, land, land,
hear the word of the LORD!

30This is what the LORD says:

“Enroll this man as childless,
a man who will not prosper in his lifetime.

None of his descendants will prosper
to sit on the throne of David
or to rule again in Judah.”

Footnotes:

11 a Shallum was also called Jehoahaz.

15 b Or because you enclose yourself

23 c That is, the palace in Jerusalem; see 1 Kings 7:2.

24 d Coniah is a variant of Jehoiachin; also in verse 28.

25 e That is, the Babylonians

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 23   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

David’s Righteous Branch

1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD.

2Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.

3Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will return them to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and multiply. 4I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any go missing, declares the LORD.

5Behold, the days are coming,
declares the LORD,
when I will raise up for Davida
a righteous Branch,
and He will reign wisely as King
and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

6In His days Judah will be saved,
and Israel will dwell securely.

And this is His name by which He will be called:

The LORD Our Righteousness.b

7So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of Egypt.’ 8Instead they will say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought and led the descendants of the house of Israel up out of the land of the north and all the other lands to which He had banished them.’ Then they will dwell once more in their own land.”

Lying Prophets

9As for the prophets:

My heart is broken within me,
and all my bones tremble.

I have become like a drunkard,
like a man overcome by wine,
because of the LORD,
because of His holy words.

10For the land is full of adulterers—
because of the curse, the land mourns
and the pastures of the wilderness have dried up—
their course is evil
and their power is misused.

11“For both prophet and priest are ungodly;
even in My house I have found their wickedness,”

declares the LORD.

12“Therefore their path will become slick;
they will be driven away into the darkness and fall into it.

For I will bring disaster upon them
in the year of their punishment,”

declares the LORD.

13“Among the prophets of Samaria

I saw an offensive thing:

They prophesied by Baal
and led My people Israel astray.

14And among the prophets of Jerusalem

I have seen a horrible thing:

They commit adultery
and walk in lies.

They strengthen the hands of evildoers,
so that no one turns his back on wickedness.

They are all like Sodom to Me;
the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”

15Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets:

“I will feed them wormwood
and give them poisoned water to drink,
for from the prophets of Jerusalem
ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”

16This is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you.

They are filling you with false hopes.

They speak visions from their own minds,
not from the mouth of the LORD.

17They keep saying to those who despise Me,

‘The LORD says that you will have peace,’

and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart,

‘No harm will come to you.’

18But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD
to see and hear His word?

Who has given heed to His word
and obeyed it?

19Behold, the storm of the LORD
has gone out with fury,
a whirlwind swirling down
upon the heads of the wicked.

20The anger of the LORD will not turn back
until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart.

In the days to come
you will understand this clearly.

21I did not send these prophets,
yet they have run with their message;

I did not speak to them,
yet they have prophesied.

22But if they had stood in My council,
they would have proclaimed My words to My people
and turned them back
from their evil ways and deeds.”

23“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?”

24“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD.

“Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.

25“I have heard the sayings of the prophets who prophesy lies in My name: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26How long will this continue in the hearts of these prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the delusion of their own minds? 27They suppose the dreams that they tell one another will make My people forget My name, just as their fathers forgot My name through the worship of Baal.

28Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD. 29“Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?”

30“Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.”

31“Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and proclaim, ‘The LORD declares it.’ ”

32“Indeed,” declares the LORD, “I am against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people,” declares the LORD.

False Prophecies

33“Now when this people or a prophet or priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the LORD?’ you are to say to them, ‘What burden? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.’

34As for the prophet or priest or anyone who claims, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ I will punish that man and his household.

35This is what each man is to say to his friend and to his brother: ‘What has the LORD answered?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ 36But refer no more to the burden of the LORD, for each man’s word becomes the burden, so that you pervert the words of the living God, the LORD of Hosts, our God.

37Thus you are to say to the prophet: ‘What has the LORD answered you?’ and ‘What has the LORD spoken?’

38But if you claim, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ then this is what the LORD says: Because you have said, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ and I specifically told you not to make this claim, 39therefore I will surely forget you and will cast you out of My presence, both you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers. 40And I will bring upon you everlasting shame and perpetual humiliation that will never be forgotten.”

Footnotes:

5 a Or up for David’s line

6 b Hebrew YHWH Tsidqenu

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 24   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Good and Bad Figs

1After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away Jeconiaha son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, as well as the officials of Judah and the craftsmen and metalsmiths from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon,b the LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD. 2One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early, but the other basket contained very poor figs, so bad they could not be eaten.

3“Jeremiah,” the LORD asked, “what do you see?”

“Figs!” I replied. “The good figs are very good, but the bad figs are very bad, so bad they cannot be eaten.”

4Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, so I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans.c
6I will keep My eyes on them for good and will return them to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. 7I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their heart.

8But like the bad figs, so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the LORD, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem—those remaining in this land and those living in the land of Egypt. 9I will make them a horror and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a disgrace and an object of scorn, ridicule, and cursing wherever I have banished them. 10And I will send against them sword and famine and plague, until they have perished from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.’ ”

Footnotes:

1 a Jeconiah is a variant of Jehoiachin; see 2 Kings 24:12.

1 b Or metalsmiths, and had brought them from Jerusalem to Babylon

5 c That is, the Babylonians

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 25   ▶   ▶

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Seventy Years of Captivity

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. 2So the prophet Jeremiah spoke to all the people of Judah and all the residents of Jerusalem as follows:

3“From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—twenty-three years—the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again,a but you have not listened. 4And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again,b but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear.

5The prophets told you, ‘Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and deeds, and you can dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever. 6Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’

7‘But to your own harm, you have not listened to Me,’ declares the LORD, ‘so you have provoked Me to anger with the works of your hands.’

8Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Because you have not obeyed My words, 9behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destructionc and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation.

10Moreover, I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp. 11And this whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.

12But when seventy years are complete, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans,d for their guilt, declares the LORD, and I will make it an everlasting desolation.

13I will bring upon that land all the words I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. 14For many nations and great kings will enslave them, and I will repay them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands.’ ”

The Cup of God’s Wrath

15This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it. 16And they will drink and stagger and go out of their minds, because of the sword that I will send among them.”

17So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand and made all the nations drink from it, each one to whom the LORD had sent me, 18to make them a ruin, an object of horror and contempt and cursing, as they are to this day—Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and officials; 19Pharaoh king of Egypt, his officials, his leaders, and all his people; 20all the mixed tribes; all the kings of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines: Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod; 21Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites; 22all the kings of Tyre and Sidon; the kings of the coastlands across the sea; 23Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair; 24all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mixed tribes who dwell in the desert; 25all the kings of Zimri, Elam, and Media; 26all the kings of the north, both near and far, one after another—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshache will drink it too.

27“Then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Drink, get drunk, and vomit. Fall down and never get up again, because of the sword I will send among you.’

28If they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink it, you are to tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘You most certainly must drink it! 29For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’

30So you are to prophesy all these words against them and say to them:

‘The LORD will roar from on high;

He will raise His voice from His holy habitation.

He will roar loudly over His pasture;
like those who tread the grapes,

He will call out with a shout
against all the inhabitants of the earth.

31The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth
because the LORD brings a charge against the nations.

He brings judgment on all mankind
and puts the wicked to the sword,’ ”

declares the LORD.

32This is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Behold! Disaster is spreading
from nation to nation;
a mighty storm is rising
from the ends of the earth.”

33Those slain by the LORD on that day will be spread from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned, gathered, or buried. They will be like dung lying on the ground.

The Cry of the Shepherds

34Wail, you shepherds, and cry out;
roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock.

For the days of your slaughter have come;
you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery.f

35Flight will evade the shepherds,
and escape will elude the leaders of the flock.

36Hear the cry of the shepherds,
the wailing of the leaders of the flock,
for the LORD is destroying their pasture.

37The peaceful meadows have been silenced
because of the LORD’s burning anger.

38He has left His den like a lion,
for their land has been made a desolation
by the swordg of the oppressor,
and because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

Footnotes:

3 a Literally I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking,

4 b Literally to you, rising up early and sending (them),

9 c Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

12 d That is, the Babylonians

26 e Sheshach is a code name for Babylon.

34 f Hebrew; LXX you will fall like the best of the rams

38 g Some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX (see also Jeremiah 46:16 and Jeremiah 50:16); most Hebrew manuscripts anger

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 26   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Warning to the Cities of Judah

1At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD: 2“This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all the cities of Judah who come to worship there. Do not omit a word. 3Perhaps they will listen and turn—each from his evil way of life—so that I may relent of the disaster I am planning to bring upon them because of the evil of their deeds.

4And you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘If you do not listen to Me and walk in My law, which I have set before you, 5and if you do not listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent you again and againa even though you did not listen, 6then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.’ ”

Jeremiah Threatened with Death

7Now the priests and prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD, 8and as soon as he had finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests and prophets and all the people seized him, shouting, “You must surely die! 9How dare you prophesy in the name of the LORD that this house will become like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted!”

And all the people assembled against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

10When the officials of Judah heard these things, they went up from the king’s palace to the house of the LORD and sat there at the entrance of the New Gate.

11Then the priests and prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man is worthy of death, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears!”

12But Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13So now, correct your ways and deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, so that He might relent of the disaster He has pronounced against you. 14As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right. 15But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its residents; for truly the LORD has sent me to speak all these words in your hearing.”

Jeremiah Spared from Death

16Then the officials and all the people told the priests and prophets, “This man is not worthy of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God!”

17Some of the elders of the land stood up and said to the whole assembly of the people, 18“Micah the Moreshite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and told all the people of Judah that this is what the LORD of Hosts says:

‘Zion will be plowed like a field,

Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,
and the temple mount a wooded ridge.’b

19Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did Hezekiah not fear the LORD and seek His favor, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster He had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great harm on ourselves!”

The Prophet Uriah

20Now there was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land the same things that Jeremiah did.c
21King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and officials heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah found out about it, he fled in fear and went to Egypt.

22Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor along with some other men. 23They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him put to the sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.

24Nevertheless, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

Footnotes:

5 a Literally I have sent you, rising up early and sending (them),

18 b Micah 3:12

20 c Literally according to all the words of Jeremiah

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 27   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Yoke of Nebuchadnezzar

1At the beginning of the reign of Zedekiaha son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD.b
2This is what the LORD said to me:

“Make for yourself a yoke out of leather straps and put it on your neck. 3Send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. 4Give them a message from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, to relay to their masters:

5By My great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth and the men and beasts on the face of it, and I give it to whom I please. 6So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him. 7All nations will serve him and his son and grandson, until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will enslave him.

8As for the nation or kingdom that does not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and does not place its neck under his yoke, I will punish that nation by sword and famine and plague, declares the LORD, until I have destroyed it by his hand.

9But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ 10For they prophesy to you a lie that will serve to remove you from your land; I will banish you and you will perish. 11But the nation that will put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave in its own land, to cultivate it and reside in it, declares the LORD.”

12And to Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke the same message: “Put your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and live! 13Why should you and your people die by sword and famine and plague, as the LORD has decreed against any nation that does not serve the king of Babylon?

14Do not listen to the words of the prophets who say, ‘You must not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying to you a lie. 15For I have not sent them, declares the LORD, and yet they are prophesying falsely in My name; therefore I will banish you, and you will perish—you and the prophets who prophesy to you.”

16Then I said to the priests and to all this people, “This is what the LORD says: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, ‘Look, very soon now the articles from the house of the LORD will be brought back from Babylon.’ They are prophesying to you a lie. 17Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon and live! Why should this city become a ruin?

18If they are indeed prophets and the word of the LORD is with them, let them now plead with the LORD of Hosts that the articles remaining in the house of the LORD, in the palace of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem, not be taken to Babylon.

19For this is what the LORD of Hosts says about the pillars, the sea, the bases, and the rest of the articles that remain in this city, 20which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he carried Jeconiahc son of Jehoiakim king of Judah into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem. 21Yes, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says about the articles that remain in the house of the LORD, in the palace of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem: 22‘They will be carried to Babylon and will remain there until the day I attend to them again,’ declares the LORD. ‘Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.’ ”

Footnotes:

1 a A few Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also verses 3 and 12, and Jeremiah 28:1); most Hebrew manuscripts Jehoiakim

1 b Most LXX manuscripts do not include this verse.

20 c Jeconiah is a variant of Jehoiachin; see 2 Kings 24:12.

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 28   ▶   ▶

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Hananiah’s False Prophecy

1In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, near the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people: 2“This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3Within two years I will restore to this place all the articles of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and carried to Babylon. 4And I will restore to this place Jeconiaha son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’ ”

5Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD. 6“Amen!” Jeremiah said. “May the LORD do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied, and may He restore the articles of His house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.

7Nevertheless, listen now to this message I am speaking in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. 8The prophets of old who preceded you and me prophesied war, disaster, and plague against many lands and great kingdoms. 9As for the prophet who prophesies peace, only if the word of the prophet comes true will the prophet be recognized as one the LORD has truly sent.”

10Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. 11And in the presence of all the people Hananiah proclaimed, “This is what the LORD says: ‘In this way, within two years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations.’ ”

At this, Jeremiah the prophet went on his way. 12But shortly after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke off his neck, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 13“Go and tell Hananiah that this is what the LORD says: ‘You have broken a yoke of wood, but in its place you have fashioned a yoke of iron.’

14For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I have even given him control of the beasts of the field.’ ”

15Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The LORD did not send you, but you have persuaded this people to trust in a lie. 16Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’ ”

17And in the seventh month of that very year, the prophet Hananiah died.

Footnotes:

4 a Jeconiah is a variant of Jehoiachin; see 2 Kings 24:12.

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 29   ▶   ▶

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Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles

1This is the text of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets, and all the others Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2(This was after King Jeconiah,a the queen mother, the court officials, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalsmiths had been exiled from Jerusalem.) 3The letter was entrusted to Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It stated:

4This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles who were carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5“Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce. 6Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. 7Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

8For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners among you, and do not listen to the dreams you elicit from them. 9For they are falsely prophesying to you in My name; I have not sent them, declares the LORD.”b

10For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place. 11For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. 12Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore you from captivityc and gather you from all the nations and places to which I have banished you, declares the LORD. I will restore you to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

15Because you may say, “The LORD has raised up for us prophets in Babylon,” 16this is what the LORD says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your brothers who did not go with you into exile— 17this is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“I will send against them sword and famine and plague, and I will make them like rotten figs, so bad they cannot be eaten. 18I will pursue them with sword and famine and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth—a curse, a desolation, and an object of scorn and reproach among all the nations to which I banish them. 19I will do this because they have not listened to My words, declares the LORD, which I sent to them again and againd through My servants the prophets. And neither have you exiles listened, declares the LORD.”

20So hear the word of the LORD, all you exiles I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon. 21This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying to you lies in My name: “I will deliver them to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will kill them before your very eyes. 22Because of them, all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire!’ 23For they have committed an outrage in Israel by committing adultery with the wives of their neighbors and speaking lies in My name, which I did not command them to do. I am He who knows, and I am a witness, declares the LORD.”

The Message to Shemaiah

24You are to tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite that 25this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “In your own name you have sent out letters to all the people of Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests. You said to Zephaniah:e

26‘The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada, to be the chief officer in the house of the LORD, responsible for any madman who acts like a prophet—you must put him in stocks and neck irons. 27So now, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you? 28For he has sent to us in Babylon, claiming: Since the exile will be lengthy, build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat their produce.’ ”

29(Zephaniah the priest, however, had read this letter to Jeremiah the prophet.)

30Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 31“Send a message telling all the exiles what the LORD says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you—though I did not send him—and has made you trust in a lie, 32this is what the LORD says: ‘I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good that I will bring to My people, declares the LORD, for he has preached rebellion against the LORD.’ ”

Footnotes:

2 a Jeconiah is a variant of Jehoiachin; see 2 Kings 24:12.

9 b Some translators close the written portion of this letter later in the chapter.

14 c Or restore your fortunes

19 d Literally I sent to them, rising up early and sending (to them)

25 e Hebrew You said; the addressee Zephaniah is added for clarity.

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 30   ▶   ▶

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The Restoration of Israel and Judah
(Ezekiel 28:25–26)

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. 3For behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore from captivitya My people Israel and Judah, declares the LORD. I will restore them to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’ ”

4These are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah. 5Yes, this is what the LORD says:

“A cry of panic is heard—
a cry of terror, not of peace.

6Ask now, and see:

Can a male give birth?

Why then do I see every man
with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor
and every face turned pale?

7How awful that day will be!

None will be like it!

It is the time of Jacob’s distress,
but he will be saved out of it.

8On that day,
declares the LORD of Hosts,

I will break the yoke off their necks
and tear off their bonds,
and no longer will strangers enslave them.

9Instead, they will serve the LORD their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.

10As for you, O Jacob My servant, do not be afraid,
declares the LORD,
and do not be dismayed,

O Israel.

For I will surely save you out of a distant place,
your descendants from the land of their captivity!

Jacob will return to quiet and ease,
with no one to make him afraid.

11For I am with you to save you,
declares the LORD.

Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have scattered you,

I will not completely destroy you.

Yet I will discipline you justly,
and will by no means leave you unpunished.”

12For this is what the LORD says:

“Your injury is incurable;
your wound is grievous.

13There is no one to plead your cause,
no remedy for your sores,
no recovery for you.

14All your lovers have forgotten you;
they no longer seek you,
for I have struck you as an enemy would,
with the discipline of someone cruel,
because of your great iniquity
and your numerous sins.

15Why do you cry out over your wound?

Your pain has no cure!

Because of your great iniquity
and your numerous sins

I have done these things to you.

16Nevertheless, all who devour you will be devoured,
and all your adversaries—every one of them—
will go off into exile.

Those who plundered you will be plundered,
and all who raided you will be raided.

17But I will restore your health and heal your wounds,
declares the LORD,
because they call you an outcast,

Zion, for whom no one cares.”

18This is what the LORD says:

“I will restore the fortunes ofb Jacob’s tents
and have compassion on his dwellings.

And the city will be rebuilt on her own ruins,
and the palace will stand in its rightful place.

19Thanksgiving will proceed from them,
a sound of celebration.

I will multiply them, and they will not be decreased;

I will honor them, and they will not be belittled.

20Their children will be as in days of old,
and their congregation will be established before Me;
and I will punish all their oppressors.

21Their leader will be one of their own,
and their ruler will arise from their midst.

And I will bring him near, and he will approach Me,
for who would dare on his own to approach Me?”

declares the LORD.

22“And you will be My people,
and I will be your God.”

23Behold, the storm of the LORD
has gone out with fury,
a whirlwind swirling down
upon the heads of the wicked.

24The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back
until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart.

In the days to come
you will understand this.

Footnotes:

3 a Or restore the fortunes of

18 b Or restore from captivity

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 31   ▶   ▶

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Mourning Turned to Joy
(Matthew 2:16–18)

1“At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be My people.”

2This is what the LORD says:

“The people who survived the sword
found favor in the wilderness
when Israel went to find rest.”

3The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:a

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.

4Again I will build you, and you will be rebuilt,

O Virgin Israel.

Again you will take up your tambourines
and go out in joyful dancing.

5Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria;
the farmers will plant and enjoy the fruit.

6For there will be a day when watchmen will call out
on the hills of Ephraim,

‘Arise, let us go up to Zion,
to the LORD our God!’ ”

7For this is what the LORD says:

“Sing with joy for Jacob;
shout for the foremost of the nations!

Make your praises heard, and say,

‘O LORD, save Your people,
the remnant of Israel!’

8Behold, I will bring them from the land of the north
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
including the blind and the lame,
expectant mothers and women in labor.

They will return as a great assembly!

9They will come with weeping,
and by their supplication I will lead them;

I will make them walk beside streams of waters,
on a level path where they will not stumble.

For I am Israel’s Father,
and Ephraim is My firstborn.”

10Hear, O nations, the word of the LORD,
and proclaim it in distant coastlands:

“The One who scattered Israel will gather them and keep them
as a shepherd keeps his flock.

11For the LORD has ransomed Jacob
and redeemed him from the hand that had overpowered him.

12They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—
the grain, new wine, and oil,
and the young of the flocks and herds.

Their life will be like a well-watered garden,
and never again will they languish.

13Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing,
young men and old as well.

I will turn their mourning into joy,
and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow.

14I will fill the souls of the priests abundantly,
and will fill My people with My goodness,”

declares the LORD.

15This is what the LORD says:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,
mourning and great weeping,

Rachel weeping for her children,
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”b

16This is what the LORD says:

“Keep your voice from weeping
and your eyes from tears,
for the reward for your work will come,
declares the LORD.

Then your children will return
from the land of the enemy.

17So there is hope for your future,
declares the LORD,
and your children will return
to their own land.

18I have surely heard Ephraim’sc moaning:

‘You disciplined me severely,
like an untrained calf.

Restore me, that I may return,
for You are the LORD my God.

19After I returned, I repented;
and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief.

I was ashamed and humiliated
because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’

20Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me,
a delightful child?

Though I often speak against him,

I still remember him.

Therefore My heart yearns for him;d

I have great compassion for him,”

declares the LORD.

21“Set up the roadmarks,
establish the signposts.

Keep the highway in mind,
the road you have traveled.

Return, O Virgin Israel,
return to these cities of yours.

22How long will you wander,

O faithless daughter?

For the LORD has created a new thing in the land—
a woman will sheltere a man.”

23This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “When I restore them from captivity,f they will once again speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities: ‘May the LORD bless you, O righteous dwelling place, O holy mountain.’ 24And Judah and all its cities will dwell together in the land, the farmers and those who move with the flocks, 25for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.”

The New Covenant
(Hebrews 8:6–13)

26At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been most pleasant to me.

27“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and of beast. 28Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, to demolish, destroy, and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the LORD.

29“In those days, it will no longer be said:

‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the teeth of the children are set on edge.’

30Instead, each will die for his own iniquity. If anyone eats the sour grapes, his own teeth will be set on edge.

31Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.

32It will not be like the covenant

I made with their fathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of the land of Egypt—
a covenant they broke,
though I was a husband to them,g”

declares the LORD.

33“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares the LORD.

I will put My law in their minds
and inscribe it on their hearts.

And I will be their God,
and they will be My people.

34No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother,
saying, ‘Know the LORD,’

because they will all know Me,
from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD.

For I will forgive their iniquities
and will remember their sins no more.”h

35Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:

36“Only if this fixed order departed from My presence,
declares the LORD,
would Israel’s descendants ever cease
to be a nation before Me.”

37This is what the LORD says:

“Only if the heavens above could be measured
and the foundations of the earth below searched out
would I reject all of Israel’s descendants
because of all they have done,”

declares the LORD.

38“The days are coming,”i declares the LORD, “when this city will be rebuilt for Me, from the tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39The measuring line will once again stretch out straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn toward Goah. 40The whole valley of the dead bodies and ashes, and all the fields as far as the Kidron Valley, to the corner of the Horse Gate to the east, will be holy to the LORD. It will never again be uprooted or demolished.”

Footnotes:

3 a Or The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying

15 b Cited in Matthew 2:18

18 c That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 20

20 d Hebrew My bowels yearn for him

22 e Or will surround or will return to

23 f Or restore their fortunes

32 g Hebrew; LXX for they did not abide in My covenant, and I disregarded them; see also Syriac.

34 h Cited in Hebrews 8:8–12 and Hebrews 10:16–17

38 i Literally Behold, the days; alternate MT reading Behold, the days are coming

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 32   ▶   ▶

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Jeremiah Buys Hanamel’s Field

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard, which was in the palace of the king of Judah.

3For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying: “Why are you prophesying like this? You claim that the LORD says, ‘Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. 4Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the hands of the Chaldeans,a but he will surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye. 5He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will stay until I attend to him, declares the LORD. If you fight against the Chaldeans, you will not succeed.’ ”

6Jeremiah replied, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying: 7Behold! Hanamel, the son of your uncle Shallum, is coming to you to say, ‘Buy for yourself my field in Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it.’ 8Then, as the LORD had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and urged me, ‘Please buy my field in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for you own the right of inheritance and redemption. Buy it for yourself.’ ”

Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.

9So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and I weighed out seventeen shekels of silver.b
10I signed and sealed the deed, called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. 11Then I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy with its terms and conditions, as well as the open copy— 12and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of my cousin Hanamel and the witnesses who were signing the purchase agreement and all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.

13In their sight I instructed Baruch, 14“This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Take these deeds—both the sealed copy and the open copy of the deed of purchase—and put them in a clay jar to preserve them for a long time. 15For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”

Jeremiah Prays for Understanding

16After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD: 17“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!

18You show loving devotion to thousands but lay the iniquity of the fathers into the lapsc of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of Hosts, 19the One great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men, to reward each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.

20You performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and You do so to this very day, both in Israel and among all mankind. And You have made a name for Yourself, as is the case to this day.

21You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with great terror. 22You gave them this land that You had sworn to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.

23They came in and possessed it, but they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law. They failed to perform all that You commanded them to do, and so You have brought upon them all this disaster. 24See how the siege ramps are mounted against the city to capture it. And by sword and famine and plague, the city has been given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What You have spoken has happened, as You now see!

25Yet You, O Lord GOD, have said to me, ‘Buy for yourself the field with silver and call in witnesses, even though the city has been delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans!’ ”

The LORD Answers Jeremiah

26Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 27“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?

28Therefore this is what the LORD says: Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hands of the Chaldeans and of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will capture it. 29And the Chaldeans who are fighting against this city will come in, set it on fire, and burn it, along with the houses of those who provoked Me to anger by burning incense to Baal on their rooftops and by pouring out drink offerings to other gods.

30For the children of Israel and of Judah have done nothing but evil in My sight from their youth; indeed, they have done nothing but provoke Me to anger by the work of their hands, declares the LORD.

31For this city has aroused My wrath and fury from the day it was built until now. Therefore I will remove it from My presence 32because of all the evil the children of Israel and of Judah have done to provoke Me to anger—they, their kings, their officials, their priests and prophets, the men of Judah, and the residents of Jerusalem. 33They have turned their backs to Me and not their faces. Though I taught them again and again,d they would not listen or respond to discipline.

34They have placed their abominations in the house that bears My Name, and so have defiled it. 35They have built the high places of Baal in the Valley of Hinnom to make their sons and daughters pass through the fire to Molech—something I never commanded them, nor had it ever entered My mind, that they should commit such an abomination and cause Judah to sin.

A Promise of Restoration
(Ezekiel 11:13–21)

36Now therefore, about this city of which you say, ‘It will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword and famine and plague,’ this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 37I will surely gather My people from all the lands to which I have banished them in My furious anger and great wrath, and I will return them to this place and make them dwell in safety. 38They will be My people, and I will be their God.e
39I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

40I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put My fear in their hearts, so that they will never turn away from Me. 41Yes, I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.

42For this is what the LORD says: Just as I have brought all this great disaster on this people, so I will bring on them all the good I have promised them. 43And fields will be bought in this land about which you are saying, ‘It is a desolation, without man or beast; it has been delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans.’ 44Fields will be purchased with silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed, and witnessed in the land of Benjamin, in the areas surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah—the cities of the hill country, the foothills,f and the Negev—because I will restore them from captivity,g declares the LORD.”

Footnotes:

4 a That is, the Babylonians; also in verses 5, 24, 25, 28, 29, and 43

9 b 17 shekels is approximately 6.8 ounces or 193.8 grams of silver.

18 c Hebrew into the bosom

33 d Literally I taught them, rising up early and teaching,

38 e Cited in 2 Corinthians 6:16

44 f Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

44 g Or restore their fortunes

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 33   ▶   ▶

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The Excellence of the Restored Nation

1While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him a second time: 2“Thus says the LORD who made the earth,a the LORD who formed it and established it, the LORD is His name: 3Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

4For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the houses of this city and the palaces of the kings of Judah that have been torn down for defense against the siege ramps and the sword: 5The Chaldeans are coming to fightb and to fill those places with the corpses of the men I will strike down in My anger and in My wrath. I have hidden My face from this city because of all its wickedness.

6Nevertheless, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal its people and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. 7I will restore Judah and Israel from captivityc and will rebuild them as in former times. 8And I will cleanse them from all the iniquity they have committed against Me, and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against Me.

9So this city will bring Me renown, joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth, who will hear of all the good I do for it. They will tremble in awe because of all the goodness and prosperity that I will provide for it.

10This is what the LORD says: In this place you say is a wasteland without man or beast, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted—inhabited by neither man nor beast—there will be heard again 11the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying:

‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts,
for the LORD is good;

His loving devotion endures forever.’

For I will restore the land from captivityd as in former times, says the LORD.

12This is what the LORD of Hosts says: In this desolate place, without man or beast, and in all its cities, there will once more be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. 13In the cities of the hill country, the foothills,e and the Negev, in the land of Benjamin and the cities surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD.

The Covenant with David

14Behold, the days are coming,
declares the LORD,
when I will fulfill the gracious promise
that I have spoken
to the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.

15In those days and at that time

I will cause to sprout for David a righteous Branch,
and He will administer justice
and righteousness in the land.

16In those days Judah will be saved,
and Jerusalem will dwell securely,
and this is the name by which it will be called:

The LORD Our Righteousness.f

17For this is what the LORD says: David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, 18nor will the priests who are Levites ever fail to have a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to present sacrifices.”

19And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 20“This is what the LORD says: If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that day and night cease to occupy their appointed time, 21then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant and with My ministers the Levites who are priests, so that David will not have a son to reign on his throne. 22As the hosts of heaven cannot be counted and as the sand on the seashore cannot be measured, so too will I multiply the descendants of My servant David and the Levites who minister before Me.”

23Moreover, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 24“Have you not noticed what these people are saying: ‘The LORD has rejected the two families He had chosen’? So they despise My people and no longer regard them as a nation. 25This is what the LORD says: If I have not established My covenant with the day and the night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, 26then I would also reject the descendants of Jacob and of My servant David, so as not to take from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore them from captivityg and will have compassion on them.”

Footnotes:

2 a LXX; Hebrew who made it

5 b Or They are coming to fight the Chaldeans; that is, the Babylonians

7 c Or restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel

11 d Or restore the fortunes of the land

13 e Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

16 f Hebrew YHWH Tsidqenu

26 g Or restore their fortunes

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 34   ▶   ▶

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A Prophecy against Zedekiah

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, all his army, all the earthly kingdoms under his control, and all the other nations were fighting against Jerusalem and all its surrounding cities. 2The LORD, the God of Israel, told Jeremiah to go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him that this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down. 3And you yourself will not escape his grasp, but will surely be captured and delivered into his hand. You will see the king of Babylon eye to eye and speak with him face to face; and you will go to Babylon.

4Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah. This is what the LORD says concerning you: You will not die by the sword; 5you will die in peace. As spices were burned for your fathers, the former kings who preceded you, so people will burn spices for you and lament, ‘Alas, O master!’ For I Myself have spoken this word, declares the LORD.”

6In Jerusalem, then, Jeremiah the prophet relayed all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah 7as the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the remaining cities of Judah—against Lachish and Azekah. For these were the only fortified cities remaining in Judah.

Freedom for Hebrew Slaves

8After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD 9that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage. 10So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them, 11but later they changed their minds and took back the menservants and maidservants they had freed, and they forced them to become slaves again.

12Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 13“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your forefathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, saying: 14Every seventh year, each of you must free his Hebrew brother who has sold himself to you. He may serve you six years, but then you must let him go free. But your fathers did not listen or incline their ear.

15Recently you repented and did what pleased Me; each of you proclaimed freedom for his neighbor. You made a covenant before Me in the house that bears My Name. 16But now you have changed your minds and profaned My name. Each of you has taken back the menservants and maidservants whom you had set at liberty to go wherever they wanted, and you have again forced them to be your slaves.

17Therefore this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed Me; you have not proclaimed freedom, each man for his brother and for his neighbor. So now I proclaim freedom for you, declares the LORD—freedom to fall by sword, by plague, and by famine! I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.

18And those who have transgressed My covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before Me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces. 19The officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the pieces of the calf, 20I will deliver into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives. Their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth. 21And I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives, to the army of the king of Babylon that had withdrawn from you.

22Behold, I am going to give the command, declares the LORD, and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, capture it, and burn it down. And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.”

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 35   ▶   ▶

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The Obedience of the Rechabites

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 2“Go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them, and bring them to one of the chambers of the house of the LORD to offer them a drink of wine.”

3So I took Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons—the entire house of the Rechabites— 4and I brought them into the house of the LORD, to a chamber occupied by the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, a man of God. This room was near the chamber of the officials, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper.

5Then I set pitchers full of wine and some cups before the men of the house of the Rechabites, and I said to them, “Drink some wine.”

6“We do not drink wine,” they replied, “for our forefather Jonadaba son of Rechab commanded us, ‘Neither you nor your descendants are ever to drink wine. 7Nor are you ever to build a house or sow seed or plant a vineyard. Those things are not for you. Instead, you must live in tents all your lives, so that you may live a long time in the land where you wander.’

8And we have obeyed the voice of our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab in all he commanded us. So we have not drunk wine all our lives—neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters. 9Nor have we built houses in which to live, and we have not owned any vineyards or fields or crops. 10But we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done exactly as our forefather Jonadab commanded us.

11So when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched into the land, we said: ‘Come, let us go into Jerusalem to escape the armies of the Chaldeansb and the Arameans.’ So we have remained in Jerusalem.”

Judah Rebuked

12Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 13“This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem: ‘Will you not accept discipline and obey My words?’ declares the LORD.

14The words of Jonadab son of Rechab have been carried out. He commanded his sons not to drink wine, and they have not drunk it to this very day because they have obeyed the command of their forefather. But I have spoken to you again and again,c and you have not obeyed Me!

15Again and again I have sent youd all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: ‘Turn now, each of you, from your wicked ways, and correct your actions. Do not go after other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I have given to you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me. 16Yes, the sons of Jonadab son of Rechab carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not listened to Me.

17Therefore this is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will bring to Judah and to all the residents of Jerusalem all the disaster I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them but they have not obeyed, and I have called to them but they have not answered.’ ”

18Then Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites: “This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have kept all his commandments and have done all that he charged you to do, 19this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Jonadab son of Rechab will never fail to have a man to stand before Me.’ ”

Footnotes:

6 a Jonadab is a variant of Jehonadab; here and throughout this chapter; see 2 Kings 10:15.

11 b That is, the Babylonians

14 c Literally But I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking,

15 d Literally Rising up early and sending (you), I have sent you

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 36   ▶   ▶

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Jeremiah’s Scroll Read in the Temple

1In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2“Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today. 3Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

4So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and at the dictation of Jeremiah, Baruch wrote on a scroll all the words that the LORD had spoken to Jeremiah.

5Then Jeremiah commanded Baruch, “I am restricted; I cannot enter the house of the LORD; 6so you are to go to the house of the LORD on a day of fasting, and in the hearing of the people you are to read the words of the LORD from the scroll you have written at my dictation. Read them in the hearing of all the people of Judah who are coming from their cities.

7Perhaps they will bring their petition before the LORD, and each one will turn from his wicked way; for great are the anger and fury that the LORD has pronounced against this people.”

8So Baruch son of Neriah did everything that Jeremiah the prophet had commanded him. In the house of the LORD he read the words of the LORD from the scroll.

9Now in the ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, a fast before the LORD was proclaimed to all the people of Jerusalem and all who had come there from the cities of Judah. 10From the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, which was in the upper courtyard at the opening of the New Gate of the house of the LORD, Baruch read from the scroll the words of Jeremiah in the hearing of all the people.

Jeremiah’s Scroll Read in the Palace

11When Micaiah son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the LORD from the scroll, 12he went down to the scribe’s chamber in the king’s palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials. 13And Micaiah reported to them all the words he had heard Baruch read from the scroll in the hearing of the people.

14Then all the officials sent word to Baruch through Jehudi son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, saying, “Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come here.”

So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll and went to them.

15“Please sit down,” they said, “and read it in our hearing.”

So Baruch read it in their hearing.

16When they had heard all these words, they turned to one another in fear and said to Baruch, “Surely we must report all these words to the king.”

17“Tell us now,” they asked Baruch, “how did you write all these words? Was it at Jeremiah’s dictation?”

18“It was at his dictation,” Baruch replied. “He recited all these words to me and I wrote them in ink on the scroll.”

19Then the officials said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah must hide yourselves and tell no one where you are.”

Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll

20So the officials went to the king in the courtyard. And having stored the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, they reported everything to the king.

21Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and all the officials who were standing beside him.

22Since it was the ninth month, the king was sitting in his winter quarters with a fire burning before him. 23And as soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll had been consumed by the fire.

24Yet in hearing all these words, the king and his servants did not become frightened or tear their garments. 25Even though Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. 26Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, as well as Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the LORD had hidden them.

Jeremiah Rewrites the Scroll

27After the king had burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 28“Take another scroll and rewrite on it the very words that were on the original scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah has burned.

29You are to proclaim concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah that this is what the LORD says: You have burned the scroll and said, ‘Why have you written on it that the king of Babylon would surely come and destroy this land and deprive it of man and beast?’

30Therefore this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on David’s throne, and his body will be thrown out and exposed to heat by day and frost by night. 31I will punish him and his descendants and servants for their iniquity. I will bring on them, on the residents of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah, all the calamity about which I warned them but they did not listen.”

32Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and at Jeremiah’s dictation he wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 37   ▶   ▶

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Jeremiah Warns Zedekiah

1Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made Zedekiah son of Josiah the king of Judah, and he reigned in place of Coniaha son of Jehoiakim. 2But he and his officers and the people of the land refused to obey the words that the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.

3Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucalb son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet with the message, “Please pray to the LORD our God for us!”

4Now Jeremiah was free to come and go among the people, for they had not yet put him in prison. 5Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt, and when the Chaldeansc who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

6Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet: 7“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says that you are to tell the king of Judah, who sent you to Me: Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which has marched out to help you, will go back to its own land of Egypt. 8Then the Chaldeans will return and fight against this city. They will capture it and burn it down.

9This is what the LORD says: Do not deceive yourselves by saying, ‘The Chaldeans will go away for good,’ for they will not! 10Indeed, if you were to strike down the entire army of the Chaldeans that is fighting against you, and only wounded men remained in their tents, they would still get up and burn this city down.”

Jeremiah Imprisoned

11When the Chaldean army withdrew from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army, 12Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to claim his portion thered among the people. 13But when he reached the Gate of Benjamin, the captain of the guard, whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, seized him and said, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans!”

14“That is a lie,” Jeremiah replied. “I am not deserting to the Chaldeans!”

But Irijah would not listen to him; instead, he arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials.

15The officials were angry with Jeremiah, and they beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison.

16So Jeremiah went into a cell in the dungeon and remained there a long time.

17Later, King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him in his palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there a word from the LORD?”

“There is,” Jeremiah replied. “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.”

18Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people, that you have put me in prison? 19Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, claiming, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you or this land’? 20But now please listen, O my lord the king. May my petition come before you. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.”

21So King Zedekiah gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread daily from the street of the bakers, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Footnotes:

1 a Coniah is a variant of Jehoiachin.

3 b Jehucal is a variant of Jucal; see Jeremiah 38:1.

5 c That is, the Babylonians; also in verses 8, 9, 13, and 14

12 d Literally to divide from there

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 38   ▶   ▶

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Jeremiah Cast into the Cistern

1Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucala son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard that Jeremiah had been telling all the people: 2“This is what the LORD says: Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeansb will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war, and he will live. 3This is what the LORD says: This city will surely be delivered into the hands of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.”

4Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to die, for he is discouraging the warriors who remain in this city, as well as all the people, by speaking such words to them; this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but their ruin.”

5“Here he is,” replied King Zedekiah. “He is in your hands, since the king can do nothing to stop you.”

6So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes into the cistern, which had no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

7Now Ebed-melech the Cushite,c a court officiald in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin, 8Ebed-melech went out from the king’s palace and said to the king, 9“My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have dropped him into the cistern, where he will starve to death, for there is no more bread in the city.”

10So the king commanded Ebed-melech the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and pull Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”

11Then Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the king’s palace, to a place below the storehouse. From there he took old rags and worn-out clothes and lowered them with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.

12Ebed-melech the Cushite cried out to Jeremiah, “Put these worn-out rags and clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, 13and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

14Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance to the house of the LORD. “I am going to ask you something,” said the king to Jeremiah. “Do not hide anything from me.”

15“If I tell you,” Jeremiah replied, “you will surely put me to death. And even if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.”

16But King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has given us this life, I will not kill you, nor will I deliver you into the hands of these men who are seeking your life.”

17Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you indeed surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive. 18But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans. They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape their grasp.’ ”

19But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews who have deserted to the Chaldeans, for the Chaldeans may deliver me into their hands to abuse me.”

20“They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey the voice of the LORD in what I am telling you, that it may go well with you and you may live. 21But if you refuse to surrender, this is the word that the LORD has shown me: 22All the women who remain in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon, and those women will say:

‘They misled you and overcame you—
those trusted friends of yours.

Your feet sank into the mire,
and they deserted you.’

23All your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans. And you yourself will not escape their grasp, for you will be seized by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned down.”

24Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, “Do not let anyone know about this conversation, or you will die. 25If the officials hear that I have spoken with you, and they come and demand of you, ‘Tell us what you said to the king and what he said to you; do not hide it from us, or we will kill you,’ 26then tell them, ‘I was presenting to the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.’ ”

27When all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, he relayed to them the exact words the king had commanded him to say. So they said no more to him, for no one had overheard the conversation. 28And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured.

Footnotes:

1 a Jucal is a variant of Jehucal; see Jeremiah 37:3.

2 b That is, the Babylonians; also in verses 18, 19, and 23

7 c Probably from the upper Nile region

7 d Or eunuch

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 39   ▶   ▶

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The Fall of Jerusalem
(2 Kings 25:1–12; 2 Chronicles 36:15–21)

1In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to the city. 2And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was breached.

3Then all the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekima the Rabsaris,b Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag,c and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.

4When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and they went out along the route to the Arabah.d
5But the army of the Chaldeanse pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him.

6There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and he also killed all the nobles of Judah. 7Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze chains to take him to Babylon.

8The Chaldeans set fire to the palace of the king and to the houses of the people, and they broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

9Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried away to Babylon the remnant of the people who had remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to him. 10But Nebuzaradan left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people who had no property, and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.

Jeremiah Delivered

11Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, saying, 12“Take him, look after him, and do not let any harm come to him; do for him whatever he says.”

13So Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, Nebushazbanf the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the captains of the king of Babylon 14had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guard, and they turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So Jeremiah remained among his own people.

15And while Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD had come to him: 16“Go and tell Ebed-melech the Cushite that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to fulfill My words against this city for harm and not for good, and on that day they will be fulfilled before your eyes. 17But I will deliver you on that day, declares the LORD, and you will not be delivered into the hands of the men whom you fear. 18For I will surely rescue you so that you do not fall by the sword. Because you have trusted in Me, you will escape with your life like a spoil of war, declares the LORD.’ ”

Footnotes:

3 a Or Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsekim

3 b Hebrew Rabsaris is the title of the chief eunuch in the Assyrian military; also in verse 13.

3 c Hebrew Rabmag is the title of the chief soothsayer or chief of princes in the Assyrian military; also in verse 13.

4 d Or the Jordan Valley

5 e That is, the Babylonians; also in verse 8

13 f Nebushazban is possibly a variant of Nebo-sarsekim; see verse 3.

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 40   ▶   ▶

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Jeremiah Remains in Judah

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.

2The captain of the guard found Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God decreed this disaster on this place, 3and now the LORD has fulfilled it; He has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed His voice, this thing has happened to you. 4But now, behold, I am freeing you today from the chains that were on your wrists. If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, then come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. Look, the whole land is before you. Wherever it seems good and right to you, go there.”

5But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him.

6So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.

Gedaliah Governs in Judah
(2 Kings 25:22–24)

7When all the commanders and men of the armies in the field heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest of the land and had not been exiled to Babylon, 8they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniaha son of the Maacathite—they and their men.

9Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans.b Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you. 10As for me, I will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. As for you, gather wine grapes, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your storage jars, and live in the cities you have taken.”

11When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over them, 12they all returned from all the places to which they had been banished and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered an abundance of wine grapes and summer fruit.

The Plot against Gedaliah

13Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah 14and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?”

But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

15Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”

16But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”

Footnotes:

8 a Jezaniah is a variant of Jaazaniah; see 2 Kings 25:23.

9 b That is, the Babylonians; also in verse 10

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 41   ▶   ▶

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The Murder of Gedaliah
(2 Kings 25:25–26)

1In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family and one of the king’s chief officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and they ate a meal together there. 2Then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land. 3Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Chaldeana soldiers who were there.

4On the second day after the murder of Gedaliah, when no one yet knew about it, 5eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their garments, and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria, carrying grain offerings and frankincense for the house of the LORD. 6And Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went.

When Ishmael encountered the men, he said, “Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.” 7And when they came into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern.

8But ten of the men among them said to Ishmael, “Do not kill us, for we have hidden treasure in the field—wheat, barley, oil, and honey!” So he refrained from killing them with the others.

9Now the cistern into which Ishmael had thrown all the bodies of the men he had struck down along with Gedaliah was a large one that King Asa had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the slain.

10Then Ishmael took captive all the remnant of the people of Mizpah—the daughters of the king along with all the others who remained in Mizpah—over whom Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set off to cross over to the Ammonites.

Johanan Rescues the Captives

11When Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies with him heard of all the crimes that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed, 12they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. And they found him near the great pool in Gibeon.

13When all the people with Ishmael saw Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the army with him, they rejoiced, 14and all the people whom Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah. 15But Ishmael son of Nethaniah and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and went to the Ammonites.

16Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies with him took the whole remnant of the people from Mizpah whom he had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam: the soldiers, women, children, and court officialsb he had brought back from Gibeon. 17And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, near Bethlehem, in order to proceed into Egypt 18to escape the Chaldeans.c For they were afraid of the Chaldeans because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.

Footnotes:

3 a Or Babylonian

16 b Or eunuchs

18 c That is, the Babylonians

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 42   ▶   ▶

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A Warning against Going to Egypt

1Then all the commanders of the forces, along with Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniaha son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, approached 2Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes. 3Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.”

4“I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will surely pray to the LORD your God as you request, and I will tell you everything that the LORD answers; I will not withhold a word from you.”

5Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God sends you to tell us. 6Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us, for we will obey the voice of the LORD our God!”

7After ten days the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, 8and he summoned Johanan son of Kareah, all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest.

9Jeremiah told them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition: 10‘If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I will relent of the disaster I have brought upon you.

11Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear; do not be afraid of him, declares the LORD, for I am with you to save you and deliver you from him. 12And I will show you compassion, and he will have compassion on you and restore you to your own land.’

13But if you say, ‘We will not stay in this land,’ and you thus disobey the voice of the LORD your God, 14and if you say, ‘No, but we will go to the land of Egypt and live there, where we will not see war or hear the sound of the ram’s horn or hunger for bread,’ 15then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah! This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and reside there, 16then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow on your heels into Egypt, and you will die there. 17So all who resolve to go to Egypt to reside there will die by sword and famine and plague. Not one of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring upon them.’

18For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Just as My anger and wrath were poured out on the residents of Jerusalem, so will My wrath be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. You will become an object of cursing and horror, of vilification and disgrace, and you will never see this place again.’

19The LORD has told you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for sure that I have warned you today! 20For you have deceived yourselves by sending me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray to the LORD our God on our behalf, and as for all that the LORD our God says, tell it to us and we will do it.’

21For I have told you today, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God in all He has sent me to tell you. 22Now therefore, know for sure that by sword and famine and plague you will die in the place where you desire to go to reside.”

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew; LXX Azariah; see Jeremiah 43:2.

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 43   ▶   ▶

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Jeremiah Taken to Egypt

1When Jeremiah had finished telling all the people all the words of the LORD their God—everything that the LORD had sent him to say— 2Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to reside there.’ 3Rather, Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans,a so that they may put us to death or exile us to Babylon!”

4So Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces disobeyed the command of the LORD to stay in the land of Judah. 5Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took the whole remnant of Judah, those who had returned to the land of Judah from all the nations to which they had been scattered, 6the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and everyone whom Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had allowed to remain with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as well as Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah.

7So they entered the land of Egypt because they did not obey the voice of the LORD, and they went as far as Tahpanhes.

8Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah at Tahpanhes: 9“In the sight of the Jews, pick up some large stones and bury them in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace at Tahpanhes.

10Then tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones that I have embedded, and he will spread his royal pavilion over them. 11He will come and strike down the land of Egypt, bringing death to those destined for death, captivity to those destined for captivity, and the sword to those destined for the sword.

12I will kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar will burn those temples and take their gods as captives.b So he will wrap himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd wraps himself in his garment, and he will depart from there unscathed. 13He will demolish the sacred pillars of the temple of the sun in the land of Egypt,c and he will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.’ ”

Footnotes:

3 a That is, the Babylonians

12 b Literally and he will burn them and take them captive

13 c LXX He will demolish the pillars of Heliopolis in On or He will demolish the pillars of Heliopolis in Egypt; Hebrew He will demolish the pillars of Beth-shemesh in the land of Egypt

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 44   ▶   ▶

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Judgment on the Jews in Egypt

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in the land of Egypta—in Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphisb—and in the land of Pathros:c
2“This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: You have seen all the disaster that I brought against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah; and behold, they lie today in ruins and desolation 3because of the evil they have done.

They provoked Me to anger by continuing to burn incense and to serve other gods that neither they nor you nor your fathers ever knew. 4Yet I sent you all My servants the prophets again and again,d saying: ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate.’

5But they did not listen or incline their ears; they did not turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods. 6Therefore My wrath and anger poured out and burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, so that they have become the desolate ruin they are today.

7So now, this is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Why are you doing such great harm to yourselves by cutting off from Judah man and woman, child and infant, leaving yourselves without a remnant? 8Why are you provoking Me to anger by the work of your hands by burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have gone to reside?

As a result, you will be cut off and will become an object of cursing and reproach among all the nations of the earth. 9Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers and of the kings of Judah and their wives, as well as the wickedness that you and your wives committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown reverence, nor have they followed My instruction or the statutes that I set before you and your fathers.

11Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I will set My face to bring disaster and to cut off all Judah. 12And I will take away the remnant of Judah who have resolved to go to the land of Egypt to reside there; they will meet their end. They will all fall by the sword or be consumed by famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by sword or famine; and they will become an object of cursing and horror, of vilification and reproach.

13I will punish those who live in the land of Egypt, just as I punished Jerusalem, by sword and famine and plague, 14so that none of the remnant of Judah who have gone to reside in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah, where they long to return and live; for none will return except a few fugitives.”

The Stubbornness of the People

15Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, and all the women standing by—a great assembly—along with all the people living in the land of Egypt and in Pathros,e said to Jeremiah, 16“As for the word you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! 17Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.

At that time we had plenty of food and good things, and we saw no disaster. 18But from the time we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been perishing by sword and famine.”

19“Moreover,” said the women, “when we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands’ knowledge that we made sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?”

Calamity for the Jews

20Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, who were answering him, 21“As for the incense you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem—you, your fathers, your kings, your officials, and the people of the land—did the LORD not remember and bring this to mind? 22So the LORD could no longer endure the evil deeds and detestable acts you committed, and your land became a desolation, a horror, and an object of cursing, without inhabitant, as it is this day. 23Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD, and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in His instruction, His statutes, and His testimonies, this disaster has befallen you, as you see today.”

24Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “Hear the word of the LORD, all those of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. 25This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands your words: ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Go ahead, then, do what you have promised! Keep your vows!

26Nevertheless, hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah living in Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by My great name, says the LORD, that never again will any man of Judah living in the land of Egypt invoke My name or say, ‘As surely as the Lord GOD lives.’

27I am watching over them for harm and not for good, and every man of Judah who is in the land of Egypt will meet his end by sword or famine, until they are finished off.

28Those who escape the sword will return from Egypt to Judah, few in number, and the whole remnant of Judah who went to dwell in the land of Egypt will know whose word will stand, Mine or theirs!

29This will be a sign to you that I will punish you in this place, declares the LORD, so that you may know that My threats of harm against you will surely stand. 30This is what the LORD says: Behold, I will deliver Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who seek his life, just as I delivered Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who was seeking his life.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or Lower Egypt or northern Egypt; also in verse 15

1 b LXX; Hebrew Noph

1 c Or Upper Egypt or southern Egypt; also in verse 15

4 d Literally the prophets, rising up early and sending (them),

15 e That is, in Lower and Upper Egypt; possibly in the land of Egypt at Pathros

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 45   ▶   ▶

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Jeremiah’s Message to Baruch

1This is the word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch son of Neriah when he wrote these words on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:

2“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3You have said, ‘Woe is me because the LORD has added sorrow to my pain! I am worn out with groaning and have found no rest.’ ”

4Thus Jeremiah was to say to Baruch:a “This is what the LORD says: Throughout the land I will demolish what I have built and uproot what I have planted. 5But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war.”

Footnotes:

4 a Literally Thus you shall say to him:

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 46   ▶   ▶

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Judgment on Egypt

1This is the word of the LORD about the nations—the word that came to Jeremiah the prophet 2concerning Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah:

3“Deploy your shields, small and large;
advance for battle!

4Harness the horses; mount the steeds;
take your positions with helmets on!

Polish your spears;
put on armor!

5Why am I seeing this?

They are terrified,
they are retreating;
their warriors are defeated,
they flee in haste without looking back;
terror is on every side!”

declares the LORD.

6“The swift cannot flee,
and the warrior cannot escape!

In the north by the River Euphrates
they stumble and fall.

7Who is this, rising like the Nile,
like rivers whose waters churn?

8Egypt rises like the Nile,
and its waters churn like rivers,
boasting, ‘I will rise and cover the earth;

I will destroy the cities and their people.’

9Advance, O horses! Race furiously, O chariots!

Let the warriors come forth—

Cusha and Put carrying their shields,
men of Lydia drawing the bow.

10For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts,
a day of vengeance against His foes.

The sword will devour until it is satisfied,
until it is quenched with their blood.

For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice
in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.

11Go up to Gilead for balm,

O Virgin Daughter of Egypt!

In vain you try many remedies,
but for you there is no healing.

12The nations have heard of your shame,
and your outcry fills the earth,
because warrior stumbles over warrior
and both of them have fallen together.”

13This is the word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:

14“Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol;
proclaim it in Memphisb and Tahpanhes:

‘Take your positions and prepare yourself,
for the sword devours those around you.’

15Why have your warriors been laid low?

They cannot stand, for the LORD has thrust them down.

16They continue to stumble;
indeed, they have fallen over one another.

They say, ‘Get up! Let us return to our people
and to the land of our birth,
away from the sword of the oppressor.’

17There they will cry out:

‘Pharaoh king of Egypt was all noise;
he has let the appointed time pass him by.’

18As surely as I live, declares the King,
whose name is the LORD of Hosts,
there will come one who is like Tabor among the mountains
and like Carmel by the sea.

19Pack your bags for exile,

O daughter dwelling in Egypt!

For Memphis will be laid waste,
destroyed and uninhabited.

20Egypt is a beautiful heifer,
but a gadfly from the north is coming against her.

21Even the mercenaries among her
are like fattened calves.

They too will turn back;
together they will flee, they will not stand their ground,
for the day of calamity is coming upon them—
the time of their punishment.

22Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent,c
for the enemy will advance in force;
with axes they will come against her
like woodsmen cutting down trees.

23They will chop down her forest, declares the LORD,
dense though it may be,
for they are more numerous than locusts;
they cannot be counted.

24The Daughter of Egypt will be put to shame;
she will be delivered into the hands of the people of the north.”

25The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I am about to punish Amon god of Thebes,d along with Pharaoh, Egypt with her gods and kings, and those who trust in Pharaoh. 26I will deliver them into the hands of those who seek their lives—of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. But after this, Egypt will be inhabited as in days of old, declares the LORD.

27But you, O Jacob My servant, do not be afraid,
and do not be dismayed, O Israel.

For I will surely save you out of a distant place,
your descendants from the land of their captivity!

Jacob will return to quiet and ease,
with no one to make him afraid.

28And you, My servant Jacob, do not be afraid,
declares the LORD, for I am with you.

Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have banished you,

I will not completely destroy you.

Yet I will discipline you justly,
and will by no means leave you unpunished.”

Footnotes:

9 a That is, the upper Nile region

14 b LXX; Hebrew Noph; also in verse 19

22 c Hebrew nachash; translated in most cases as snake

25 d Hebrew Amon of No

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 47   ▶   ▶

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Judgment on the Philistines
(Zephaniah 2:4–7)

1This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines before Pharaoh struck down Gaza. 2This is what the LORD says:

“See how the waters are rising from the north
and becoming an overflowing torrent.

They will overflow the land and its fullness,
the cities and their inhabitants.

The people will cry out,
and all who dwell in the land will wail

3at the sound of the galloping hooves of stallions,
the rumbling of chariots,
and the clatter of their wheels.

The fathers will not turn back for their sons;
their hands will hang limp.

4For the day has come
to destroy all the Philistines,
to cut off from Tyre and Sidon
every remaining ally.

Indeed, the LORD is about to destroy the Philistines,
the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.a

5The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning;

Ashkelon will be silenced.

O remnant of their valley,b
how long will you gash yourself?

6‘Alas, O sword of the LORD,
how long until you rest?

Return to your sheath;
cease and be still!’

7How can it rest
when the LORD has commanded it?

He has appointed it against Ashkelon
and the shore of its coastland.”

Footnotes:

4 a That is, Crete

5 b That is, the Mediterranean coast or plain

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 48   ▶   ▶

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Judgment on Moab
(Isaiah 15:1–9)

1Concerning Moab, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says:

“Woe to Nebo,
for it will be devastated.

Kiriathaim will be captured and disgraced;
the fortress will be shattered and dismantled.

2There is no longer praise for Moab;
in Heshbona they devise evil against her:

‘Come, let us cut her off from nationhood.’

You too, O people of Madmen,b will be silenced;
the sword will pursue you.

3A voice cries out from Horonaim:

‘Devastation and great destruction!’

4Moab will be shattered;
her little ones will cry out.c

5For on the ascent to Luhith
they weep bitterly as they go,
and on the descent to Horonaim
cries of distress resound
over the destruction:

6‘Flee! Run for your lives!

Become like a juniper in the desert.d’

7Because you trust in your works and treasures,
you too will be captured,
and Chemosh will go into exile
with his priests and officials.

8The destroyer will move against every city,
and not one town will escape.

The valley will also be ruined,
and the high plain will be destroyed,
as the LORD has said.

9Put salt on Moab,
for she will be laid waste;e
her cities will become desolate,
with no one to dwell in them.

10Cursed is the one who is remiss
in doing the work of the LORD,
and cursed is he who withholds
his sword from bloodshed.

11Moab has been at ease from youth,
settled like wine on its dregs;
he has not been poured from vessel to vessel
or gone into exile.

So his flavor has remained the same,
and his aroma is unchanged.

12Therefore behold, the days are coming,
declares the LORD,
when I will send to him wanderers,
who will pour him out.

They will empty his vessels
and shatter his jars.

13Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh,
just as the house of Israel was ashamed
when they trusted in Bethel.

14How can you say, ‘We are warriors,
mighty men ready for battle’?

15Moab has been destroyed
and its towns have been invaded;
the best of its young men
have gone down in the slaughter,
declares the King,
whose name is the LORD of Hosts.

16Moab’s calamity is at hand,
and his affliction is rushing swiftly.

17Mourn for him, all you who surround him,
everyone who knows his name;
tell how the mighty scepter is shattered—
the glorious staff!

18Come down from your glory; sit on parched ground,

O daughter dwelling in Dibon,
for the destroyer of Moab has come against you;
he has destroyed your fortresses.

19Stand by the road and watch,

O dweller of Aroer!

Ask the man fleeing or the woman escaping,

‘What has happened?’

20Moab is put to shame, for it has been shattered.

Wail and cry out!

Declare by the Arnon
that Moab is destroyed.

21Judgment has come upon the high plain—
upon Holon, Jahzah,f and Mephaath,

22upon Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,

23upon Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,

24upon Kerioth, Bozrah, and all the towns of Moab,
those far and near.

25The horn of Moab has been cut off,
and his arm is broken,”

declares the LORD.

26“Make him drunk,
because he has magnified himself against the LORD;
so Moab will wallow in his own vomit,
and he will also become a laughingstock.

27Was not Israel your object of ridicule?

Was he ever found among thieves?

For whenever you speak of him
you shake your head.

28Abandon the towns and settle among the rocks,

O dwellers of Moab!

Be like a dove
that nests at the mouth of a cave.

29We have heard of Moab’s pomposity,
his exceeding pride and conceit,
his proud arrogance and haughtiness of heart.

30I know his insolence,”

declares the LORD,

“but it is futile.

His boasting is as empty as his deeds.

31Therefore I will wail for Moab;

I will cry out for all of Moab;

I will moan for the men of Kir-heres.g

32I will weep for you, O vine of Sibmah,
more than I weep for Jazer.

Your tendrils have extended to the sea;h
they reach even to Jazer.i

The destroyer has descended
on your summer fruit and grape harvest.

33Joy and gladness are removed from the orchard
and from the fields of Moab.

I have stopped the flow of wine from the presses;
no one treads them with shouts of joy;
their shouts are not for joy.

34There is a cry from Heshbon to Elealeh;
they raise their voices to Jahaz,
from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah;
for even the waters of Nimrim have dried up.

35In Moab, declares the LORD,

I will bring an end
to those who make offerings on the high places
and burn incense to their gods.

36Therefore My heart laments like a flute for Moab;
it laments like a flute for the men of Kir-heres,
because the wealth they acquired has perished.

37For every head is shaved
and every beard is clipped;
on every hand is a gash,
and around every waist is sackcloth.

38On all the rooftops of Moab
and in the public squares,
everyone is mourning;
for I have shattered Moab like an unwanted jar,”

declares the LORD.

39“How shattered it is! How they wail!

How Moab has turned his back in shame!

Moab has become an object of ridicule and horror
to all those around him.”

40For this is what the LORD says:

“Behold, an eagle swoops down
and spreads his wings against Moab.

41Kirioth has been taken,
and the strongholds seized.

In that day the heart of Moab’s warriors
will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

42Moab will be destroyed as a nation
because he vaunted himself against the LORD.

43Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of Moab,”

declares the LORD.

44“Whoever flees the panic
will fall into the pit,
and whoever climbs from the pit
will be caught in the snare.

For I will bring upon Moab
the year of their punishment,”

declares the LORD.

45“Those who flee will stand helpless in Heshbon’s shadow,
because fire has gone forth from Heshbon
and a flame from within Sihon.

It devours the foreheads of Moab
and the skulls of the sons of tumult.

46Woe to you, O Moab!

The people of Chemosh have perished;
for your sons have been taken into exile
and your daughters have gone into captivity.

47Yet in the latter days I will restore Moab from captivity,j”

declares the LORD.

Here ends the judgment on Moab.

Footnotes:

2 a The Hebrew for Heshbon sounds like the Hebrew for plot.

2 b The name of the Moabite town Madmen sounds like the Hebrew for silenced.

4 c Hebrew; LXX her cries are heard as far away as Zoar

6 d Or like a wild donkey or like Aroer

9 e Or Give wings to Moab, for she would fly away

21 f Jahzah is a variant of Jahaz; see verse 34.

31 g Kir-heres is a variant of Kir-hareseth; also in verse 36; see Isaiah 16:7.

32 h Probably the Dead Sea

32 i Two Hebrew manuscripts and LXX; most Hebrew manuscripts to the Sea of Jazer

47 j Or restore the fortunes of Moab

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 49   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Judgment on the Ammonites

1Concerning the Ammonites, this is what the LORD says:

“Has Israel no sons?

Is he without heir?

Why then has Milcoma taken possession of Gad?

Why have his people settled in their cities?

2Therefore, behold, the days are coming,
declares the LORD,
when I will sound the battle cry
against Rabbah of the Ammonites.

It will become a heap of ruins,
and its villages will be burned.

Then Israel will drive out their dispossessors,
says the LORD.

3Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai has been destroyed;
cry out, O daughters of Rabbah!

Put on sackcloth and mourn;
run back and forth within your walls,
for Milcom will go into exile
together with his priests and officials.

4Why do you boast of your valleys—
your valleys so fruitful,b

O faithless daughter?

You trust in your riches and say,

‘Who can come against me?’

5Behold, I am about to bring terror upon you,
declares the Lord GOD of Hosts,
from all those around you.

You will each be driven headlong,
with no one to regather the fugitives.

6Yet afterward I will restore the Ammonites from captivity,c”

declares the LORD.

Judgment on Edom
(Obadiah 1:1–14)

7Concerning Edom, this is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Is there no longer wisdom in Teman?

Has counsel perished from the prudent?

Has their wisdom decayed?

8Turn and run!

Lie low, O dwellers of Dedan,
for I will bring disaster on Esau
at the time I punish him.

9If grape gatherers came to you,
would they not leave some gleanings?

Were thieves to come in the night,
would they not steal only what they wanted?

10But I will strip Esau bare;

I will uncover his hiding places,
and he will be unable to conceal himself.

His descendants will be destroyed
along with his relatives and neighbors,
and he will be no more.

11Abandon your orphans; I will preserve their lives.

Let your widows trust in Me.”

12For this is what the LORD says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, can you possibly remain unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for you must drink it too. 13For by Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that Bozrah will become a desolation, a disgrace, a ruin, and a curse, and all her cities will be in ruins forever.”

14I have heard a message from the LORD;
an envoy has been sent to the nations:

“Assemble yourselves to march against her!

Rise up for battle!”

15“For behold, I will make you small among nations,
despised among men.

16The terror you cause
and the pride of your heart
have deceived you,

O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks,d

O occupiers of the mountain summit.

Though you elevate your nest like the eagle,
even from there I will bring you down,”

declares the LORD.

17“Edom will become an object of horror.

All who pass by will be appalled
and will scoff at all her wounds.

18As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown
along with their neighbors,”

says the LORD,

“no one will dwell there;
no man will abide there.

19Behold, one will come up like a lion
from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture.

For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land.

Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?

For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me?

What shepherd can stand against Me?”

20Therefore hear the plans
that the LORD has drawn up against Edom
and the strategies He has devised
against the people of Teman:

Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away;
certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.e

21At the sound of their fall the earth will quake;
their cry will resound to the Red Sea.f

22Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down,
spreading its wings over Bozrah.

In that day the hearts of Edom’s mighty men
will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

Judgment on Damascus
(Isaiah 17:1–14)

23Concerning Damascus:

“Hamath and Arpad are put to shame,
for they have heard a bad report;
they are agitated like the sea;g
their anxiety cannot be calmed.

24Damascus has become feeble;
she has turned to flee.

Panic has gripped her;
anguish and pain have seized her
like a woman in labor.

25How is the city of praise not forsaken,
the town that brings Me joy?

26For her young men will fall in the streets,
and all her warriors will be silenced in that day,”

declares the LORD of Hosts.

27“I will set fire to the walls of Damascus;
it will consume the fortresses of Ben-hadad.”

Judgment on Kedar and Hazor

28Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated, this is what the LORD says:

“Rise up, advance against Kedar,
and destroy the people of the east!

29They will take their tents and flocks,
their tent curtains and all their goods.

They will take their camels for themselves.

They will shout to them: ‘Terror is on every side!’

30Run! Escape quickly!

Lie low, O residents of Hazor,”

declares the LORD,

“for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
has drawn up a plan against you;
he has devised a strategy against you.

31Rise up, advance against a nation at ease,
one that dwells securely,”

declares the LORD.

“They have no gates or bars;
they live alone.

32Their camels will become plunder,
and their large herds will be spoil.

I will scatter to the wind in every direction
those who shave their temples;

I will bring calamity on them
from all sides,”

declares the LORD.

33“Hazor will become a haunt for jackals,h
a desolation forever.

No one will dwell there;
no man will abide there.”

Judgment on Elam

34This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. 35This is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Behold, I will shatter Elam’s bow,
the mainstay of their might.

36I will bring the four winds against Elam
from the four corners of the heavens,
and I will scatter them
to all these winds.

There will not be a nation
to which Elam’s exiles will not go.

37So I will shatter Elam before their foes,
before those who seek their lives.

I will bring disaster upon them,
even My fierce anger,”

declares the LORD.

“I will send out the sword after them
until I finish them off.

38I will set My throne in Elam,
and destroy its king and officials,”

declares the LORD.

39“Yet in the last days,

I will restore Elam from captivity,i”

declares the LORD.

Footnotes:

1 a Or their king; Milcom is a variant of Molech; also in verse 3; see Leviticus 18:21 and 1 Kings 11:7.

4 b Or your valleys flowing

6 c Or restore the fortunes of the Ammonites

16 d Or of Sela

20 e Or their pasture will be appalled at their fate

21 f Or the Sea of Reeds

23 g Hebrew on the sea or by the sea

33 h Or serpents or dragons

39 i Or restore the fortunes of Elam

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 50   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Prophecy against Babylon

1This is the word that the LORD spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon and the land of the Chaldeans:a

2“Announce and declare to the nations;
lift up a banner and proclaim it;
hold nothing back when you say,

‘Babylon is captured;

Bel is put to shame;

Marduk is shattered,
her images are disgraced,
her idols are broken in pieces.’

3For a nation from the north will come against her;
it will make her land a desolation.

No one will live in it;
both man and beast will flee.”

Hope for Israel and Judah

4“In those days and at that time,
declares the LORD,
the children of Israel and the children of Judah
will come together, weeping as they come,
and will seek the LORD their God.

5They will ask the way to Zion
and turn their faces toward it.

They will come and join themselves to the LORD
in an everlasting covenant
that will never be forgotten.

6My people are lost sheep;
their shepherds have led them astray,
causing them to roam the mountains.

They have wandered from mountain to hill;
they have forgotten their resting place.

7All who found them devoured them,
and their enemies said,

‘We are not guilty,
for they have sinned against the LORD, their true pasture,
the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’

8Flee from the midst of Babylon;
depart from the land of the Chaldeans;
be like the he-goats that lead the flock.

9For behold, I stir up and bring against Babylon
an assembly of great nations from the land of the north.

They will line up against her;
from the north she will be captured.

Their arrows will be like skilled warriors
who do not return empty-handed.

10Chaldeab will be plundered;
all who plunder her will have their fill,”

declares the LORD.

Babylon’s Fall Is Certain

11“Because you rejoice,
because you sing in triumph—
you who plunder My inheritance—
because you frolic like a heifer treading grain
and neigh like stallions,

12your mother will be greatly ashamed;
she who bore you will be disgraced.

Behold, she will be the least of the nations,
a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

13Because of the wrath of the LORD,
she will not be inhabited;
she will become completely desolate.

All who pass through Babylon will be horrified
and will hiss at all her wounds.

14Line up in formation around Babylon,
all you who draw the bow!

Shoot at her! Spare no arrows!

For she has sinned against the LORD.

15Raise a war cry against her on every side!

She has thrown up her hands in surrender;
her towers have fallen;
her walls are torn down.

Since this is the vengeance of the LORD,
take out your vengeance upon her;
as she has done,
do the same to her.

16Cut off the sower from Babylon,
and the one who wields the sickle at harvest time.

In the face of the oppressor’s sword,
each will turn to his own people,
each will flee to his own land.

Redemption for God’s People

17Israel is a scattered flock,
chased away by lions.

The first to devour him
was the king of Assyria;
the last to crush his bones
was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”

18Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says:

“I will punish the king of Babylon and his land
as I punished the king of Assyria.

19I will return Israel to his pasture,
and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan;
his soul will be satisfied
on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.

20In those days and at that time,
declares the LORD,
a search will be made for Israel’s guilt,
but there will be none,
and for Judah’s sins,
but they will not be found;
for I will forgive
the remnant I preserve.

The Destruction of Babylon

21Go up against the land of Merathaim,
and against the residents of Pekod.

Kill themc and devote them to destruction.d

Do all that I have commanded you,”

declares the LORD.

22“The noise of battle is in the land—
the noise of great destruction.

23How the hammer of the whole earth
lies broken and shattered!

What a horror Babylon has become
among the nations!

24I laid a snare for you, O Babylon,
and you were caught before you knew it.

You were found and captured
because you challenged the LORD.

25The LORD has opened His armory
and brought out His weapons of wrath,
for this is the work of the Lord GOD of Hosts
in the land of the Chaldeans.

26Come against her
from the farthest border.

Break open her granaries;
pile her up like mounds of grain.

Devote her to destruction;
leave her no survivors.

27Kill all her young bulls;
let them go down to the slaughter.

Woe to them, for their day has come—
the time of their punishment.

28Listen to the fugitives and refugees
from the land of Babylon,
declaring in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God,
the vengeance for His temple.

29Summon the archers against Babylon,
all who string the bow.

Encamp all around her;
let no one escape.

Repay her according to her deeds;
do to her as she has done.

For she has defied the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel.

30Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets,
and all her warriors will be silenced in that day,”

declares the LORD.

31“Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one,”

declares the Lord GOD of Hosts,

“for your day has come,
the time when I will punish you.

32The arrogant one will stumble and fall
with no one to pick him up.

And I will kindle a fire in his cities
to consume all those around him.”

33This is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“The sons of Israel are oppressed,
and the sons of Judah as well.

All their captors hold them fast,
refusing to release them.

34Their Redeemer is strong;
the LORD of Hosts is His name.

He will fervently plead their case
so that He may bring rest to the earth,
but turmoil to those who live in Babylon.

35A sword is against the Chaldeans,
declares the LORD,
against those who live in Babylon,
and against her officials and wise men.

36A sword is against her false prophets,
and they will become fools.

A sword is against her warriors,
and they will be filled with terror.

37A sword is against her horses and chariots
and against all the foreigners in her midst,
and they will become like women.

A sword is against her treasuries,
and they will be plundered.

38A drought is upon her waters,
and they will be dried up.

For it is a land of graven images,
and the people go mad over idols.e

39So the desert creatures and hyenas will live there
and ostrichesf will dwell there.

It will never again be inhabited
or lived in from generation to generation.

40As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah
along with their neighbors,”

declares the LORD,

“no one will dwell there;
no man will abide there.

41Behold, an army is coming from the north;
a great nation and many kings are stirred up
from the ends of the earth.

42They grasp the bow and spear;g
they are cruel and merciless.

Their voice roars like the sea,
and they ride upon horses,
lined up like men in formation
against you, O Daughter of Babylon.

43The king of Babylon has heard the report,
and his hands hang limp.

Anguish has gripped him,
pain like that of a woman in labor.

44Behold, one will come up like a lion
from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture.

For in an instant I will chase Babylon from her land.

Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?

For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me?

What shepherd can stand against Me?”

45Therefore hear the plans
that the LORD has drawn up against Babylon
and the strategies He has devised
against the land of the Chaldeans:

Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away;
certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.

46At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will quake;
a cry will be heard among the nations.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, the Babylonians; also in verses 8, 25, 35, and 45

10 b Or Babylonia

21 c LXX Avenge, O sword,

21 d Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in verse 26.

38 e Or go mad with fear

39 f Literally daughters of an ostrich or daughters of an owl

42 g Or javelin

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 51   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Judgment on Babylon

1This is what the LORD says:

“Behold, I will stir up against Babylon
and against the people of Leb-kamaia
the spirit of a destroyer.

2I will send strangers to Babylon
to winnow her and empty her land;
for they will come against her from every side
in her day of disaster.

3Do not let the archer bend his bow
or put on his armor.

Do not spare her young men;
devote all her army to destruction!b

4And they will fall slain in the land of the Chaldeans,c
and pierced through in her streets.

5For Israel and Judah have not been abandoned
by their God, the LORD of Hosts,
though their land is full of guilt
before the Holy One of Israel.”

6Flee from Babylon! Escape with your lives!

Do not be destroyed in her punishment.

For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance;

He will pay her what she deserves.

7Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD,
making the whole earth drunk.

The nations drank her wine;
therefore the nations have gone mad.

8Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered.

Wail for her; get her balm for her pain;
perhaps she can be healed.

9“We tried to heal Babylon,
but she could not be healed.

Abandon her!

Let each of us go to his own land,
for her judgment extends to the sky
and reaches to the clouds.”

10“The LORD has brought forth our vindication;
come, let us tell in Zion
what the LORD our God has accomplished.”

11Sharpen the arrows!

Fill the quivers!d

The LORD has aroused the spirit
of the kings of the Medes,
because His plan is aimed at Babylon
to destroy her,
for it is the vengeance of the LORD—
vengeance for His temple.

12Raise a banner against the walls of Babylon;
post the guard;
station the watchmen;
prepare the ambush.

For the LORD has both devised and accomplished
what He spoke against the people of Babylon.

13You who dwell by many waters,
rich in treasures,
your end has come;
the thread of your life is cut.

14The LORD of Hosts has sworn by Himself:

“Surely I will fill you up with men as with locusts,
and they will shout in triumph over you.”

Praise to the God of Jacob
(Isaiah 25:1–12)

15The LORD made the earth by His power;

He established the world by His wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

16When He thunders,
the waters in the heavens roar;

He causes the clouds to rise
from the ends of the earth.

He generates the lightning with the rain
and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

17Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge;
every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols.

For his molten images are a fraud,
and there is no breath in them.

18They are worthless, a work to be mocked.

In the time of their punishment they will perish.

19The Portion of Jacob is not like these,
for He is the Maker of all things,
and of the tribe of His inheritance—
the LORD of Hosts is His name.

Babylon’s Punishment

20“You are My war club,

My weapon for battle.

With you I shatter nations;
with you I bring kingdoms to ruin.

21With you I shatter the horse and rider;
with you I shatter the chariot and driver.

22With you I shatter man and woman;
with you I shatter the old man and the youth;
with you I shatter the young man and the maiden.

23With you I shatter the shepherd and his flock;
with you I shatter the farmer and his oxen;
with you I shatter the governors and officials.

24Before your very eyes I will repay

Babylon and all the dwellers of Chaldeae
for all the evil they have done in Zion,”

declares the LORD.

25“Behold, I am against you,

O destroying mountain,
you who devastate the whole earth,
declares the LORD.

I will stretch out My hand against you;

I will roll you over the cliffs
and turn you into a charred mountain.

26No one shall retrieve from you a cornerstone
or a foundation stone,
because you will become desolate forever,”

declares the LORD.

27“Raise a banner in the land!

Blow the ram’s horn among the nations!

Prepare the nations against her.

Summon the kingdoms against her—

Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz.

Appoint a captain against her;
bring up horses like swarming locusts.

28Prepare the nations for battle against her—
the kings of the Medes,
their governors and all their officials,
and all the lands they rule.

29The earth quakes and writhes
because the LORD’s intentions against Babylon stand:

to make the land of Babylon a desolation,
without inhabitant.

30The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting;
they sit in their strongholds.

Their strength is exhausted;
they have become like women.

Babylon’s homes have been set ablaze,
the bars of her gates are broken.

31One courier races to meet another,
and messenger follows messenger,
to announce to the king of Babylon
that his city has been captured from end to end.

32The fords have been seized,
the marshes set on fire,
and the soldiers are terrified.”

33For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says:

“The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor
at the time it is trampled.

In just a little while
her harvest time will come.”

34“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me;
he has crushed me.

He has set me aside like an empty vessel;
he has swallowed me like a monster;
he filled his belly with my delicacies
and vomited me out.f

35May the violence done to me
and to my flesh
be upon Babylon,”

says the dweller of Zion.

“May my blood be on the dwellers of Chaldea,”

says Jerusalem.

36Therefore this is what the LORD says:

“Behold, I will plead your case
and take vengeance on your behalf;

I will dry up her sea
and make her springs run dry.

37Babylon will become a heap of rubble,
a haunt for jackals,g
an object of horror and scorn,
without inhabitant.

38They will roar together like young lions;
they will growl like lion cubs.

39While they are flushed with heat,

I will serve them a feast,
and I will make them drunk
so that they may revel;
then they will fall asleep forever and never wake up,
declares the LORD.

40I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter,
like rams with male goats.

41How Sheshachh has been captured!

The praise of all the earth has been seized.

What a horror Babylon has become
among the nations!

42The sea has come up over Babylon;
she is covered in turbulent waves.

43Her cities have become a desolation,
a dry and arid land,
a land where no one lives,
where no son of man passes through.

44I will punish Bel in Babylon.

I will make him spew out what he swallowed.

The nations will no longer stream to him;
even the wall of Babylon will fall.

45Come out of her, My people!i

Save your lives, each of you,
from the fierce anger of the LORD.

46Do not let your heart grow faint,
and do not be afraid
when the rumor is heard in the land;
for a rumor will come one year—
and then another the next year—
of violence in the land
and of ruler against ruler.

47Therefore, behold, the days are coming
when I will punish the idols of Babylon.

Her entire land will suffer shame,
and all her slain will lie fallen within her.

48Then heaven and earth and all that is in them
will shout for joy over Babylon
because the destroyers from the north
will come against her,”

declares the LORD.

49“Babylon must fall
on account of the slain of Israel,
just as the slain of all the earth
have fallen because of Babylon.

50You who have escaped the sword,
depart and do not linger!

Remember the LORD from far away,
and let Jerusalem come to mind.”

51“We are ashamed because we have heard reproach;
disgrace has covered our faces,
because foreigners have entered
the holy places of the LORD’s house.”

52“Therefore, behold, the days are coming,”

declares the LORD,

“when I will punish her idols,
and throughout her land the wounded will groan.

53Even if Babylon ascends to the heavens
and fortifies her lofty stronghold,
the destroyers I send will come against her,”

declares the LORD.

54“The sound of a cry
comes from Babylon,
the sound of great destruction
from the land of the Chaldeans!

55For the LORD will destroy Babylon;

He will silence her mighty voice.

The waves will roar like great waters;
the tumult of their voices will resound.

56For a destroyer is coming against her—
against Babylon.

Her warriors will be captured,
and their bows will be broken,
for the LORD is a God of retribution;

He will repay in full.

57I will make her princes and wise men drunk,
along with her governors, officials, and warriors.

Then they will fall asleep forever
and not wake up,”

declares the King,
whose name is the LORD of Hosts.

58This is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Babylon’s thick walls will be leveled,
and her high gates consumed by fire.

So the labor of the people will be for nothing;
the nations will exhaust themselves to fuel the flames.”

Jeremiah’s Message to Seraiah

59This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet gave to the quartermaster Seraiah son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign. 60Jeremiah had written on a single scroll about all the disaster that would come upon Babylon—all these words that had been written concerning Babylon.

61And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud, 62and say, ‘O LORD, You have promised to cut off this place so that no one will remain—neither man nor beast. Indeed, it will be desolate forever.’

63When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and cast it into the Euphrates. 64Then you are to say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink and never rise again, because of the disaster I will bring upon her. And her people will grow weary.’ ”

Here end the words of Jeremiah.

Footnotes:

1 a Leb-kamai is a code name for Chaldea, that is, Babylonia.

3 b Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

4 c That is, the Babylonians; also in verse 54

11 d LXX and some translations of the Hebrew; literally Fill the hand with the shields! or Take up the shields!

24 e That is, Babylonia; also in verse 35

34 f Or expelled me

37 g Or serpents or dragons

41 h Sheshach is a code name for Babylon.

45 i See Revelation 18:4.

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◀   ◀   Jeremiah 52   ▶   ▶

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The Fall of Jerusalem Recounted
(Psalm 74:1–23; Psalm 79:1–13; 2 Kings 24:18–20; 2 Chronicles 36:11–14)

1Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah.

2And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done. 3For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence.

And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.

4So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. 5And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.

6By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. 7Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeansa had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled the city by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden.

They headed toward the Arabah,b
8but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was separated from him.

9The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on Zedekiah.

10There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and he also killed all the officials of Judah. 11Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon, where he kept him in custody until his dying day.

The Temple Destroyed
(2 Kings 25:8–17)

12On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. 13He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. 14And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.

15Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the craftsmen. 16But Nebuzaradan captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields.

17Moreover, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars and stands and the bronze Sea in the house of the LORD, and they carried all the bronze to Babylon. 18They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes, and all the articles of bronze used in the temple service. 19The captain of the guard also took away the basins, censers, sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and drink offering bowls—anything made of pure gold or fine silver.

20As for the two pillars, the Sea, the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the movable stands that King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the weight of the bronze from all these articles was beyond measure. 21Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall and twelve cubits in circumference;c each was hollow, four fingers thick.d
22The bronze capital atop one pillar was five cubits high,e with a network of bronze pomegranates all around. The second pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar. 23Each capital had ninety-six pomegranates on the sides, and a total of a hundred pomegranates were above the surrounding network.

Captives Carried to Babylon
(2 Kings 25:18–21)

24The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers. 25Of those still in the city, he took a court official who had been appointed over the men of war, as well as seven trusted royal advisers. He also took the scribe of the captain of the army, who had enlisted the people of the land, and sixty men who were found in the city.

26Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 27There at Riblah in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death. So Judah was taken into exile, away from its own land.

28These are the people Nebuchadnezzar carried away:

in the seventh year, 3,023 Jews;

29in Nebuchadnezzar’s eighteenth year, 832 people from Jerusalem;

30in Nebuchadnezzar’s twenty-third year, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried away 745 Jews.

So in all, 4,600 people were taken away.

Jehoiachin Released from Prison
(2 Kings 25:27–30)

31On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the first year of the reign of Evil-merodach king of Babylon, he pardonedf Jehoiachin king of Judah and released him from prison. 32And he spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and set his throne above the thrones of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.

33So Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table for the rest of his life. 34And the king of Babylon provided Jehoiachin a daily portion for the rest of his life, until the day of his death.

Footnotes:

7 a That is, the Babylonians; similarly in verses 8, 9, 14, and 17

7 b Or the Jordan Valley

21 c Each pillar was approximately 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference (8.2 meters high and 5.5 meters in circumference).

21 d 4 fingers is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters.

22 e 5 cubits is approximately 7.5 feet or 2.3 meters.

31 f Literally he lifted up the head of

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◀   ◀   Lamentations 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5)

How Lonely Lies the City!
(2 Kings 24:10–17)

1Howa lonely lies the city,
once so full of people!

She who was great among the nations
has become a widow.

The princess of the provinces
has become a slave.

2She weeps aloud in the night,
with tears upon her cheeks.

Among all her lovers
there is no one to comfort her.

All her friends have betrayed her;
they have become her enemies.

3Judah has gone into exile
under affliction and harsh slavery;
she dwells among the nations
but finds no place to rest.

All her pursuers have overtaken her
in the midst of her distress.

4The roads to Zion mourn,
because no one comes to her appointed feasts.

All her gates are deserted;
her priests groan,
her maidens grieve,
and she herself is bitter with anguish.

5Her foes have become her masters;
her enemies are at ease.

For the LORD has brought her grief
because of her many transgressions.

Her children have gone away
as captives before the enemy.

6All the splendor has departed
from the Daughter of Zion.

Her princes are like deer
that find no pasture;
they lack the strength to flee
in the face of the hunter.

7In the days of her affliction and wandering

Jerusalem remembers all the treasures
that were hers in days of old.

When her people fell into enemy hands
she received no help.

Her enemies looked upon her,
laughing at her downfall.

8Jerusalem has sinned greatly;
therefore she has become an object of scorn.

All who honored her now despise her,
for they have seen her nakedness;b
she herself groans and turns away.

9Her uncleanness stains her skirts;
she did not consider her end.

Her downfall was astounding;
there was no one to comfort her.

Look, O LORD, on my affliction,
for the enemy has triumphed!

10The adversary has seized
all her treasures.

For she has seen the nations
enter her sanctuary—
those You had forbidden
to enter Your assembly.

11All her people groan
as they search for bread.

They have traded their treasures for food
to keep themselves alive.

Look, O LORD, and consider,
for I have become despised.

12Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by?

Look around and see!

Is there any sorrow like mine,
which was inflicted on me,
which the LORD made me suffer
on the day of His fierce anger?

13He sent fire from on high,
and it overpowered my bones.

He spread a net for my feet
and turned me back.

He made me desolate,
faint all the day long.

14My transgressions are bound into a yoke,c
knit together by His hand;
they are draped over my neck,
and the Lord has broken my strength.

He has delivered me into the hands
of those I cannot withstand.

15The Lord has rejected
all the mighty men in my midst;

He has summoned an army against med
to crush my young warriors.

Like grapes in a winepress,
the Lord has trampled the Virgin Daughter of Judah.

16For these things I weep;
my eyes flow with tears.

For there is no one nearby to comfort me,
no one to revive my soul.

My children are destitute
because the enemy has prevailed.

17Zion stretches out her hands,
but there is no one to comfort her.

The LORD has decreed against Jacob
that his neighbors become his foes.

Jerusalem has become
an unclean thing among them.

18The LORD is righteous,
for I have rebelled against His command.

Listen, all you people;
look upon my suffering.

My young men and maidens
have gone into captivity.

19I called out to my lovers,
but they have betrayed me.

My priests and elders
perished in the city
while they searched for food
to keep themselves alive.

20See, O LORD, how distressed I am!

I am churning within;
my heart is pounding within me,
for I have been most rebellious.

Outside, the sword bereaves;
inside, there is death.

21People have heard my groaning,
but there is no one to comfort me.

All my enemies have heard of my trouble;
they are glad that You have caused it.

May You bring the day You have announced,
so that they may become like me.

22Let all their wickedness come before You,
and deal with them
as You have dealt with me
because of all my transgressions.

For my groans are many,
and my heart is faint.

Footnotes:

1 a This chapter is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

8 b Or her shame

14 c Most Hebrew manuscripts; other Hebrew manuscripts and LXX He kept watch over my sins

15 d Or has set a time for me

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◀   ◀   Lamentations 2   ▶   ▶

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God’s Anger over Jerusalem

1Howa the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion
with the cloud of His anger!

He has cast the glory of Israel
from heaven to earth.

He has abandoned His footstool
in the day of His anger.

2Without pity the Lord has swallowed up
all the dwellings of Jacob.

In His wrath He has demolished
the fortified cities of the Daughter of Judah.

He brought to the ground and defiled
her kingdom and its princes.

3In fierce anger He has cut off
every hornb of Israel
and withdrawn His right hand
at the approach of the enemy.

He has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire
that consumes everything around it.

4He has bent His bow like an enemy;

His right hand is positioned.

Like a foe He has killed
all who were pleasing to the eye;

He has poured out His wrath like fire
on the tent of the Daughter of Zion.

5The Lord is like an enemy;

He has swallowed up Israel.

He has swallowed up all her palaces
and destroyed her strongholds.

He has multiplied mourning and lamentation
for the Daughter of Judah.

6He has laid waste His tabernacle like a garden booth;

He has destroyed His place of meeting.

The LORD has made Zion forget
her appointed feasts and Sabbaths.

In His fierce anger

He has despised both king and priest.

7The Lord has rejected His altar;

He has abandoned His sanctuary;

He has delivered the walls of her palaces
into the hand of the enemy.

They have raised a shout in the house of the LORD
as on the day of an appointed feast.

8The LORD determined to destroy
the wall of the Daughter of Zion.

He stretched out a measuring line
and did not withdraw His hand from destroying.

He made the ramparts and walls lament;
together they waste away.

9Her gates have sunk into the ground;

He has destroyed and shattered their bars.

Her king and her princes are exiled among the nations,
the law is no more,
and even her prophets
find no vision from the LORD.

10The elders of the Daughter of Zion
sit on the ground in silence.

They have thrown dust on their heads
and put on sackcloth.

The young women of Jerusalem
have bowed their heads to the ground.

11My eyes fail from weeping;

I am churning within.

My heart is poured out in grief
over the destruction of the daughter of my people,
because children and infants faint
in the streets of the city.

12They cry out to their mothers:

“Where is the grain and wine?”

as they faint like the wounded
in the streets of the city,
as their lives fade away
in the arms of their mothers.

13What can I say for you?

To what can I compare you,

O Daughter of Jerusalem?

To what can I liken you,
that I may console you,

O Virgin Daughter of Zion?

For your wound is as deep as the sea.

Who can ever heal you?

14The visions of your prophets
were empty and deceptive;
they did not expose your guilt
to ward off your captivity.

The burdens they envisioned for you
were empty and misleading.

15All who pass by
clap their hands at you in scorn.

They hiss and shake their heads
at the Daughter of Jerusalem:

“Is this the city that was called
the perfection of beauty,
the joy of all the earth?”

16All your enemies
open their mouths against you.

They hiss and gnash their teeth,
saying, “We have swallowed her up.

This is the day for which we have waited.

We have lived to see it!”

17The LORD has done what He planned;

He has accomplished His decree,
which He ordained in days of old;

He has overthrown you without pity.

He has let the enemy gloat over you
and exalted the hornc of your foes.

18The hearts of the people
cry out to the Lord.d

O wall of the Daughter of Zion,
let your tears run down like a river
day and night.

Give yourself no relief,
and your eyes no rest.

19Arise, cry out in the night
from the first watch of the night.e

Pour out your heart like water
in the presence of the Lord.

Lift up your hands to Him
for the lives of your children
who are fainting from hunger
on the corner of every street.

20Look, O LORD, and consider:

Whom have You ever treated like this?

Should women eat their offspring,
the infants they have nurtured?

Should priests and prophets be killed
in the sanctuary of the Lord?

21Both young and old lie together
in the dust of the streets.

My young men and maidens
have fallen by the sword.

You have slain them in the day of Your anger;

You have slaughtered them without compassion.

22You summoned my attackers on every side,
as for the day of an appointed feast.

In the day of the LORD’s anger
no one escaped or survived;
my enemy has destroyed
those I nurtured and reared.

Footnotes:

1 a This chapter is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

3 b Or all the strength

17 c Or the strength

18 d Literally Their heart cries out to the Lord.

19 e That is, between six and nine at night

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◀   ◀   Lamentations 3   ▶   ▶

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The Prophet’s Afflictions

1Ia am the man who has seen affliction
under the rod of God’s wrath.

2He has driven me away and made me walk
in darkness instead of light.

3Indeed, He keeps turning His hand
against me all day long.

4He has worn away my flesh and skin;

He has shattered my bones.

5He has besieged me and surrounded me
with bitterness and hardship.

6He has made me dwell in darkness
like those dead for ages.

7He has walled me in so I cannot escape;

He has weighed me down with chains.

8Even when I cry out and plead for help,

He shuts out my prayer.

9He has barred my ways with cut stones;

He has made my paths crooked.

10He is a bear lying in wait,
a lion hiding in ambush.

11He forced me off my path and tore me to pieces;

He left me without help.

12He bent His bow
and set me as the target for His arrow.

13He pierced my kidneys
with His arrows.

14I am a laughingstock to all my people;
they mock me in song all day long.

15He has filled me with bitterness;

He has intoxicated me with wormwood.

16He has ground my teeth with gravel
and trampled me in the dust.

17My soul has been deprived of peace;

I have forgotten what prosperity is.

18So I say, “My strength has perished,
along with my hope from the LORD.”

The Prophet’s Hope

19Remember my affliction and wandering,
the wormwood and the gall.

20Surely my soul remembers
and is humbled within me.

21Yet I call this to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

22Because of the loving devotionb of the LORD we are not consumed,
for His mercies never fail.

23They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness!

24“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in Him.”

25The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
to the soul who seeks Him.

26It is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.

27It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is still young.

28Let him sit alone in silence,
for God has disciplined him.

29Let him bury his face in the dust—
perhaps there is still hope.

30Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him;
let him be filled with reproach.

31For the Lord will not
cast us off forever.

32Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion
according to His abundant loving devotion.

33For He does not willingly afflict
or grieve the sons of men.

34To crush underfoot
all the prisoners of the land,

35to deny a man justice
before the Most High,

36to subvert a man in his lawsuit—
of these the Lord does not approve.

God’s Justice

37Who has spoken and it came to pass,
unless the Lord has ordained it?

38Do not both adversity and good
come from the mouth of the Most High?

39Why should any mortal man complain,
in view of his sins?

40Let us examine and test our ways,
and turn back to the LORD.

41Let us lift up our hearts and hands
to God in heaven:

42“We have sinned and rebelled;

You have not forgiven.”

43You have covered Yourself in anger and pursued us;

You have killed without pity.

44You have covered Yourself with a cloud
that no prayer can pass through.

45You have made us scum and refuse
among the nations.

46All our enemies
open their mouths against us.

47Panic and pitfall have come upon us—
devastation and destruction.

48Streams of tears flow from my eyes
over the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49My eyes overflow unceasingly,
without relief,

50until the LORD
looks down from heaven and sees.

51My eyes bring grief to my soul
because of all the daughters of my city.

52Without cause my enemies
hunted me like a bird.

53They dropped me alive into a pit
and cast stones upon me.

54The waters flowed over my head,
and I thought I was going to die.

55I called on Your name, O LORD,
out of the depths of the Pit.

56You heard my plea:

“Do not ignore my cry for relief.”

57You drew near when I called on You;

You said, “Do not be afraid.”

58You defend my cause, O Lord;

You redeem my life.

59You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done to me;
vindicate my cause!

60You have seen all their malice,
all their plots against me.

61O LORD, You have heard their insults,
all their plots against me—

62the slander and murmuring of my assailants
against me all day long.

63When they sit and when they rise,
see how they mock me in song.

64You will pay them back what they deserve, O LORD,
according to the work of their hands.

65Put a veil of anguish over their hearts;
may Your curse be upon them!

66You will pursue them in anger and exterminate them
from under Your heavens, O LORD.

Footnotes:

1 a This chapter is an acrostic poem, each 3–verse stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

22 b Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

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◀   ◀   Lamentations 4   ▶   ▶

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The Distress of Zion

1Howa the gold has become tarnished,
the pure gold has become dull!

The gems of the temple lie scattered
on every street corner.

2How the precious sons of Zion,
once worth their weight in pure gold,
are now esteemed as jars of clay,
the work of a potter’s hands!

3Even jackalsb offer their breasts
to nurse their young,
but the daughter of my people has become cruel,
like an ostrich in the wilderness.

4The nursing infant’s tongue
clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth.

Little children beg for bread,
but no one gives them any.

5Those who once ate delicacies
are destitute in the streets;
those brought up in crimson
huddle in ash heaps.

6The punishmentc of the daughter of my people
is greater than that of Sodom,
which was overthrown in an instant
without a hand turned to help her.

7Her dignitaries were brighter than snow,
whiter than milk;
their bodies were more ruddy than rubies,
their appearanced like sapphires.e

8But now their appearance is blacker than soot;
they are not recognized in the streets.

Their skin has shriveled on their bones;
it has become as dry as a stick.

9Those slain by the sword are better off
than those who die of hunger,
who waste away, pierced with pain
because the fields lack produce.

10The hands of compassionate women
have cooked their own children,
who became their food
in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

11The LORD has exhausted His wrath;

He has poured out His fierce anger;

He has kindled a fire in Zion,
and it has consumed her foundations.

12The kings of the earth did not believe,
nor any people of the world,
that an enemy or a foe
could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

13But this was for the sins of her prophets
and the guilt of her priests,
who shed the blood of the righteous
in her midst.

14They wandered blind in the streets,
defiled by this blood,
so that no one dared
to touch their garments.

15“Go away! Unclean!”

men shouted at them.

“Away, away! Do not touch us!”

So they fled and wandered.

Among the nations it was said,

“They can stay here no longer.”

16The presence of the LORD has scattered them;

He regards them no more.

The priests are shown no honor;
the elders find no favor.

17All the while our eyes were failing
as we looked in vain for help.

We watched from our towers
for a nation that could not save us.

18They stalked our every step,
so that we could not walk in our streets.

Our end drew near, our time ran out,
for our end had come!

19Those who chased us were swifter
than the eagles in the sky;
they pursued us over the mountains
and ambushed us in the wilderness.

20The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life,
was captured in their pits.

We had said of him,

“Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”

21So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom,
you who dwell in the land of Uz.

Yet the cup will pass to you as well;
you will get drunk and expose yourself.

22O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete;

He will not prolong your exile.f

But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom;

He will expose your sins.

Footnotes:

1 a This chapter is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

3 b Or serpents or dragons

6 c Or iniquity

7 d Or their polishing or their hair

7 e Hebrew lapis lazuli

22 f Or He will not exile you again

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◀   ◀   Lamentations 5   ▶   ▶

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A Prayer for Restoration

1Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us.

Look and see our disgrace!

2Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
our houses to foreigners.

3We have become fatherless orphans;
our mothers are widows.

4We must buy the water we drink;
our wood comes at a price.

5We are closely pursued;
we are weary and find no rest.

6We submitted to Egypt and Assyria
to get enough bread.

7Our fathers sinned and are no more,
but we bear their punishment.

8Slaves rule over us;
there is no one to deliver us from their hands.

9We get our bread at the risk of our lives
because of the sword in the wilderness.

10Our skin is as hot as an oven
with fever from our hunger.

11Women have been ravished in Zion,
virgins in the cities of Judah.

12Princes have been hung up by their hands;
elders receive no respect.

13Young men toil at millstones;
boys stagger under loads of wood.

14The elders have left the city gate;
the young men have stopped their music.

15Joy has left our hearts;
our dancing has turned to mourning.

16The crown has fallen from our head.

Woe to us, for we have sinned!

17Because of this, our hearts are faint;
because of these, our eyes grow dim—

18because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate,
patrolled by foxes.

19You, O LORD, reign forever;

Your throne endures from generation to generation.

20Why have You forgotten us forever?

Why have You forsaken us for so long?

21Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return;
renew our days as of old,

22unless You have utterly rejected us
and remain angry with us beyond measure.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48)

Ezekiel’s Vision by the River Kebar
(Psalm 137:1–9)

1In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the River Kebar, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God.a

2On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin— 3the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeansb by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.

The Four Living Creatures

4I looked and saw a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire was a gleam like amber,c
5and within it was the form of four living creatures.

And this was their appearance: They had a human form, 6but each had four faces and four wings. 7Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze.

8Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings, 9and their wings were touching one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.

10The form of their faces was that of a man, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and also the face of an eagle. 11Such were their faces.

Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body. 12Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they moved.

13In the midst of the living creatures was the appearance of glowing coals of fire, or of torches. Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. 14The creatures were darting back and forth as quickly as flashes of lightning.

The Four Wheels

15When I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 16The workmanship of the wheels looked like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. Their workmanship looked like a wheel within a wheel. 17As they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved. 18Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around. 19So as the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose.

20Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

The Divine Glory

22Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal. 23And under the expanse, their wings stretched out toward one another. Each one also had two wings covering its body.

24When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty,d like the tumult of an army.

When they stood still, they lowered their wings. 25And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered.

26Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man. 27From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire within it all around. And from what seemed to be His waist down, I saw what looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded Him.

28The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

Footnotes:

1 a Or from God

3 b That is, the Babylonians

4 c Or The center of the fire looked like glowing metal; similarly in verse 27

24 d Hebrew Shaddai

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Ezekiel’s Call

1“Son of man,a” He said to me, “stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” 2And as He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I heard Him speaking to me.

3“Son of man,” He said to me, “I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me. To this very day they and their fathers have rebelled against Me. 4They are obstinate and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’

5And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

6But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house. 7But speak My words to them, whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious.

8And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I give you.”

9Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and in it was a scroll, 10which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe.

Footnotes:

1 a Or Son of Adam; here and throughout Ezekiel

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Ezekiel Eats the Scroll
(Revelation 10:1–11)

1“Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.”

2So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll.

3“Son of man,” He said to me, “eat and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you.”

So I ate, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

4Then He said to me, “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak My words to them. 5For you are not being sent to a people of unfamiliar speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel— 6not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.

7But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted.

8Behold, I will make your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. 9I will make your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or dismayed at their presence, even though they are a rebellious house.”

10“Son of man,” He added, “listen carefully to all the words I speak to you, and take them to heart. 11Go to your people, the exiles; speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ whether they listen or refuse to listen.”

12Then the Spirita lifted me up, and I heard a great rumbling sound behind me: ‘Blessed be the glory of the LORD in His dwelling place!’b
13It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against one another and the sound of the wheels beside them, a great rumbling sound.

14So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. 15I came to the exiles at Tel-abib who dwelt by the River Kebar. And for seven days I sat where they sat and remained there among them, overwhelmed.

A Watchman for Israel

16At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 17“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.

18If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity,c and I will hold you responsible for his blood. 19But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.

20Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin,d and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood. 21But if you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he heeded your warning, and you will have saved yourself.”

22And there the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He said to me, “Get up, go out to the plain, and there I will speak with you.”

23So I got up and went out to the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD was present there, like the glory I had seen by the River Kebar, and I fell facedown.

24Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet. He spoke with me and said, “Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes, and you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. 26I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, and you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house.

27But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ Whoever listens, let him listen; and whoever refuses, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

Footnotes:

12 a Or the wind; also in verse 14

12 b Or sound behind me as the glory of the LORD rose from its place!

18 c Or for his iniquity; also in verse 19

20 d Or for his sin

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Sign of Jerusalem’s Siege

1“Now you, son of man, take a brick, place it before you, and draw on it the city of Jerusalem. 2Then lay siege against it: Construct a siege wall, build a ramp to it, set up camps against it, and place battering rams around it on all sides. 3Then take an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between yourself and the city. Turn your face toward it so that it is under siege, and besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.

4Then lie down on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their iniquity for the number of days you lie on your side. 5For I have assigned to you 390 days, according to the number of years of their iniquity. So you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

6When you have completed these days, lie down again, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah. I have assigned to you 40 days, a day for each year. 7You must turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared, and prophesy against it.

8Now behold, I will tie you up with ropes so you cannot turn from side to side until you have finished the days of your siege.

The Defiled Bread

9But take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them in a single container and make them into bread for yourself. This is what you are to eat during the 390 days you lie on your side. 10You are to weigh out twenty shekels of fooda to eat each day, and you are to eat it at set times.

11You are also to measure out a sixth of a hin of waterb to drink, and you are to drink it at set times. 12And you shall eat the food as you would a barley cake, after you bake it over dried human excrement in the sight of the people.”

13Then the LORD said, “This is how the Israelites will eat their defiled bread among the nations to which I will banish them.”

14“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I have never defiled myself.c From my youth until now I have not eaten anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.”

15“Look,” He replied, “I will let you use cow dung instead of human excrement, and you may bake your bread over that.”

16Then He told me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supplyd of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure. 17So they will lack food and water; they will be appalled at the sight of one another wasting away in their iniquity.

Footnotes:

10 a 20 shekels is approximately 8 ounces or 228 grams of food.

11 b A sixth of a hin is approximately 0.65 quarts or 0.61 liters of water.

14 c Hebrew “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “Behold, my soul has never been made unclean.

16 d Hebrew staff

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Razor of Judgment

1“As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword, use it as a barber’s razor, and shave your head and beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair. 2When the days of the siege have ended, you are to burn up a third of the hair inside the city; you are also to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; and you are to scatter a third to the wind. For I will unleash a sword behind them.

3But you are to take a few strands of hair and secure them in the folds of your garment. 4Again, take a few of these, throw them into the fire, and burn them. From there a fire will spread to the whole house of Israel.

5This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. 6But she has rebelled against My ordinances more wickedly than the nations, and against My statutes worse than the countries around her. For her people have rejected My ordinances and have not walked in My statutes.’

7Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You have been more insubordinate than the nations around you; you have not walked in My statutes or kept My ordinances, nor have you even conformeda to the ordinances of the nations around you.’

8Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations. 9Because of all your abominations, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again. 10As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’

Famine, Sword, and Dispersion

11Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and abominations, I Myself will withdraw My favor; I will not look upon you with pity, nor will I spare you.

12A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, and a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them.

13And when My anger is spent and I have vented My wrath against them, I will be appeased. And when I have spent My wrath on them, they will know that I, the LORD, in My zeal have spoken.

14I will make you a ruin and a disgrace among the nations around you, in the sight of all who pass by. 15So you will beb a reproach and a taunt, a warning and a horror to the nations around you, when I execute judgments against you in anger, wrath, and raging fury. I, the LORD, have spoken.

16When I shower youc with the deadly arrows of famine and destruction that I will send to destroy you, I will intensify the famine against you and cut off your supplyd of food. 17I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will leave you childless. Plague and bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring a sword against you. I, the LORD, have spoken.”

Footnotes:

7 a Some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac My ordinances; you have even conformed

15 b DSS, LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; MT So it will be

16 c Hebrew them

16 d Hebrew staff

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Judgment against Idolatry
(Deuteronomy 4:15–31; Deuteronomy 12:29–32)

1And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them.

3You are to say: ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. 4Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will cast down your slain before your idols. 5I will lay the corpses of the Israelites before their idols and scatter your bones around your altars.

6Wherever you live, the cities will be laid waste and the high places will be demolished, so that your altars will be laid waste and desecrated, your idols smashed and obliterated, your incense altars cut down, and your works blotted out. 7The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.

A Remnant to Be Blessed

8Yet I will leave a remnant, for some of you will escape the sword when you are scattered among the nations and throughout the lands.

9Then in the nations to which they have been carried captive, your survivors will remember Me—how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts that turned away from Me, and by their eyes that lusted after idols. So they will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their abominations. 10And they will know that I am the LORD; I did not declare in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them.

11This is what the Lord GOD says: Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and cry out “Alas!” because of all the wicked abominations of the house of Israel, who will fall by sword and famine and plague. 12He who is far off will die by the plague, he who is near will fall by the sword, and he who remains will die by famine. So I will vent My fury upon them.

13Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, and under every green tree and leafy oak—the places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols. 14I will stretch out My hand against them, and wherever they live I will make the land a desolate waste, from the wilderness to Diblah.a Then they will know that I am the LORD.’ ”

Footnotes:

14 a Most Hebrew manuscripts; Vulgate and a few Hebrew manuscripts Riblah

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 7   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Hour of Doom

1And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“O son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says to the land of Israel:

‘The end! The end has come
upon the four corners of the land.

3The end is now upon you,
and I will unleash My anger against you.

I will judge you according to your ways
and repay you for all your abominations.

4I will not look on you with pity,
nor will I spare you,
but I will punish you for your ways
and for the abominations among you.

Then you will know that I am the LORD.’

5This is what the Lord GOD says:

‘Disaster! An unprecedented disastera —
behold, it is coming!

6The end has come!

The end has come!

It has roused itself against you.

Behold, it has come!

7Doom has come to you,

O inhabitants of the land.

The time has come;
the day is near;
there is panic on the mountains
instead of shouts of joy.

8Very soon I will pour out My wrath upon you
and vent My anger against you;

I will judge you according to your ways
and repay you for all your abominations.

9I will not look on you with pity,
nor will I spare you,
but I will punish you for your ways
and for the abominations among you.

Then you will know that it is I, the LORD,
who strikes the blow.

10Behold, the day is here!

It has come!

Doom has gone out,
the rod has budded,
arrogance has bloomed.

11Their violence has grown into a rod
to punish their wickedness.b

None of them will remain:

none of their multitude,
none of their wealth,
and nothing of value.

12The time has come;
the day has arrived.

Let the buyer not rejoice
and the seller not mourn,
for wrath is upon the whole multitude.

13The seller will surely not recover what he sold
while both remain alive.

For the vision concerning the whole multitude
will not be revoked,
and because of their iniquity,
not one of them will preserve his life.

The Desolation of Israel

14They have blown the trumpet
and made everything ready,
but no one goes to war,
for My wrath is upon the whole multitude.

15The sword is outside;
plague and famine are within.

Those in the country will die by the sword,
and those in the city will be devoured
by famine and plague.

16The survivors will escape
and live in the mountains,
moaning like doves of the valley,
each for his own iniquity.

17Every hand will go limp,
and every knee will turn to water.

18They will put on sackcloth,
and terror will overwhelm them.

Shame will cover all their faces,
and all their heads will be shaved.

19They will throw their silver into the streets,
and their gold will seem unclean.

Their silver and gold cannot save them
in the day of the wrath of the LORD.

They cannot satisfy their appetites
or fill their stomachs with wealth,
for it became the stumbling block
that brought their iniquity.

20His beautiful ornaments
they transformed into pride
and used them to fashion
their vile images and detestable idols.

Therefore I will make these
into something unclean for them.

21And I will hand these things over
as plunder to foreigners
and loot to the wicked of the earth,
who will defile them.

22I will turn My face away from them,
and they will defile My treasured place.

Violent men will enter it,
and they will defile it.

23Forge the chain,
for the land is full of crimes of bloodshed,
and the city is full of violence.

24So I will bring the most wicked of nations
to take possession of their houses.

I will end the pride of the mighty,
and their holy places will be profaned.

25Anguish is coming!

They will seek peace, but find none.

26Disaster upon disaster will come,
and rumor after rumor.

Then they will seek a vision from a prophet,
but instruction from the priests will perish,
as will counsel from the elders.

27The king will mourn,
the prince will be clothed with despair,
and the hands of the people of the land will tremble.

I will deal with them according to their conduct,
and I will judge them by their own standards.

Then they will know that I am the LORD.’ ”

Footnotes:

5 a Or A unique disaster, as in most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Disaster after disaster

11 b Literally The violence has grown into a rod of wickedness

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Vision of Idolatry in the Temple

1In the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, I was sitting in my house, and the elders of Judah were sitting before me; and there the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me.

2Then I looked and saw a figure like that of a man. From His waist down His appearance was like fire, and from His waist up He was as bright as the gleam of amber.a
3He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and carried me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes jealousy was seated.

4And there I saw the glory of the God of Israel, like the vision I had seen in the plain. 5“Son of man,” He said to me, “now lift up your eyes to the north.”

So I lifted up my eyes to the north, and in the entrance north of the Altar Gateb I saw this idol of jealousy.

6“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what they are doing—the great abominations that the house of Israel is committing—to drive Me far from My sanctuary? Yet you will see even greater abominations.”

7Then He brought me to the entrance to the court, and I looked and saw a hole in the wall.

8“Son of man,” He told me, “dig through the wall.”

So I dug through the wall and discovered a doorway.

9Then He said to me, “Go in and see the wicked abominations they are committing here.”

10So I went in and looked, and engraved all around the wall was every kind of crawling creature and detestable beast, along with all the idols of the house of Israel. 11Before them stood seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising.

12“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’ ”

13Again, He told me, “You will see them committing even greater abominations.”

14Then He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD, and I saw women sitting there, weeping for Tammuz.c

15“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see this? Yet you will see even greater abominations than these.”

16So He brought me to the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were bowing to the east in worship of the sun.

17“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see this? Is it not enough for the house of Judah to commit the abominations they are practicing here, that they must also fill the land with violence and continually provoke Me to anger? Look, they are even putting the branch to their nose! 18Therefore I will respond with wrath. I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. Although they shout loudly in My ears, I will not listen to them.”

Footnotes:

2 a Or as glowing metal

5 b Or gate of the altar

14 c Tammuz, meaning Sprout of Life, was a Sumerian god of fertility.

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Execution of the Idolaters

1Then I heard Him call out in a loud voice, saying, “Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with a weapon of destruction in hand.”

2And I saw six men coming from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, each with a weapon of slaughter in his hand. With them was another man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. And they came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

3Then the glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side. 4“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”

5And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone! 6Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.”

So they began with the elders who were before the temple.

7Then He told them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go forth!”

So they went out and began killing throughout the city.

8While they were killing, I was left alone. And I fell facedown and cried out, “Oh, Lord GOD, when You pour out Your wrath on Jerusalem, will You destroy the entire remnant of Israel?”

9He replied, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of perversity. For they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.’ 10But as for Me, I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. I will bring their deeds down upon their own heads.”

11Then the man clothed in linen with the writing kit at his side reported back, “I have done as You commanded.”

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 10   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

God’s Glory Exits the Temple

1And I looked and saw above the expanse, above the heads of the cherubim, the likeness of a throne of sapphire. 2And the LORD said to the man clothed in linen, “Go inside the wheelwork beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.

3Now when the man went in, the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple, and a cloud filled the inner court. 4Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherubim and stood over the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD. 5The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almightya when He speaks.

6When the LORD commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from within the wheelwork, from among the cherubim,” the man went in and stood beside a wheel. 7Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand and took some of the fire that was among them. And he put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who received it and went out. 8(The cherubim appeared to have the form of human hands under their wings.)

9Then I looked and saw four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub. And the wheels gleamed like a beryl stone. 10As for their appearance, all four had the same form, like a wheel within a wheel. 11When they moved, they would go in any of the four directions, without turning as they moved. For wherever the head faced, the cherubim would go in that direction, without turning as they moved.

12Their entire bodies, including their backs, hands, and wings, were full of eyes all around, as were their four wheels. 13I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.”

14Each of the cherubim had four faces: the first face was that of a cherub, the second that of a man, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle.

15Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the River Kebar. 16When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them, and even when they spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not veer away from their side. 17When the cherubim stood still, the wheels also stood still, and when they ascended, the wheels ascended with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

18Then the glory of the LORD moved away from the threshold of the temple and stood above the cherubim. 19As I watched, the cherubim lifted their wings and rose up from the ground, with the wheels beside them as they went. And they stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, with the glory of the God of Israel above them.

20These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the River Kebar, and I knew that they were cherubim. 21Each had four faces and four wings, with what looked like human hands under their wings. 22Their faces looked like the faces I had seen by the River Kebar. Each creature went straight ahead.

Footnotes:

5 a Hebrew El-Shaddai

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 11   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Evil in High Places

1Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the LORD that faces east. And there at the entrance of the gate were twenty-five men. Among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, who were leaders of the people. 2And the LORD said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who plot evil and give wicked counsel in this city. 3They are saying, ‘Is not the time near to build houses? The city is the cooking pot,a and we are the meat.’ 4Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man!”

5And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me and told me to declare that this is what the LORD says: “That is what you are thinking, O house of Israel; and I know the thoughts that arise in your minds. 6You have multiplied those you killed in this city and filled its streets with the dead.

7Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: The slain you have laid within this city are the meat, and the city is the pot; but I will remove you from it. 8You fear the sword, so I will bring the sword against you, declares the Lord GOD. 9I will bring you out of the city and deliver you into the hands of foreigners, and I will execute judgments against you. 10You will fall by the sword, and I will judge you even to the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

11The city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be the meat within it. I will judge you even to the borders of Israel. 12Then you will know that I am the LORD. For you have neither followed My statutes nor practiced My ordinances, but you have conformed to the ordinances of the nations around you.”

A Promise of Restoration
(Jeremiah 32:36–44)

13Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, “Oh, Lord GOD, will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end?”

14Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 15“Son of man, your brothers—your relatives, your fellow exiles, and the whole house of Israel—are those of whom the people of Jerusalem have said, ‘They are far away from the LORD; this land has been given to us as a possession.’

16Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries to which they have gone.’

17Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries to which you have been scattered, and I will give back to you the land of Israel.’

18When they return to it, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations. 19And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh, 20so that they may follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.

21But as for those whose hearts pursue detestable things and abominations, I will bring their conduct down upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.”

God’s Glory Leaves Jerusalem

22Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. 23And the glory of the LORD rose up from within the city and stood over the mountain east of the city.

24And the Spirit lifted me up and carried me back to Chaldea,b to the exiles in the vision given by the Spirit of God. After the vision had gone up from me, 25I told the exiles everything the LORD had shown me.

Footnotes:

3 a Or cauldron

24 b Or Babylonia

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 12   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Signs of the Coming Captivity

1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.

3Therefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile. In broad daylight, set out from your place and go to another as they watch. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. 4Bring out your baggage for exile by day, as they watch. Then in the evening, as they watch, go out like those who go into exile.

5As they watch, dig through the wall and carry your belongings out through it. 6And as they watch, lift your bags to your shoulder and take them out at dusk; cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.”

7So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my bags for exile by day, and in the evening I dug through the wall by hand. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulder as they watched.

8And in the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9“Son of man, hasn’t the rebellious house of Israel asked you, ‘What are you doing?’ 10Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are there.’

11You are to say, ‘I am a sign to you.’ Just as it happened here,a so will it be done to them; they will go into exile as captives. 12And at dusk the prince among them will lift his bags to his shoulder and go out. They will dig through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land. 13But I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, and there he will die.

14And I will scatter to every wind all the attendants around him and all his troops, and I will draw a sword to chase after them. 15And they will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.

16But I will spare a few of them from sword and famine and plague, so that in the nations to which they go, they can recount all their abominations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

17Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with quivering and anxiety. 19Then tell the people of the land that this is what the Lord GOD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: ‘They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who dwell in it. 20The inhabited cities will be laid waste, and the land will become desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ ”

The Presumptuous Proverb

21Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 22“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel:

‘The days go by,
and every vision fails’?

23Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will put an end to this proverb, and in Israel they will no longer recite it.’

But say to them: ‘The days are at hand when every vision will be fulfilled. 24For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations within the house of Israel, 25because I, the LORD, will speak whatever word I speak, and it will be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak a message and bring it to pass, declares the Lord GOD.’ ”

26Furthermore, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 27“Son of man, take note that the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many years from now; he prophesies about the distant future.’

28Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘None of My words will be delayed any longer. The message I speak will be fulfilled, declares the Lord GOD.’ ”

Footnotes:

11 a Literally ‘I am a sign to you.’ Just as I have done; some translators close the quotation at the end of the verse.

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Reproof of False Prophets
(Micah 2:6–11)

1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD! 3This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, yet have seen nothing. 4Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins. 5You did not go up to the gaps or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it would stand in the battle on the Day of the LORD.

6They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.

7Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?

8Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. 9My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.

10Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built, 11tell those whitewashing the wall that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth. 12Surely when the wall has fallen, you will not be asked, ‘Where is the whitewash with which you covered it?’

13Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: In My wrath I will release a windstorm, and in My anger torrents of rain and hail will fall with destructive fury. 14I will tear down the wall you whitewashed and level it to the ground, so that its foundation is exposed. The city will fall, and you will be destroyed within it. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

15And after I have vented My wrath against the wall and against those who whitewashed it, I will say to you: ‘The wall is gone, and so are those who whitewashed it— 16those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw a vision of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Lord GOD.’

Reproof of False Prophetesses

17Now, O son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them 18and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their wrists and make veils for the heads of people of every height, in order to ensnare their souls. Will you ensnare the souls of My people but preserve your own? 19You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.

20Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: See, I am against the magic charms with which you ensnare souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. So I will free the souls you have ensnared like birds. 21I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people from your hands, so that they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

22Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives, 23therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 14   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Idolatrous Elders Condemned
(Romans 14:13–23; 1 Corinthians 8:1–13)

1Then some of the elders of Israel came and sat down before me. 2And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 3“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way?

4Therefore speak to them and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him according to his great idolatry, 5so that I may take hold of the hearts of the people of Israel. For because of their idols, they are all estranged from Me.’

6Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Repent and turn away from your idols; turn your faces away from all your abominations. 7For when any Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me, sets up idols in his heart, and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I the LORD will answer him Myself. 8I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

9But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel. 10They will bear their punishment—the punishment of the inquirer will be the same as that of the prophet— 11in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Then they will be My people and I will be their God, declares the Lord GOD.’ ”

Four Dire Judgments

12And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 13“Son of man, if a land sins against Me by acting unfaithfully, and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its supplya of food, to send famine upon it, and to cut off from it both man and beast, 14then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.

15Or if I send wild beasts through the land to leave it childless and desolate, with no man passing through it for fear of the beasts, 16then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.

17Or if I bring a sword against that land and say, ‘Let a sword pass through it,’ so that I cut off from it both man and beast, 18then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered.

19Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out My wrath upon it through bloodshed, cutting off from it both man and beast, 20then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could deliver only themselves.

21For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dire judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—in order to cut off from it both man and beast?

22Yet, behold, some survivors will be left in it—sons and daughters who will be brought out. They will come out to you, and when you see their conduct and actions, you will be comforted regarding the disaster I have brought upon Jerusalem—all that I have brought upon it. 23They will bring you consolation when you see their conduct and actions, and you will know that it was not without cause that I have done all these things within it,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

Footnotes:

13 a Hebrew staff

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 15   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jerusalem the Useless Vine

1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest? 3Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils?

4No, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devours both ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything? 5Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful. How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed it and charred it!

6Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the people of Jerusalem. 7And I will set My face against them. Though they may have escaped the fire, yet another fire will consume them. And when I set My face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.

8Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 16   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jerusalem’s Unfaithfulness

1Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her abominations 3and tell her that this is what the Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. 4On the day of your birth your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing. You were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. 5No one cared enough for you to do even one of these things out of compassion for you. Instead, you were thrown out into the open field, because you were despised on the day of your birth.

6Then I passed by and saw you wallowing in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, ‘Live!’ There I said to you, ‘Live!’ 7I made you thrive like a plant of the field. You grew up and matured and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, but you were naked and bare.

8Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD. 9Then I bathed you with water, rinsed off your blood, and anointed you with oil. 10I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. 11I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck. 12I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head.

13So you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was made of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be queen. 14Your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect in the splendor I bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD.

15But because of your fame, you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot. You lavished your favors on everyone who passed by, and your beauty was theirs for the asking. 16You took some of your garments and made colorful high places for yourself, and on them you prostituted yourself. Such things should not have happened; never should they have occurred!

17You also took the fine jewelry of gold and silver I had given you, and you made male idols with which to prostitute yourself. 18You took your embroidered garments to cover them, and you set My oil and incense before them. 19And you set before them as a pleasing aroma the food I had given you—the fine flour, oil, and honey that I had fed you. That is what happened, declares the Lord GOD.

20You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough? 21You slaughtered My children and delivered them up through the fire to idols.

22And in all your abominations and acts of prostitution, you did not remember the days of your youth when you were naked and bare, wallowing in your own blood.

23Woe! Woe to you, declares the Lord GOD. And in addition to all your other wickedness, 24you built yourself a mound and made yourself a lofty shrine in every public square. 25At the head of every street you built your lofty shrines and degraded your beauty. With increasing promiscuity, you spread your legs to all who passed by. 26You prostituted yourself with your lustful neighbors, the Egyptians, and increased your promiscuity to provoke Me to anger.

27Therefore I stretched out My hand against you and reduced your portion. I gave you over to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd conduct. 28Then you prostituted yourself with the Assyrians, because you were not yet satisfied. Even after that, you were still not satisfied. 29So you extended your promiscuity to Chaldea,a the land of merchants—but even with this you were not satisfied!

30How weak-willed is your heart,b declares the Lord GOD, while you do all these things, the acts of a shameless prostitute! 31But when you built your mounds at the head of every street and made your lofty shrines in every public square, you were not even like a prostitute, because you scorned payment.

32You adulterous wife! You receive strangers instead of your own husband! 33Men give gifts to all their prostitutes, but you gave gifts to all your lovers. You bribed them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors. 34So your prostitution is the opposite of that of other women: No one solicited your favors, and you paid a fee instead of receiving one; so you are the very opposite!

Judgment on Jerusalem

35Therefore, O prostitute, hear the word of the LORD! 36This is what the Lord GOD says: Because you poured out your wealth and exposed your nakedness in your promiscuity with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your children which you gave to them, 37therefore I will surely gather all the lovers with whom you found pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and expose you before them, and they will see you completely naked. 38And I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and those who shed blood; so I will bring upon you the wrath of your bloodshed and jealousy.

39Then I will deliver you into the hands of your lovers, and they will level your mounds and tear down your lofty shrines. They will strip off your clothes, take your fine jewelry, and leave you naked and bare. 40They will bring a mob against you, who will stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords. 41Then they will burn down your houses and execute judgment against you in the sight of many women.

I will put an end to your prostitution, and you will never again pay your lovers. 42So I will lay to rest My wrath against you, and My jealousy will turn away from you. Then I will be calm and no longer angry.

43Because you did not remember the days of your youth, but enraged Me with all these things, I will surely bring your deeds down upon your own head, declares the Lord GOD. Have you not committed this lewdness on top of all your other abominations?

44Behold, all who speak in proverbs will quote this proverb about you:

‘Like mother, like daughter.’

45You are the daughter of your mother, who despised her husband and children. You are the sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. 46Your older sister was Samaria, who lived with her daughters to your north; and your younger sister was Sodom, who lived with her daughters to your south. 47And you not only walked in their ways and practiced their abominations, but soon you were more depraved than they were.

48As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did as you and your daughters have done. 49Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy. 50Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them, as you have seen.c

51Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have multiplied your abominations beyond theirs, and all the abominations you have committed have made your sisters appear righteous. 52So now you must bear your disgrace, since you have brought justification for your sisters. For they appear more righteous than you, because your sins were more vile than theirs. So you too must bear your shame and disgrace, since you have made your sisters appear righteous.

53But I will restore Sodom and her daughters from captivity,d as well as Samaria and her daughters. And I will restore you along with them. 54So you will bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you did to comfort them.

55And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to their former state. You and your daughters will also return to your former state. 56Did you not treat your sister Sodom as an object of scorn in the day of your pride, 57before your wickedness was uncovered? Even so, you are now scorned by the daughters of Edome and all those around her, and by the daughters of the Philistines—all those around you who despise you. 58You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your abominations, declares the LORD.

The Covenant Remembered

59For this is what the Lord GOD says: I will deal with you according to your deeds, since you have despised the oath by breaking the covenant. 60But I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. 61Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your older and younger sisters. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of My covenant with you.

62So I will establish My covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD, 63so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your disgrace, declares the Lord GOD.”

Footnotes:

29 a Or Babylonia

30 b Or How feverish is your heart,

50 c A few Hebrew manuscripts and LXX; MT as I have seen

53 d Or restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters

57 e Many Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Vulgate Aram

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 17   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine
(Matthew 13:24–30)

1Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel 3and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says:

‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions,a
full of feathers of many colors,
came to Lebanon
and took away the top of the cedar.

4He plucked off its topmost shoot,
carried it to the land of merchants,
and planted it in a city of traders.

5He took some of the seed of the land
and planted it in fertile soil;b
he placed it by abundant waters
and set it out like a willow.

6It sprouted and became a spreading vine,
low in height, with branches turned toward him;
yet its roots remained where it stood.

So it became a vine and yielded branches
and sent out shoots.

7But there was another great eagle
with great wings and many feathers.

And behold, this vine bent its roots toward him.

It stretched out its branches to him from its planting bed,
so that he might water it.

8It had been planted in good soil
by abundant waters
in order to yield branches and bear fruit
and become a splendid vine.’

9So you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says:

‘Will it flourish?

Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit
so that it shrivels?

All its foliage will wither!

It will not take a strong arm or many people
to pull it up by its roots.

10Even if it is transplanted,
will it flourish?

Will it not completely wither when the east wind strikes?

It will wither on the bed where it sprouted.’ ”

The Parable Explained

11Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 12“Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’

Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, carried off its king and officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon. 13He took a member of the royal familyc and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land, 14so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, surviving only by keeping his covenant.

15But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and yet escape?’

16‘As surely as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who enthroned him, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke. 17Pharaoh with his mighty army and vast horde will not help him in battle, when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives. 18He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Seeing that he gave his hand in pledge yet did all these things, he will not escape!’

19Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘As surely as I live, I will bring down upon his head My oath that he despised and My covenant that he broke. 20I will spread My net over him and catch him in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there for the treason he committed against Me. 21All his choice troopsd will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.’

22This is what the Lord GOD says:

‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar,
and I will set it out.

I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots,
and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

23I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel
so that it will bear branches;
it will yield fruit
and become a majestic cedar.

Birds of every kind will nest under it,
taking shelter in the shade of its branches.

24Then all the trees of the field will know
that I am the LORD.

I bring the tall tree down
and make the low tree tall.

I dry up the green tree
and make the withered tree flourish.

I, the LORD, have spoken,
and I have done it.’ ”

Footnotes:

3 a Pinions are the outer parts of a bird’s wings, including the flight feathers.

5 b Hebrew in a field of seed

13 c Hebrew the royal seed

21 d Many Hebrew manuscripts; MT All his fleeing troops

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 18   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Soul Who Sins Will Die

1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:

‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the teeth of the children are set on edge’?

3As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. 4Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

5Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:

6He does not eat at the mountain
or look to the idols of the house of Israel.

He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
or approach a woman during her period.

7He does not oppress another,
but restores the pledge to the debtor.

He does not commit robbery,
but gives his bread to the hungry
and covers the naked with clothing.

8He does not engage in usury
or take excess interest,
but he withholds his hand from iniquity
and executes true justice between men.

9He follows My statutes
and faithfully keeps My ordinances.

That man is righteous;
surely he will live,
declares the Lord GOD.

10Now suppose that man has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these things, 11though the father has done none of them:

Indeed, the son eats at the mountain
and defiles his neighbor’s wife.

12He oppresses the poor and needy;
he commits robbery
and does not restore a pledge.

He lifts his eyes to idols;
he commits abominations.

13He engages in usury
and takes excess interest.

Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.

14Now suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, considers them, and does not do likewise:

15He does not eat at the mountain
or look to the idols of the house of Israel.

He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.

16He does not oppress another,
or retain a pledge, or commit robbery.

He gives his bread to the hungry
and covers the naked with clothing.

17He withholds his hand from harming the poora
and takes no interest or usury.

He keeps My ordinances
and follows My statutes.

Such a man will not die for his father’s iniquity. He will surely live.

18As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.

19Yet you may ask, ‘Why shouldn’t the son bear the iniquity of his father?’

Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will surely live.

20The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.

21But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. 22None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live. 23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?

24But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.

25Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’

Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

26If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has committed.

27But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. 28Because he considered and turned from all the transgressions he had committed, he will surely live; he will not die.

29Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’

Are My ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

30Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. 31Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?

32For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

Footnotes:

17 a Hebrew; LXX He withholds his hand from iniquity

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 19   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Lament for the Princes of Israel

1“As for you, take up a lament for the princes of Israel 2and say:

‘What was your mother?

A lioness among the lions!

She lay down among the young lions;
she reared her cubs.

3She brought up one of her cubs,
and he became a young lion.

After learning to tear his prey,
he devoured men.

4When the nations heard of him,
he was trapped in their pit.

With hooks they led him away
to the land of Egypt.

5When she saw that she had waited in vain,
that her hope was lost,
she took another of her cubs
and made him a young lion.

6He prowled among the lions,
and became a young lion.

After learning to tear his prey,
he devoured men.

7He broke down their strongholdsa
and devastated their cities.

The land and everything in it
shuddered at the sound of his roaring.

8Then the nations set out against him
from the provinces on every side.

They spread their net over him;
he was trapped in their pit.

9With hooks they caged him
and brought him to the king of Babylon.

They brought him into captivity
so that his roar was heard no longer
on the mountains of Israel.

10Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard,b
planted by the water;
it was fruitful and full of branches
because of the abundant waters.

11It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter.

It towered high above the thick branches,
conspicuous for its height
and for its dense foliage.

12But it was uprooted in fury,
cast down to the ground,
and the east wind dried up its fruit.

Its strong branches were stripped off
and they withered;
the fire consumed them.

13Now it is planted in the wilderness,
in a dry and thirsty land.

14Fire has gone out from its main branch
and devoured its fruit;
on it no strong branch remains
fit for a ruler’s scepter.’

This is a lament and shall be used as a lament.”

Footnotes:

7 a Or He knew their widows or He seized their widows

10 b Some Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts in your bloodline

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 20   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Israel’s Rebellion in Egypt

1In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down before me.

2Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD.

4Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers 5and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. With an uplifted hand I said to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.’

6On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands. 7And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’

8But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt. 9But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were living, in whose sight I had revealed Myself to Israel by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

Israel’s Rebellion in the Wilderness

10So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness. 11And I gave them My statutes and made known to them My ordinances—for the man who does these things will live by them.a
12I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

13Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they utterly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and put an end to them in the wilderness. 14But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

15Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands— 16because they kept rejecting My ordinances, refusing to walk in My statutes, and profaning My Sabbaths; for their hearts continually went after their idols. 17Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or bring them to an end in the wilderness.

18In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. 19I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. 20Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’

21But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness. 22But I withheld My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

23However, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands. 24For they did not practice My ordinances, but they rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, fixing their eyes on the idols of their fathers.

25I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live. 26And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire—so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.

Israel’s Rebellion in the Land

27Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by their unfaithfulness against Me. 28When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings. 29So I asked them: ‘What is this high place to which you go?’

(And to this day it is called Bamah.b)

30Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did, prostituting yourselves with their abominations? 31When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your sons in the fire,c you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you!

32When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of the lands, serving wood and stone,’ what you have in mind will never come to pass.

Judgment and Restoration

33As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will rule over you. 34With a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will bring you out from the peoples and gather youd from the lands to which you have been scattered. 35And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, where I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

36Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt,e so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord GOD. 37I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

39And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.

40For on My holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your offerings and choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.

41When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will show My holiness through you in the sight of the nations. 42Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land that I swore to give your fathers.

43There you will remember your ways and all the deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evils you have done. 44Then you will know, O house of Israel, that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for the sake of My name and not according to your wicked ways and corrupt acts, declares the Lord GOD.”

A Prophecy against the South

45Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 46“Son of man, set your face toward the south,f preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev. 47Say to the forest of the Negev: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite in you a fire, and it will devour all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and by it every face from south to north will be scorched. 48Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.”

49Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’ ”

Footnotes:

11 a See Leviticus 18:5; also in Ezekiel 20:13 and 21.

29 b Bamah means high place.

31 c Literally making your sons pass through the fire

34 d LXX receive you; see also 2 Corinthians 6:17.

36 e Or in the wilderness after bringing them out of Egypt

46 f Hebrew toward Teman

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 21   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

God’s Sword of Judgment

1And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel 3and tell her that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am against you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. 4Because I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked, My sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north. 5Then all flesh will know that I, the LORD, have taken My sword from its sheath, not to return it again.’

6But you, son of man, groan! Groan before their eyes with a broken heart and bitter grief. 7And when they ask, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you are to say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt, and every hand will go limp. Every spirit will faint, and every knee will turn to water.’ Yes, it is coming and it will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD.”

8Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9“Son of man, prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord says:

‘A sword, a sword,
sharpened and polished—

10it is sharpened for the slaughter,
polished to flash like lightning!

Should we rejoice in the scepter of My son?

The sword despises every such stick.

11The sword is appointed to be polished,
to be grasped in the hand.

It is sharpened and polished,
to be placed in the hand of the slayer.

12Cry out and wail,

O son of man,
for the sword is wielded against My people;
it is against all the princes of Israel!

They are tossed to the sword with My people;
therefore strike your thigh.a

13Surely testing will come!

And what if even the scepter,
which the sword despises,
does not continue?’

declares the Lord GOD.

14‘So then, son of man,
prophesy and strike your hands together.

Let the sword strike two times,
even three.

It is a sword that slays,
a sword of great slaughter
closing in on every side!

15So that their hearts may melt
and many may stumble,

I have appointed at all their gates
a sword for slaughter.

Yes, it is ready to flash like lightning;
it is drawn for slaughter.

16Slash to the right;
set your blade to the left—
wherever your blade is directed.

17I too will strike My hands together,
and I will satisfy My wrath.’

I, the LORD, have spoken.”

18Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 19“Now you, son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same land. And make a signpost where the road branches off to each city. 20Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and another against Judah into fortified Jerusalem.

21For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver.

22In his right hand appears the portent for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to call for the slaughter, to lift a battle cry, to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall. 23It will seem like a false omen to the eyes of those who have sworn allegiance to him, but it will draw attention to their guilt and take them captive.

24Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, exposing your transgressions, so that your sins are revealed in all your deeds—because you have come to remembrance—you shall be taken in hand.

25And you, O profane and wicked prince of Israel,
the day has come for your final punishment.’

26This is what the Lord GOD says:

‘Remove the turban,
and take off the crown.

Things will not remain as they are:

Exalt the lowly
and bring low the exalted.

27A ruin, a ruin,

I will make it a ruin!

And it will not be restored
until the arrival of Him to whom it belongs,
to whom I have assigned the right of judgment.b’

28Now prophesy, son of man, and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says concerning the Ammonites and their contempt:

‘A sword! A sword
is drawn for slaughter,
polished to consume,
to flash like lightning—

29while they offer false visions for you
and lying divinations about you—
to be placed on the necks
of the wicked who are slain,
whose day has come,
the time of their final punishment.

30Return the sword to its sheath!

In the place where you were created,
in the land of your origin,

I will judge you.

31I will pour out My anger upon you;

I will breathe the fire of My fury against you;

I will hand you over to brutal men,
skilled in destruction.

32You will be fuel for the fire.

Your blood will stain your own land.

You will not be remembered,
for I, the LORD, have spoken.’ ”

Footnotes:

12 a Or beat your breast

27 b Or of Him to whom it rightfully belongs, to whom I have given it.

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 22   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Sins of Jerusalem

1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“As for you, son of man, will you judge her? Will you pass judgment on the city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her abominations 3and tell her that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘O city who brings her own doom by shedding blood within her walls and making idols to defile herself, 4you are guilty of the blood you have shed, and you are defiled by the idols you have made. You have brought your days to a close and have come to the end of your years. Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations and a mockery to all the lands. 5Those near and far will mock you, O infamous city, full of turmoil.

6See how every prince of Israel within you has used his power to shed blood. 7Father and mother are treated with contempt. Within your walls the foreign resident is exploited, the fatherless and the widow are oppressed.

8You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths. 9Among you are slanderous men bent on bloodshed; within you are those who eat on the mountain shrines and commit acts of indecency.

10In you they have uncovered the nakedness of their fathers; in you they violate women during their menstrual impurity. 11One man commits an abomination with his neighbor’s wife; another wickedly defiles his daughter-in-law; and yet another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter.

12In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.

13Now look, I strike My hands together against your unjust gain and against the blood you have shed in your midst. 14Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will act. 15I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you throughout the lands; I will purge your uncleanness. 16And when you have defiled yourselfa in the eyes of the nations, then you will know that I am the LORD.’ ”

The Refining Furnace

17Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me. All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace; they are but the dross of silver.

19Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because all of you have become dross, behold, I will gather you into Jerusalem. 20Just as one gathers silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the furnace to melt with a fiery blast, so I will gather you in My anger and wrath, leave you there, and melt you.

21Yes, I will gather you together and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you will be melted within the city. 22As silver is melted in a furnace, so you will be melted within the city. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have poured out My wrath upon you.’ ”

Israel’s Wicked Leaders

23And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 24“Son of man, say to her, ‘In the day of indignation, you are a land that has not been cleansed, upon which no rain has fallen.’

25The conspiracy of the princesb in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her.

26Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.

27Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.

28Her prophets whitewash these deeds by false visions and lying divinations, saying, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken.

29The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice.

30I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it. But I found no one. 31So I have poured out My indignation upon them and consumed them with the fire of My fury. I have brought their ways down upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.”

Footnotes:

16 a Or And when I have allotted you your inheritance

25 b LXX; Hebrew prophets

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 23   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Two Adulterous Sisters

1Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother, 3and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed. 4The older was named Oholah,a and her sister was named Oholibah.b They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

5Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors 6clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all desirable young men, horsemen mounted on steeds. 7She offered sexual favors to all the elite of Assyria. She defiled herself with all the idols of those for whom she lusted.

8She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when men slept with her in her youth, caressed her virgin bosom, and poured out their lust upon her. 9Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, the Assyrians for whom she lusted. 10They exposed her nakedness, seized her sons and daughters, and put her to the sword. Thus she became a byword among women, and they executed judgment against her.

11Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister. 12She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors dressed in splendor, horsemen riding on steeds, all desirable young men. 13And I saw that she too had defiled herself; both of them had taken the same path.

14But Oholibah carried her prostitution even further. She saw the men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans,c engraved in vermilion, 15wearing belts on their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like officers of the Babylonians in Chaldea,d the land of their birth. 16At the sight of them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. 17Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. But after she had been defiled by them, she turned away in disgust.

18When Oholibah openly prostituted herself and exposed her nakedness, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister. 19Yet she multiplied her promiscuity, remembering the days of her youth, when she had prostituted herself in the land of Egypt 20and lusted after their lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of stallions. 21So you revisited the indecency of your youth, when the Egyptians caressed your bosom and pressed your young breasts.

Oholibah to Be Plagued

22Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will incite your lovers against you, those from whom you turned away in disgust. And I will bring them against you from every side— 23the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them—all desirable young men, governors and commanders, officers and men of renown, mounted on horses.

24They will come against you with a host of peoples,e with weapons, chariots, and wagons. They will array themselves against you on every side with buckler and shield and helmet. I will delegate judgment to them, and they will punish you according to their own standards. 25And I will set My jealous rage against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and ears, and your survivors will fall by the sword. They will seize your sons and daughters, and your remnant will be consumed by fire. 26They will strip off your clothes and take your fine jewelry. 27So I will put an end to your indecency and prostitution, which began in the land of Egypt, and you will not lift your eyes to them or remember Egypt anymore.’

28For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Surely I will deliver you into the hands of those you hate, from whom you turned away in disgust. 29They will treat you with hatred, take all for which you have worked, and leave you naked and bare, so that the shame of your prostitution will be exposed. Your indecency and promiscuity 30have brought these things upon you, because you have prostituted yourself with the nations and defiled yourself with their idols. 31Because you have followed the path of your sister, I will put her cup into your hand.’

32This is what the Lord GOD says:

‘You will drink your sister’s cup,
a cup deep and wide.

It will bring scorn and derision,
for it holds so much.

33You will be filled with drunkenness and grief,
with a cup of devastation and desolation,
the cup of your sister Samaria.

34You will drink it and drain it;
you will dash it to pieces,
and tear your breasts.

For I have spoken,’

declares the Lord GOD.

35Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have forgotten Me and have cast Me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your indecency and prostitution.’ ”

Judgment on Both Sisters

36Then the LORD said to me: “Son of man, will you pass judgment against Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations. 37For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to Me, in the firef as food for their idols.

38They have also done this to Me: On that very same day, they defiled My sanctuary and profaned My Sabbaths. 39On the very day they slaughtered their children for their idols, they entered My sanctuary to profane it. Yes, they did this inside My house.

40Furthermore, you sisters sentg messengers for men who came from afar; and behold, when they arrived, you bathed for them, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with jewelry. 41You sat on a couch of luxury with a table spread before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil, 42accompanied by the sound of a carefree crowd. Drunkardsh were brought in from the desert along with men from the rabble, who put bracelets on your wrists and beautiful crowns on your head.

43Then I said of her who had grown old in adulteries: ‘Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is!’

44And they slept with her as with a prostitute; they slept with Oholah and Oholibah, those lewd women. 45But righteous men will sentence them to the punishment of those who commit adultery and bloodshed, because they are adulteresses with blood on their hands.

46This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Bring a mob against them and consign them to terror and plunder. 47The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords. They will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses. 48So I will put an end to indecency in the land, and all the women will be admonished not to imitate your behavior. 49They will repay you for your indecency, and you will bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’ ”

Footnotes:

4 a Oholah means her own tent or she worships at a tent shrine, a metaphor for Samaria as an adulteress with Assyria.

4 b Oholibah means the tent is in her or she is a tent shrine, a metaphor for Jerusalem as an adulterous wife.

14 c That is, the Babylonians

15 d Or Babylonia; also in verse 16

24 e LXX They will all come against you from the north

37 f Literally passed their children, whom they bore to Me, through the fire

40 g Hebrew they sent

42 h Or Sabeans

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 24   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Parable of the Cooking Pot

1In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, write down today’s date, for on this very day the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem. 3Now speak a parable to this rebellious house and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says:

‘Put the pot on the fire;
put it on and pour in the water.

4Put in the pieces of meat,
every good piece—
thigh and shoulder—
fill it with choice bones.

5Take the choicest of the flock
and pile the fuel beneath it.

Bring it to a boil
and cook the bones in it.’

6Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says:

‘Woe to the city of bloodshed,
to the pot now rusted,
whose rust will not come off!

Empty it piece by piece;
cast no lots for its contents.a

7For the blood she shed is still within her;
she poured it out on the bare rock;
she did not pour it on the ground
to cover it with dust.

8In order to stir up wrath
and take vengeance,

I have placed her blood on the bare rock,
so that it would not be covered.’

9Yes, this is what the Lord GOD says:

‘Woe to the city of bloodshed!

I, too, will pile the kindling high.

10Pile on the logs and kindle the fire;
cook the meat well
and mix in the spices;
let the bones be burned.

11Set the empty pot on its coals
until it becomes hot and its copper glows.

Then its impurity will melt within;
its rust will be consumed.

12It has frustrated every effort;
its thick rust has not been removed,
even by the fire.

13Because of the indecency of your uncleanness

I tried to cleanse you,
but you would not be purified
from your filthiness.

You will not be pure again
until My wrath against you has subsided.

14I, the LORD, have spoken;
the time is coming, and I will act.

I will not refrain or show pity,
nor will I relent.

I will judge you
according to your ways and deeds,’

declares the Lord GOD.”

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

15Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 16“Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow. 17Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.”

18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded.

19Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean to us?”

20So I answered them, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying: 21Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.’

22Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners. 23Your turbans will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins, and you will groan among yourselves.

24‘Thus Ezekiel will be a sign for you; you will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’

25And you, son of man, know that on the day I take away their stronghold, their pride and joy—the desire of their eyes which uplifted their souls—and their sons and daughters as well, 26on that day a fugitive will come and tell you the news. 27On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you will speak and no longer be mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.”

Footnotes:

6 a Or let no lot fall upon it

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 25   ▶   ▶

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A Prophecy against Ammon

1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3Tell the Ammonites to hear the word of the Lord GOD, for this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you exclaimed, “Aha!” when My sanctuary was profaned, when the land of Israel was laid waste, and when the house of Judah went into exile, 4therefore I will indeed give you as a possession to the people of the East. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and Ammona a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’

6For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you clapped your hands and stomped your feet and rejoiced over the land of Israel with a heart full of contempt, 7therefore I will indeed stretch out My hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the LORD.’

A Prophecy against Moab

8This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Moab and Seirb said, “Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,” 9therefore I will indeed expose the flank of Moab beginning with its frontier cities—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim—the glory of the land. 10I will give it along with the Ammonites as a possession to the people of the East, so that the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations. 11So I will execute judgments on Moab, and they will know that I am the LORD.’

A Prophecy against Edom

12This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt, 13therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. 14I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’

A Prophecy against the Philistines

15This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance, taking vengeance with malice of soul to destroy Judah with ancient hostility, 16therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant along the coast. 17I will execute great vengeance against them with furious reproof. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I lay My vengeance upon them.’ ”

Footnotes:

5 a Hebrew and the Ammonites

8 b LXX does not include and Seir.

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 26   ▶   ▶

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A Prophecy against Tyre
(Isaiah 23:1–18)

1In the eleventh month of the twelfth year,a on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken; it has swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will be filled,’ 3therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, O Tyre, I am against you, and I will raise up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. 4They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and make her a bare rock. 5She will become a place to spread nets in the sea, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD. She will become plunder for the nations, 6and the villages on her mainland will be slain by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’

7For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzarb king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with cavalry and a great company of troops. 8He will slaughter the villages of your mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp to your walls, and raise his shields against you. 9He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and tear down your towers with his axes. 10His multitude of horses will cover you in their dust.

When he enters your gates as an army entering a breached city, your walls will shake from the noise of cavalry, wagons, and chariots. 11The hooves of his horses will trample all your streets. He will slaughter your people with the sword, and your mighty pillars will fall to the ground. 12They will plunder your wealth and pillage your merchandise. They will demolish your walls, tear down your beautiful homes, and throw your stones and timber and soil into the water.

13So I will silence the sound of your songs, and the music of your lyres will no longer be heard. 14I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread the fishing nets. You will never be rebuilt, for I, the LORD, have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.’

15This is what the Lord GOD says to Tyre: ‘Will not the coastlands quake at the sound of your downfall, when the wounded groan at the slaughter in your midst?

16All the princes of the sea will descend from their thrones, remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled over you. 17Then they will lament for you, saying,

“How you have perished, O city of renown
inhabited by seafaring men—
she who was powerful on the sea, along with her people,
who imposed terror on all peoples!c

18Now the coastlands tremble
on the day of your downfall;
the islands in the sea
are dismayed by your demise.” ’

19For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When I make you a desolate city like other deserted cities, and when I raise up the deep against you so that the mighty waters cover you, 20then I will bring you down with those who descend to the Pit, to the people of antiquity. I will make you dwell in the earth below like the ancient ruins, with those who descend to the Pit, so that you will no longer be inhabited or set in splendord in the land of the living. 21I will make you an object of horror, and you will be no more. You will be sought, but will never be found,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

Footnotes:

1 a Likely reading of the original Hebrew text; MT In the eleventh year

7 b Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, a variant of Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon). The latter spelling is used throughout Ezekiel for consistency.

17 c Or on all her inhabitants

20 d LXX or take your place

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 27   ▶   ▶

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A Lament for Tyre

1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Now you, son of man, take up a lament for Tyre. 3Tell Tyre, who dwells at the gateway to the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coasts, that this is what the Lord GOD says:

You have said, O Tyre,

‘I am perfect in beauty.’

4Your borders are in the heart of the seas;
your builders perfected your beauty.

5They constructed all your planking
with cypressa from Senir.b

They took a cedar from Lebanon
to make a mast for you.

6Of oaks from Bashan
they made your oars;
of wood from the coasts of Cyprusc
they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.

7Of embroidered fine linen from Egypt
they made your sail,
which served as your banner.

Of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah
they made your awning.

8The men of Sidon and Arvad
were your oarsmen.

Your men of skill, O Tyre,
were there as your captains.

9The elders of Gebal were aboard as shipwrights,
repairing your leaks.

All the ships of the sea and their sailors
came alongside to barter for your merchandise.

10Men of Persia, Lydia, and Put
served as warriors in your army.

They hung their shields and helmets on your walls;
they gave you splendor.

11Men of Arvad and Helech
manned your walls all around,
and the men of Gammad
were in your towers.

They hung their shields around your walls;
they perfected your beauty.

12Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.

13Javan,d Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your merchandise.

14The men of Beth-togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares.

15The men of Dedane were your clients; many coastlands were your market; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.

16Aramf was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.

17Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith, cakes and honey, oil and balm for your merchandise.

18Because of your many products and your great wealth of goods, Damascus traded with you wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar, 19and casks of wine from Izal for your wares.g Wrought iron, cassia, and sweet caneh were exchanged for your merchandise.i

20Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding.

21Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers, trading in lambs, rams, and goats.

22The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged gold, the finest of all spices, and precious stones.

23Haran, Canneh, and Eden traded with you, and so did the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad. 24In your marketplace they traded with you fine garments of blue, embroidered work, and multicolored rugs with cords tightly twisted and knotted.

25The ships of Tarshishj
carried your merchandise.

And you were filled with heavy cargo
in the heart of the sea.

26Your oarsmen have brought you
onto the high seas,
but the east wind will shatter you
in the heart of the sea.

27Your wealth, wares, and merchandise,
your sailors, captains, and shipwrights,
your merchants and all the warriors within you,
with all the other people on board,
will sink into the heart of the sea
on the day of your downfall.

28The countryside will shake
when your sailors cry out.

29All who handle the oars
will abandon their ships.

The sailors and all the captains of the sea
will stand on the shore.

30They will raise their voices for you
and cry out bitterly.

They will throw dust on their heads
and roll in ashes.

31They will shave their heads for you
and wrap themselves in sackcloth.

They will weep over you
with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.

32As they wail and mourn over you,
they will take up a lament for you:

‘Who was ever like Tyre,
silenced in the middle of the sea?

33When your wares went out to sea,
you satisfied many nations.

You enriched the kings of the earth
with your abundant wealth and merchandise.

34Now you are shattered by the seas
in the depths of the waters;
your merchandise and the people among you
have gone down with you.

35All the people of the coastlands
are appalled over you.

Their kings shudder with fear;
their faces are contorted.

36Those who trade among the nations
hiss at you;
you have come to a horrible end
and will be no more.’ ”

Footnotes:

5 a Or pine or juniper or fir

5 b That is, Mount Hermon

6 c Hebrew Kittim

13 d That is, Greece

15 e Hebrew; LXX Rhodes

16 f Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Edom

19 g Probable reading; MT —and Dan and Javan from Uzal (traded) for your wares

19 h Or calamus

19 i Or were among your merchandise

25 j Or A fleet of trading ships

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 28   ▶   ▶

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A Prophecy against the Ruler of Tyre

1And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says:

Your heart is proud,
and you have said,

‘I am a god;

I sit in the seat of gods
in the heart of the sea.’

Yet you are a man and not a god,
though you have regarded your heart
as that of a god.

3Behold, you are wiser than Daniel;
no secret is hidden from you!

4By your wisdom and understanding
you have gained your wealth
and amassed gold and silver
for your treasuries.

5By your great skill in trading
you have increased your wealth,
but your heart has grown proud
because of it.

6Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says:

Because you regard your heart
as the heart of a god,

7behold, I will bring foreigners against you,
the most ruthless of nations.

They will draw their swords
against the beauty of your wisdom
and will defile your splendor.

8They will bring you down to the Pit,
and you will die a violent death
in the heart of the seas.

9Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’

in the presence of those who slay you?

You will be only a man, not a god,
in the hands of those who wound you.

10You will die the death of the uncircumcised
at the hands of foreigners.

For I have spoken,
declares the Lord GOD.”

A Lament for the King of Tyre

11Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 12“Son of man, take up a lament for the king of Tyre and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says:

‘You were the seal of perfection,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

13You were in Eden,
the garden of God.

Every kind of precious stone adorned you:a
ruby, topaz, and diamond,
beryl, onyx, and jasper,
sapphire,b turquoise, and emerald.

Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold,
prepared on the day of your creation.

14You were anointed as a guardian cherub,
for I had ordained you.

You were on the holy mountain of God;
you walked among the fiery stones.

15From the day you were created
you were blameless in your ways—
until wickedness was found in you.

16By the vastness of your trade,
you were filled with violence, and you sinned.

So I drove you in disgrace
from the mountain of God,
and I banished you, O guardian cherub,
from among the fiery stones.

17Your heart grew proud of your beauty;
you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor;
so I cast you to the earth;

I made you a spectacle before kings.

18By the multitude of your iniquities
and the dishonesty of your trading
you have profaned your sanctuaries.

So I made fire come from within you,
and it consumed you.

I reduced you to ashes on the ground
in the eyes of all who saw you.

19All the nations who know you
are appalled over you.

You have come to a horrible end
and will be no more.’ ”

A Prophecy against Sidon

20Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 21“Son of man, set your face against Sidon and prophesy against her. 22And you are to declare that this is what the Lord GOD says:

‘Behold, I am against you, O Sidon,
and I will be glorified within you.

They will know that I am the LORD
when I execute judgments against her
and demonstrate My holiness through her.

23I will send a plague against her
and shed blood in her streets;
the slain will fall within her,
while the sword is against her on every side.

Then they will know that I am the LORD.

24For the people of Israel will no longer face a pricking brier or a painful thorn from all around them who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.’

The Restoration of Israel
(Jeremiah 30:1–17)

25This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they have been scattered, I will show Myself holy among them in the sight of the nations.

Then they will dwell in their own land, which I have given to My servant Jacob. 26And there they will dwell securely, build houses, and plant vineyards. They will dwell securely when I execute judgments against all those around them who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.’ ”

Footnotes:

13 a The precise identification of some of these gemstones is uncertain.

13 b Or lapis lazuli

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 29   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Prophecy against Pharaoh

1In the tenth year, on the twelfth day of the tenth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. 3Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says:

Behold, I am against you,

O Pharaoh king of Egypt,

O great monster who lies
among his rivers,
who says, ‘The Nile is mine;

I made it myself.’

4But I will put hooks in your jaws
and cause the fish of your streams
to cling to your scales.

I will haul you up out of your rivers,
and all the fish of your streams
will cling to your scales.

5I will leave you in the desert,
you and all the fish of your streams.

You will fall on the open field
and will not be taken away
or gathered for burial.

I have given you as food
to the beasts of the earth
and the birds of the air.

6Then all the people of Egypt
will know that I am the LORD.

For you were only a staff of reeds
to the house of Israel.

7When Israel took hold of you with their hands,
you splintered, tearing all their shoulders;
when they leaned on you,
you broke, and their backs were wrenched.a

The Desolation of Egypt

8Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will bring a sword against you and cut off from you man and beast. 9The land of Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it,’ 10therefore I am against you and against your rivers. I will turn the land of Egypt into a ruin, a desolate wasteland from Migdol to Syene, and as far as the border of Cush.b
11No foot of man or beast will pass through, and it will be uninhabited for forty years.

12I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among desolate lands, and her cities will lie desolate for forty years among the ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.

13For this is what the Lord GOD says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations to which they were scattered. 14I will restore Egypt from captivityc and bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin. There they will be a lowly kingdom.

15Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the nations. For I will diminish Egypt so that it will never again rule over the nations. 16Egypt will never again be an object of trust for the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity in turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.”

Egypt the Reward of Nebuchadnezzar

17In the twenty-seventh year, on the first day of the first month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre. Every head was made bald and every shoulder made raw. But he and his army received no wages from Tyre for the labor they expended on it.

19Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will carry off its wealth, seize its spoil, and remove its plunder. This will be the wages for his army. 20I have given him the land of Egypt as the reward for his labor, because it was done for Me, declares the Lord GOD.

21In that day I will cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth to speak among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Footnotes:

7 a Syriac (see also LXX and Vulgate); Hebrew and you caused their loins to shake.

10 b That is, the upper Nile region

14 c Or restore the fortunes of Egypt

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 30   ▶   ▶

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A Lament for Egypt

1Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, prophesy and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says:

Wail, ‘Alas
for that day!’

3For the day is near,
the Day of the LORD is near.

It will be a day of clouds,
a time of doom for the nations.a

4A sword will come against Egypt,
and there will be anguish in Cushb
when the slain fall in Egypt,
its wealth is taken away,
and its foundations are torn down.

5Cush, Put, and Lud,c
and all the various peoples,
as well as Libya and the men of the covenant land,
will fall with Egypt by the sword.

6For this is what the LORD says:

The allies of Egypt will fall,
and her proud strength will collapse.

From Migdol to Syened
they will fall by the sword within her,
declares the Lord GOD.

7They will be desolate among desolate lands,
and their cities will lie among ruined cities.

8Then they will know that I am the LORD
when I set fire to Egypt
and all her helpers are shattered.

9On that day messengers will go out from Me in ships to frighten Cush out of complacency. Anguish will come upon them on the day of Egypt’s doom.e For it is indeed coming.

10This is what the Lord GOD says:

I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt
by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

11He and his people with him,
the most ruthless of the nations,
will be brought in to destroy the land.

They will draw their swords against Egypt
and fill the land with the slain.

12I will make the streams dry up
and sell the land to the wicked.

By the hands of foreigners I will bring desolation
upon the land and everything in it.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

13This is what the Lord GOD says:

I will destroy the idols
and put an end to the images in Memphis.f

There will no longer be a prince in Egypt,
and I will instill fear in that land.

14I will lay waste Pathros,
set fire to Zoan,
and execute judgment on Thebes.g

15I will pour out My wrath on Pelusium,h
the stronghold of Egypt,
and cut off the crowds of Thebes.

16I will set fire to Egypt,

Pelusium will writhe in anguish,

Thebes will be split open,
and Memphis will face daily distress.

17The young men of On and Pi-besethi
will fall by the sword,
and those cities will go into captivity.

18The day will be darkened in Tahpanhes
when I break the yoke of Egypt
and her proud strength comes to an end.

A cloud will cover her,
and her daughters will go into captivity.

19So I will execute judgment on Egypt,
and they will know that I am the LORD.”

Pharaoh’s Power Broken

20In the eleventh year, on the seventh day of the first month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 21“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. See, it has not been bound up for healing, or splinted for strength to hold the sword.

22Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the strong one and the one already broken, and will make the sword fall from his hand. 23I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.

24I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place My sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, who will groan before him like a mortally wounded man. 25I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king, but Pharaoh’s arms will fall limp.

Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I place My sword in the hand of Babylon’s king, and he wields it against the land of Egypt. 26I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew does not include of doom.

4 b That is, the upper Nile region; also in verses 5 and 9

5 c Or Lydia

6 d That is, Aswan; see Isaiah 49:12

9 e Hebrew the day of Egypt

13 f LXX; Hebrew Noph; also in verse 16

14 g Hebrew No; also in verses 15 and 16

15 h Hebrew Sin; also in verse 16

17 i That is, Heliopolis and Bubastis, as in LXX; Hebrew Aven and Pi-beseth

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 31   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Egypt Will Fall like Assyria

1In the eleventh year, on the first day of the third month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude:

‘Who can be compared
to your greatness?

3Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon,
with beautiful branches that shaded the forest.

It towered on high;
its top was among the clouds.

4The waters made it grow;
the deep springs made it tall,
directing their streams all around its base
and sending their channels to all the trees of the field.

5Therefore it towered higher
than all the trees of the field.

Its branches multiplied,
and its boughs grew long
as it spread them out
because of the abundant waters.

6All the birds of the air
nested in its branches,
and all the beasts of the field
gave birth beneath its boughs;
all the great nations
lived in its shade.

7It was beautiful in its greatness,
in the length of its limbs,
for its roots extended
to abundant waters.

8The cedars in the garden of God
could not rival it;
the cypressesa could not compare with its branches,
nor the plane treesb match its boughs.

No tree in the garden of God
could compare with its beauty.

9I made it beautiful with its many branches,
the envy of all the trees of Eden,
which were in the garden of God.’

10Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Since it became greatc in height and set its top among the clouds,d and it grew proud on account of its height, 11I delivered it into the hand of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with it according to its wickedness. I have banished it.

12Foreigners, the most ruthless of the nations, cut it down and left it. Its branches have fallen on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs lay broken in all the earth’s ravines. And all the peoples of the earth left its shade and abandoned it.

13All the birds of the air nested on its fallen trunk, and all the beasts of the field lived among its boughs. 14This happened so that no other trees by the waters would become great in height and set their tops among the clouds, and no other well-watered trees would reach them in height. For they have all been consigned to death, to the depths of the earth, among the mortals who descend to the Pit.’

15This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the day it was brought down to Sheol, I caused mourning. I covered the deep because of it; I held back its rivers; its abundant waters were restrained. I made Lebanon mourn for it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it. 16I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend to the Pit.

Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, all the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below. 17They too descended with it to Sheol, to those slain by the sword. As its allies they had lived in its shade among the nations.

18Who then is like you in glory and greatness among the trees of Eden? You also will be brought down to the depths of the earth to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD.’ ”

Footnotes:

8 a Or pines or junipers or firs

8 b Possibly chestnut or juniper

10 c Hebrew you became great

10 d Or through the thick boughs

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 32   ▶   ▶

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A Lament for Pharaoh King of Egypt

1In the twelfth year, on the first day of the twelfth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, take up a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:

‘You are like a lion among the nations;
you are like a monster in the seas.

You thrash about in your rivers,
churning up the waters with your feet
and muddying the streams.’

3This is what the Lord GOD says:

‘I will spread My net over you
with a company of many peoples,
and they will draw you up in My net.

4I will abandon you on the land
and hurl you into the open field.

I will cause all the birds of the air
to settle upon you,
and all the beasts of the earth
to eat their fill of you.

5I will put your flesh on the mountains
and fill the valleys with your remains.a

6I will drench the land
with the flow of your blood,
all the way to the mountains—
the ravines will be filled.

7When I extinguish you,

I will cover the heavens
and darken their stars.

I will cover the sun with a cloud,
and the moon will not give its light.

8All the shining lights in the heavens

I will darken over you,
and I will bring darkness
upon your land,’

declares the Lord GOD.

9‘I will trouble the hearts of many peoples,
when I bring about your destruction among the nations,
in countriesb you do not know.

10I will cause many peoples
to be appalled over you,
and their kings will shudder in horror because of you
when I brandish My sword before them.

On the day of your downfall
each of them will tremble
every moment for his life.’

11For this is what the Lord GOD says:

‘The sword of the king of Babylon
will come against you!

12I will make your hordes fall
by the swords of the mighty,
the most ruthless of all nations.

They will ravage the pride of Egypt
and all her multitudes will be destroyed.

13I will slaughter all her cattle
beside the abundant waters.

No human foot will muddy them again,
and no cattle hooves will disturb them.

14Then I will let her waters settle
and will make her rivers flow like oil,’

declares the Lord GOD.

15‘When I make the land of Egypt a desolation
and empty it of all that filled it,
when I strike down all who live there,
then they will know that I am the LORD.’

16This is the lament they will chant for her; the daughters of the nations will chant it. Over Egypt and all her multitudes they will chant it, declares the Lord GOD.”

Egypt Cast into the Pit

17In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month,c the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, wail for the multitudes of Egypt, and consign her and the daughters of the mighty nations to the depths of the earth with those who descend to the Pit:

19Whom do you surpass in beauty?

Go down and be placed with the uncircumcised!

20They will fall among those slain by the sword.

The sword is appointed!

Let them drag her away
along with all her multitudes.

21Mighty chiefs will speak from the midst of Sheol
about Egypt and her allies:

‘They have come down and lie with the uncircumcised,
with those slain by the sword.’

22Assyria is there with her whole company;
her graves are all around her.

All of them are slain,
fallen by the sword.

23Her graves are set in the depths of the Pit,
and her company is all around her grave.

All of them are slain,
fallen by the sword—
those who once spread terror
in the land of the living.

24Elam is there
with all her multitudes around her grave.

All of them are slain,
fallen by the sword—
those who went down uncircumcised
to the earth below,
who once spread their terror
in the land of the living.

They bear their disgrace
with those who descend to the Pit.

25Among the slain they prepare
a resting place for Elam
with all her hordes,
with her graves all around her.

All of them are uncircumcised,
slain by the sword,
although their terror was once spread
in the land of the living.

They bear their disgrace
with those who descend to the Pit.

They are placed among the slain.

26Meshech and Tubal are there
with all their multitudes,
with their graves all around them.

All of them are uncircumcised,
slain by the sword,
because they spread their terror
in the land of the living.

27They do not lie down
with the fallen warriors of old,d
who went down to Sheol
with their weapons of war,
whose swords were placed under their heads,
whose shieldse rested on their bones,
although the terror of the mighty
was once in the land of the living.

28But you too will be shattered
and lie down among the uncircumcised,
with those slain by the sword.

29Edom is there,
and all her kings and princes,
who despite their might
are laid among those slain by the sword.

They lie down with the uncircumcised,
with those who descend to the Pit.

30All the leaders of the north
and all the Sidonians are there;
they went down in disgrace with the slain,
despite the terror of their might.

They lie uncircumcised
with those slain by the sword
and bear their shame
with those who descend to the Pit.

31Pharaoh will see them
and be comforted over all his multitude—

Pharaoh and all his army,
slain by the sword,
declares the Lord GOD.

32For I will spread My terror
in the land of the living,
so that Pharaoh and all his multitude
will be laid to rest among the uncircumcised,
with those slain by the sword,
declares the Lord GOD.”

Footnotes:

5 a Or your lofty stature

9 b Hebrew; LXX when I lead you into captivity among the nations, into countries

17 c Presumably the fifteenth day of the twelfth month (see verse 1); LXX on the fifteenth day of the first month.

27 d LXX; Hebrew warriors of the uncircumcised

27 e Likely reading of the original Hebrew text; MT iniquities

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 33   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Ezekiel the Watchman for Israel

1Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: ‘Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land choose a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman, 3and he sees the sword coming against that land and blows the ram’s horn to warn the people.

4Then if anyone hears the sound of the horn but fails to heed the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. 5Since he heard the sound of the horn but failed to heed the warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved his life.

6But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’

7As for you, O son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word from My mouth and give them the warning from Me. 8If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.a

The Message of the Watchman

10Now as for you, son of man, tell the house of Israel that this is what they have said: ‘Our transgressions and our sins are heavy upon us, and we are wasting away because of them! How can we live?’

11Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

12Therefore, son of man, say to your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked man cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. Nor will the righteous man be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins.’

13If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but he then trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteous works will be remembered; he will die because of the iniquity he has committed.

14But if I tell the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and does what is just and right— 15if he restores a pledge, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without practicing iniquity—then he will surely live; he will not die. 16None of the sins he has committed will be held against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live.

17Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. 18If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die for it. 19But if a wicked man turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of this.

20Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to his ways, O house of Israel.”

Word of Jerusalem’s Fall

21In the twelfth year of our exile, on the fifth day of the tenth month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and reported, “The city has been taken!”

22Now the evening before the fugitive arrived, the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer mute.

23Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 24“Son of man, those living in the ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’

25Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You eat meat with the blood in it, lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land? 26You have relied on your swords, you have committed detestable acts, and each of you has defiled his neighbor’s wife. Should you then possess the land?’

27Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘As surely as I live, those in the ruins will fall by the sword, those in the open field I will give to be devoured by wild animals, and those in the strongholds and caves will die by plague. 28I will make the land a desolate waste, and the pride of her strength will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will become desolate, so that no one will pass through. 29Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolate waste because of all the abominations they have committed.’

30As for you, son of man, your people are talking about you near the city walls and in the doorways of their houses. One speaks to another, each saying to his brother, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD!’

31So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. 32Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice. 33So when it comes to pass—and surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

Footnotes:

9 a See Acts 20:25–26

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 34   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Prophecy against Israel’s Shepherds

1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? 3You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock.

4You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. 5They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. 6My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’

7Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because My flock lacks a shepherd and has become prey and food for every wild beast, and because My shepherds did not search for My flock but fed themselves instead, 9therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!’

10This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand from them My flock and remove them from tending the flock, so that they can no longer feed themselves. For I will deliver My flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.’

The Good Shepherd
(Psalm 23:1–6; John 10:1–21)

11For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. 12As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock.

I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the settlements of the land. 14I will feed them in good pasture, and the lofty mountains of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

15I will tend My flock and make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice.’

17This is what the Lord GOD says to you, My flock: ‘I will judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the goats. 18Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink the clear waters? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19Why must My flock feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied?’

20Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says to them: ‘Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Since you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak ones with your horns until you have scattered them abroad, 22I will save My flock, and they will no longer be prey. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd. 24I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken.

The Covenant of Peace

25I will make with them a covenant of peace and rid the land of wild animals, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest. 26I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season—showers of blessing. 27The trees of the field will give their fruit, and the land will yield its produce; My flock will be secure in their land. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and delivered them from the hands that enslaved them.

28They will no longer be prey for the nations, and the beasts of the earth will not consume them. They will dwell securely, and no one will frighten them.

29And I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. 30Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people,’ declares the Lord GOD.

31‘You are My flock, the sheep of My pasture, My people, and I am your God,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 35   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Prophecy against Mount Seir

1Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it, 3and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says:

Behold, I am against you,

O Mount Seir.

I will stretch out My hand against you
and make you a desolate waste.

4I will turn your cities into ruins,
and you will become a desolation.

Then you will know that I am the LORD.

5Because you harbored an ancient hatred and delivered the Israelites over to the sword in the time of their disaster at the final stage of their punishment, 6therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, it will pursue you.

7I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste and will cut off from it those who come and go. 8I will fill its mountains with the slain; those killed by the sword will fall on your hills, in your valleys, and in all your ravines. 9I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

10Because you have said, ‘These two nations and countries will be ours, and we will possess them,’ even though the LORD was there, 11therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will treat you according to the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred against them, and I will make Myself known among them when I judge you.

12Then you will know that I, the LORD, have heard every contemptuous word you uttered against the mountains of Israel when you said, ‘They are desolate; they are given to us to devour!’ 13You boasted against Me with your mouth and multiplied your words against Me. I heard it Myself!

14This is what the Lord GOD says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. 15As you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, so will I do to you. You will become a desolation, O Mount Seir, and so will all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 36   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel

1“And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say: O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. 2This is what the Lord GOD says: Because the enemy has said of you, ‘Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession,’ 3therefore prophesy and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Because they have made you desolate and have trampled you on every side, so that you became a possession of the rest of the nations and were taken up in slander by the lips of their talkers, 4therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD.

This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and abandoned cities, which have become a spoil and a mockery to the rest of the nations around you. 5Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Surely in My burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who took My land as their own possession with wholehearted joy and utter contempt, so that its pastureland became plunder.

6Therefore, prophesy concerning the land of Israel and tell the mountains and hills, the ravines and valleys, that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I have spoken in My burning zeal because you have endured the reproach of the nations.

7Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I have sworn with an uplifted hand that surely the nations around you will endure reproach of their own. 8But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and bear fruit for My people Israel, for they will soon come home.

9For behold, I am on your side; I will turn toward you, and you will be tilled and sown. 10I will multiply the people upon you—the house of Israel in its entirety. The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11I will fill you with people and animals, and they will multiply and be fruitful. I will make you as inhabited as you once were, and I will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

12Yes, I will cause My people Israel to walk upon you; they will possess you, and you will be their inheritance, and you will no longer deprive them of their children.

13For this is what the Lord GOD says: Because people say to you, ‘You devour men and deprive your nation of its children,’ 14therefore you will no longer devour men or deprive your nation of its children, declares the Lord GOD. 15I will no longer allow the taunts of the nations to be heard against you, and you will no longer endure the reproach of the peoples or cause your nation to stumble, declares the Lord GOD.”

A New Heart and a New Spirit
(Romans 8:9–11; Galatians 5:16–26)

16Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 17“Son of man, when the people of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds. Their behavior before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman’s impurity. 18So I poured out My wrath upon them because of the blood they had shed on the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols.

19I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered throughout the lands. I judged them according to their ways and deeds. 20And wherever they went among the nations, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave His land.’ 21But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone.

22Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went. 23I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when I show My holiness in you before their eyes.

24For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you back into your own land. 25I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

28Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God. 29I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and make it plentiful, and I will not bring famine upon you. 30I will also make the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field plentiful, so that you will no longer bear reproach among the nations on account of famine.

31Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and abominations. 32It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD—let it be known to you. Be ashamed and disgraced for your ways, O house of Israel!

33This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be resettled and the ruins to be rebuilt. 34The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through. 35Then they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’

36Then the nations around you that remain will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt what was destroyed, and I have replanted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.

37This is what the Lord GOD says: Once again I will hear the plea of the house of Israel and do for them this: I will multiply their people like a flock. 38Like the numerous flocks for sacrifices at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so the ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 37   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Valley of Dry Bones

1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones. 2He led me all around among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, and indeed, they were very dry.

3Then He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones come to life?”

“O Lord GOD,” I replied, “only You know.”

4And He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and tell them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breatha to enter you, and you will come to life. 6I will attach tendons to you and make flesh grow upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath within you so that you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ ”

7So I prophesied as I had been commanded. And as I prophesied, there was suddenly a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8As I looked on, tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.

9Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!”

10So I prophesied as He had commanded me, and the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet—a vast army.

11Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’

12Therefore prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘O My people, I will open your graves and bring you up from them, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13Then you, My people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14I will put My Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.’ ”

One Nation with One King

15Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 16“And you, son of man, take a single stickb and write on it: ‘Belonging to Judah and to the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Joseph—the stick of Ephraim—and to all the house of Israel associated with him.’ 17Then join them together into one stick, so that they become one in your hand.

18When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you explain to us what you mean by these?’ 19you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel associated with him, and I will put them together with the stick of Judah. I will make them into a single stick, and they will become one in My hand.’

20When the sticks on which you write are in your hand and in full view of the people, 21you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take the Israelites out of the nations to which they have gone, and I will gather them from all around and bring them into their own land. 22I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over all of them. Then they will no longer be two nations and will never again be divided into two kingdoms.

23They will no longer defile themselves with their idols or detestable images, or with any of their transgressions. I will save them from all their apostasies by which they sinned,c and I will cleanse them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God. 24My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow My ordinances and keep and observe My statutes.

25They will live in the land that I gave to My servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They will live there forever with their children and grandchildren, and My servant David will be their prince forever. 26And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary among them forever. 27My dwelling placed will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be My people.e
28Then the nations will know that I the LORD sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is among them forever.’ ”

Footnotes:

5 a Or spirit; also in verses 6, 9, and 10

16 b Or one branch; also in verses 17, 19, and 20

23 c Many Hebrew manuscripts (see also LXX); most Hebrew manuscripts all their dwelling places where they sinned

27 d Or My tabernacle

27 e Cited in 2 Corinthians 6:16

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 38   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Prophecy against Gog

1And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.a Prophesy against him 3and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.b
4I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with all your army—your horses, your horsemen in full armor, and a great company armed with shields and bucklers, all brandishing their swords. 5Persia, Cush,c and Put will accompany them, all with shields and helmets, 6as well as Gomer with all its troops, and Beth-togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.

7Get ready; prepare yourself, you and all your company gathered around you; you will be their guard. 8After a long time you will be summoned. In the latter years you will enter a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and all now dwell securely. 9You and all your troops, and many peoples with you will go up, advancing like a thunderstorm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.

10This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan. 11You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will come against a tranquil people who dwell securely, all of them living without walls or bars or gates— 12in order to seize the spoil and carry off the plunder, to turn a hand against the desolate places now inhabited and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and possessions and who live at the center of the land.’

13Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villagesd will ask, ‘Have you come to capture the plunder? Have you assembled your hordes to carry away loot, to make off with silver and gold, to take cattle and goods, to seize great spoil?’

14Therefore prophesy, son of man, and tell Gog that this is what the Lord GOD says: On that day when My people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not take notice of this?e
15And you will come from your place out of the far north—you and many peoples with you, all riding horses—a mighty horde, a huge army. 16You will advance against My people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the latter days, O Gog, that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I show Myself holy in you before their eyes.

17This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one of whom I have spoken in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who in those times prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? 18Now on that day when Gog comes against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, My wrath will flare up.

19In My zeal and fiery rage I proclaim that on that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that crawls upon the ground, and all mankind on the face of the earth will tremble at My presence. The mountains will be thrown down, the cliffs will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground.

21And I will summon a sword against Gog on all My mountains, declares the Lord GOD, and every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. 23I will magnify and sanctify Myself, and will reveal Myself in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Footnotes:

2 a Or of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal

3 b Or Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal

5 c That is, the upper Nile region

13 d Or young lions

14 e LXX will you not rouse yourself?

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The Slaughter of Gog’s Armies

1“As for you, O son of man, prophesy against Gog and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.a
2I will turn you around, drive you along, bring you up from the far north, and send you against the mountains of Israel. 3Then I will strike the bow from your left hand and dash down the arrows from your right hand.

4On the mountains of Israel you will fall—you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to every kind of ravenous bird and wild beast. 5You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.

6I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the LORD. 7So I will make My holy name known among My people Israel and will no longer allow it to be profaned. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. 8Yes, it is coming, and it will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD. This is the day of which I have spoken.

9Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, kindle fires, and burn up the weapons—the bucklers and shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel. 10They will not gather wood from the countryside or cut it from the forests, for they will use the weapons for fuel. They will loot those who looted them and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord GOD.

11And on that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Sea.b It will block those who travel through, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog.c
12For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. 13All the people of the land will bury them, and it will bring them renown on the day I display My glory,d declares the Lord GOD.

14And men will be employed to continually pass through the land to cleanse it by burying the invaders who remain on the ground. At the end of the seven months they will begin their search. 15As they pass through the land, anyone who sees a human bone will set up a pillar next to it, until the gravediggers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog. 16(Even the city will be named Hamonah.e) And so they will cleanse the land.

17And as for you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: Call out to every kind of bird and to every beast of the field: ‘Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great feast on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood. 18You will eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all the fattened animals of Bashan. 19At the sacrifice I am preparing, you will eat fat until you are gorged and drink blood until you are drunk. 20And at My table you will eat your fill of horses and riders, of mighty men and warriors of every kind,’ declares the Lord GOD.

Israel to Be Restored

21I will display My glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the judgment that I execute and the hand that I lay upon them. 22From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God. 23And the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity, because they were unfaithful to Me. So I hid My face from them and delivered them into the hands of their enemies, so that they all fell by the sword. 24I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid My face from them.

25Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Now I will restore Jacob from captivityf and will have compassion on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for My holy name. 26They will forgetg their disgrace and all the treachery they committed against Me, when they dwell securely in their land, with no one to frighten them. 27When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them out of the lands of their enemies, I will show My holiness in them in the sight of many nations. 28Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, when I regather them to their own land, not leaving any of them behind after their exile among the nations. 29And I will no longer hide My face from them, for I will pour out My Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal

11 b That is, the Dead Sea

11 c Hamon-gog means multitude of Gog.

13 d Or and the day I display My glory will be a day of renown

16 e Hamonah means multitude or horde.

25 f Or restore the fortunes of Jacob

26 g A few Hebrew manuscripts; MT They will bear

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The Man with a Measuring Rod
(Zechariah 2:1–5)

1In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month—in the fourteenth year after Jerusalem had been struck down—on that very day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He took me there. 2In visions of God He took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose southern slope was a structure that resembled a city.

3So He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze. He was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. 4“Son of man,” he said to me, “look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Report to the house of Israel everything you see.”

The East Gate

5And I saw a wall surrounding the temple area. Now the length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubitsa (each measuring a cubit and a handbreadth), and he measured the wall to be one rod thick and one rod high.

6Then he came to the gate facing east and climbed its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate to be one rod deep.b
7Each gate chamber was one rod long and one rod wide, and there were five cubitsc between the gate chambers. The inner threshold of the gate by the portico facing inward was one rod deep. 8Then he measured the portico of the gateway inside;d
9it was eight cubits deep,e and its jambs were two cubits thick.f And the portico of the gateway faced the temple.

10There were three gate chambers on each side of the east gate, each with the same measurements, and the gateposts on either side also had the same measurements. 11And he measured the width of the gateway entrance to be ten cubits,g and its length was thirteen cubits.h

12In front of each gate chamber was a wall one cubit high, and the gate chambers were six cubits square. 13Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one gate chamber to the roof of the opposite one; the distance was twenty-five cubitsi from doorway to doorway.

14Next he measured the gateposts to be sixty cubits high.j The gateway extended around to the gatepost of the courtyard. 15And the distance from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its inner portico was fifty cubits.k

16The gate chambers and their side pillarsl had beveled windows all around the inside of the gateway. The porticos also had windows all around on the inside. Each side pillar was decorated with palm trees.

The Outer Court

17Then he brought me into the outer court, and there were chambers and a pavement laid out all around the court. Thirty chambers faced the pavement, 18which flanked the gateways and corresponded to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement.

19Then he measured the distance from the front of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court; it was a hundred cubitsm on the east side as well as on the north.

The North Gate

20He also measured the length and width of the gateway of the outer court facing north. 21Its three gate chambers on each side, its side pillars, and its portico all had the same measurements as the first gate: fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 22Its windows, portico, and palm trees had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them.

23There was a gate to the inner court facing the north gate, just as there was on the east. He measured the distance from gateway to gateway to be a hundred cubits.

The South Gate

24Then he led me to the south side, and I saw a gateway facing south. He measured its side pillars and portico, and they had the same measurements as the others. 25Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around, like the other windows. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 26Seven steps led up to it, and its portico was opposite them; it had palm trees on its side pillars, one on each side.

27The inner court also had a gate facing south, and he measured the distance from gateway to gateway toward the south to be a hundred cubits.

The Gates of the Inner Court

28Next he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements as the others. 29Its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 30(The porticoes around the inner court were twenty-five cubits long and five cubits deep.n) 31Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees. Eight steps led up to it.

32And he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements as the others. 33Its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.

35Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it. It had the same measurements as the others, 36as did its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico. It also had windows all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 37Its porticoo faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.

Eight Tables for Sacrifices

38There was a chamber with a doorway by the porticop in each of the inner gateways. There the burnt offering was to be washed. 39Inside the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings were to be slaughtered.

40Outside, as one goes up to the entrance of the north gateway, there were two tables on one side and two more tables on the other side of the gate’s portico. 41So there were four tables inside the gateway and four outside—eight tables in all—on which the sacrifices were to be slaughtered.

42There were also four tables of dressed stone for the burnt offering, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit high.q On these were placed the utensils used to slaughter the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices.

43The double-pronged hooks,r each a handbreadth long,s were fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be placed on the tables.

Chambers for Ministry

44Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two chambers,t one beside the north gate and facing south, and another beside the south gateu and facing north.

45Then the man said to me: “The chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple, 46and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, the only Levites who may approach the LORD to minister before Him.”

The Inner Court

47Next he measured the court. It was square, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.

48Then he brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the side pillars of the portico to be five cubits on each side. The width of the gateway was fourteen cubits and its sidewalls were three cubits on either side.v
49The portico was twenty cubits widew and twelve cubits deep,x and ten steps led up to it.y There were columns by the side pillars, one on each side.

Footnotes:

5 a 6 long cubits, the length of the reed used for measuring, is approximately 10.5 feet or 3.2 meters; similarly in verses 6, 7, and 12. The long cubit of about 21 inches or 53.3 centimeters is the basic unit of length throughout Ezekiel 40 to 48.

6 b Hebrew one reed deep, even one threshold, one reed deep.

7 c 5 (long) cubits is approximately 8.75 feet or 2.7 meters; also in verses 30 and 48.

8 d Literally the portico of the gateway inside, one rod

9 e 8 (long) cubits is approximately 14 feet or 4.3 meters.

9 f 2 (long) cubits is approximately 3.5 feet or 1.1 meters.

11 g 10 (long) cubits is approximately 17.5 feet or 5.3 meters.

11 h 13 (long) cubits is approximately 22.75 feet or 6.9 meters.

13 i 25 (long) cubits is approximately 43.75 feet or 13.3 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 30, 33, and 36.

14 j 60 (long) cubits is approximately 105 feet or 32 meters.

15 k 50 (long) cubits is approximately 87.5 feet or 26.7 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 33, and 36.

16 l Or gateposts or jambs or projecting walls; here and throughout Ezekiel 40 and 41.

19 m 100 (long) cubits is approximately 175 feet or 53.3 meters; also in verses 23, 27, and 47.

30 n The porticoes were approximately 43.75 feet long and 8.75 feet deep (13.3 meters long and 2.7 meters deep).

37 o LXX and Vulgate (see also verses 26, 31, and 34); Hebrew jambs or dividing wall

38 p Hebrew at the jambs

42 q The tables were approximately 2.6 feet in length and width, and 1.75 feet high (79.2 centimeters in length and width, and 53.3 centimeters high).

43 r Or shelves

43 s A handbreadth is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters long.

44 t LXX; Hebrew within the inner court were chambers for the singers

44 u LXX; Hebrew the east gateway

48 v LXX; the gateway was approximately 24.5 feet or 7.5 meters wide, with sidewalls approximately 5.25 feet or 1.6 meters wide on either side. Hebrew The width of the gateway was three cubits on either side.

49 w 20 (long) cubits is approximately 35 feet or 10.7 meters.

49 x LXX; 12 (long) cubits is approximately 21 feet or 6.4 meters; Hebrew eleven cubits deep; that is, approximately 19.25 feet or 5.9 meters.

49 y LXX; Hebrew and steps led up to it

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Inside the Temple

1Then the man brought me into the outer sanctuary and measured the side pillars to be six cubits widea on each side.b
2The width of the entrance was ten cubits,c and the sides of the entrance were five cubitsd on each side. He also measured the length of the outer sanctuary to be forty cubits, and the width to be twenty cubits.e

3And he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the side pillars at the entrance to be two cubits wide.f The entrance was six cubits wide, and the walls on each side were seven cubits wide.g
4Then he measured the room adjacent to the inner sanctuaryh to be twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide.i And he said to me, “This is the Most Holy Place.j”

Outside the Temple

5Next he measured the wall of the temple to be six cubits thick, and the width of each side room around the temple was four cubits.k
6The side rooms were arranged one above another in three levels of thirty rooms each. There were ledges all around the wall of the temple to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports would not be fastened into the wall of the temple itself. 7The side rooms surrounding the temple widened at each successive level, because the structure surrounding the temple ascended by stages corresponding to the narrowing of the temple wall as it rose upward. And so a stairway went up from the lowest story to the highest, through the middle one.

8I saw that the temple had a raised base all around it, forming the foundation of the side rooms. It was the full length of a rod, six long cubits. 9The outer wall of the side rooms was five cubits thick, and the open area between the side rooms of the temple 10and the outer chambers was twenty cubits wide all around the temple. 11The side rooms opened into this area, with one entrance on the north and another on the south. The open area was five cubits wide all around.

12Now the building that faced the temple courtyard on the west was seventy cubits wide,l and the wall of the building was five cubits thick all around, with a length of ninety cubits.m

13Then he measured the temple to be a hundred cubits long,n and the temple courtyard and the building with its walls were also a hundred cubits long. 14The width of the temple courtyard on the east, including the front of the temple, was a hundred cubits.

The Interior Structures

15Next he measured the length of the building facing the temple courtyard at the rear of the temple, including its galleries on each side; it was a hundred cubits. The outer sanctuary, the inner sanctuary, and the porticoes facing the court, 16as well as the thresholds and the beveled windows and the galleries all around with their three levels opposite the threshold, were overlaid with wood on all sides. They were paneled from the ground to the windows, and the windows were covered.

17In the space above the outside of the entrance to the inner sanctuary on all the walls, spaced evenly around the inner and outer sanctuary, 18were alternating carved cherubim and palm trees. Each cherub had two faces: 19the face of a man was toward the palm tree on one side, and the face of a young lion was toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved all the way around the temple. 20Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall of the outer sanctuary from the floor to the space above the entrance.

21The outer sanctuary had a rectangular doorframe, and the doorframe of the sanctuary was similar.

22There was an altar of wood three cubits high and two cubits square.o Its corners, base, and sides were of wood. And the man told me, “This is the table that is before the LORD.”

23Both the outer sanctuary and the inner sanctuary had double doors, 24and each door had two swinging panels. There were two panels for one door and two for the other. 25Cherubim and palm trees like those on the walls were carved on the doors of the outer sanctuary, and there was a wooden canopy outside, on the front of the portico. 26There were beveled windows and palm trees on the sidewalls of the portico. The side rooms of the temple also had canopies.

Footnotes:

1 a 6 (long) cubits is approximately 10.5 feet or 3.2 meters; also in verses 3, 5, and 8.

1 b One Hebrew manuscript and LXX; most Hebrew manuscripts on each side—the width of the tent

2 c 10 (long) cubits is approximately 17.5 feet or 5.3 meters.

2 d 5 (long) cubits is approximately 8.75 feet or 2.7 meters; also in verses 9, 11, and 12.

2 e The outer sanctuary was approximately 70 feet long and 35 feet wide (21.3 meters long and 10.7 meters wide).

3 f 2 (long) cubits is approximately 3.5 feet or 1.1 meters.

3 g 7 (long) cubits is approximately 12.25 feet or 3.7 meters.

4 h Or the length of the inner sanctuary

4 i The room was approximately 35 feet long and 35 feet wide (10.7 meters long and 10.7 meters wide).

4 j Or the Holy of Holies

5 k 4 (long) cubits is approximately 7 feet or 2.1 meters.

12 l 70 (long) cubits is approximately 122.5 feet or 37.3 meters.

12 m 90 (long) cubits is approximately 157.5 feet or 48 meters.

13 n 100 (long) cubits is approximately 175 feet or 53.3 meters; similarly in verses 14 and 15.

22 o Or long; the altar was approximately 5.25 feet high and 3.5 feet square (1.6 meters high and 1.1 meters square)

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Chambers for the Priests

1Then the man led me out northward into the outer court, and he brought me to the group of chambers opposite the temple courtyard and the outer wall on the north side. 2The building with the door facing north was a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide.a
3Gallery faced gallery in three levels opposite the twenty cubitsb that belonged to the inner court and opposite the pavement that belonged to the outer court.

4In front of the chambers was an inner walkway ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits long.c Their doors were on the north.

5Now the upper chambers were smaller because the galleries took more space from the chambers on the lower and middle floors of the building. 6For they were arranged in three stories, and unlike the courts, they had no pillars. So the upper chambers were set back further than the lower and middle floors. 7An outer wall in front of the chambers was fifty cubits long and ran parallel to the chambers and the outer court. 8For the chambers on the outer court were fifty cubits long, while those facing the temple were a hundred cubits long. 9And below these chambers was the entrance on the east side as one enters them from the outer court.

10On the south sided along the length of the wall of the outer court were chambers adjoining the courtyard and opposite the building, 11with a passageway in front of them, just like the chambers that were on the north. They had the same length and width, with similar exits and dimensions. 12And corresponding to the doors of the chambers that were facing south, there was a door in front of the walkway that was parallel to the wall extending eastward.

13Then the man said to me, “The north and south chambers facing the temple courtyard are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD will eat the most holy offerings. There they will place the most holy offerings—the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings—for the place is holy. 14Once the priests have entered the holy area, they must not go out into the outer court until they have left behind the garments in which they minister, for these are holy. They are to put on other clothes before they approach the places that are for the people.”

The Outer Measurements

15Now when the man had finished measuring the interior of the temple area, he led me out by the gate that faced east, and he measured the area all around:

16With a measuring rod he measured the east side to be five hundred cubits long.e

17He measured the north side to be five hundred cubits long.

18He measured the south side to be five hundred cubits long.

19And he came around and measured the west side to be five hundred cubits long.

20So he measured the area on all four sides. It had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the holy from the common.

Footnotes:

2 a The building was approximately 175 feet long and 87.5 feet wide (53.3 meters long and 26.7 meters wide).

3 b 20 (long) cubits is approximately 35 feet or 10.7 meters.

4 c LXX. The walkway was approximately 17.5 feet wide and 175 feet long (5.3 meters wide and 53.3 meters long). Hebrew ten cubits wide and a cubit long.

10 d LXX; Hebrew east side

16 e See LXX; five hundred cubits from verse 17 LXX and implied in verses 16, 18, 19, and 20 is approximately 875 feet or 266.7 meters in length. Hebrew five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about, that is approximately 5,250 feet or 1,600 meters; similarly in verses 17, 18, 19, and 20.

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The Glory of the LORD Returns to the Temple

1Then the man brought me back to the gate that faces east, 2and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of many waters, and the earth shone with His glory.

3The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when He camea to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the River Kebar. I fell facedown, 4and the glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate facing east. 5Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

6While the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple, 7and He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the Israelites forever. The house of Israel will never again defile My holy name—neither they nor their kings—by their prostitution and by the funeral offeringsb for their kings at their deaths.c
8When they placed their threshold next to My threshold and their doorposts beside My doorposts, with only a wall between Me and them, they defiled My holy name by the abominations they committed. Therefore I have consumed them in My anger. 9Now let them remove far from Me their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings, and I will dwell among them forever.

10As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, so that they may be ashamed of their iniquities. Let them measure the plan, 11and if they are ashamedd of all they have done, then make known to them the design of the temple—its arrangement and its exits and entrances—its whole design along with all its statutes, forms, and laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its complete design and all its statutes and may carry them out.

12This is the law of the temple: All its surrounding territory on top of the mountain will be most holy. Yes, this is the law of the temple.

The Altar of Sacrifice

13These are the measurements of the altar in long cubitse (a cubit and a handbreadth): Its gutter shall be a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim of one spanf around its edge.

And this is the height of the altar: 14The space from the gutter on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits, and the ledge one cubit wide.g The space from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge shall be four cubits, and the ledge one cubit wide.h

15The altar hearth shall be four cubits high, and four horns shall project upward from the hearth. 16The altar hearth shall be square at its four corners, twelve cubits long and twelve cubits wide.i
17The ledge shall also be square, fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide,j with a rim of half a cubitk and a gutter of a cubit all around it. The steps of the altar shall face east.”

18Then He said to me: “Son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘These are the statutes for the altar on the day it is constructed, so that burnt offerings may be sacrificed on it and blood may be sprinkled on it: 19You are to give a young bull from the herd as a sin offering to the Levitical priests who are of the family of Zadok, who approach Me to minister before Me, declares the Lord GOD. 20You are to take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and all around the rim; thus you will cleanse the altar and make atonement for it. 21Then you are to take away the bull for the sin offering and burn it in the appointed part of the temple area outside the sanctuary.

22On the second day you are to present an unblemished male goat as a sin offering, and the altar is to be cleansed as it was with the bull. 23When you have finished the purification, you are to present a young, unblemished bull and an unblemished ram from the flock. 24You must present them before the LORD; the priests are to sprinkle salt on them and sacrifice them as a burnt offering to the LORD.

25For seven days you are to provide a male goat daily for a sin offering; you are also to provide a young bull and a ram from the flock, both unblemished. 26For seven days the priests are to make atonement for the altar and cleanse it; so they shall consecrate it.l
27At the end of these days, from the eighth day on, the priests are to present your burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar. Then I will accept you, declares the Lord GOD.’ ”

Footnotes:

3 a Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts when I came

7 b Or the monuments; also in verse 9

7 c Or for their kings on their high places

11 d Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate and they will be ashamed

13 e The long cubit, about 21 inches or 53.3 centimeters, is the basic unit for linear measurement throughout Ezekiel 40–48.

13 f One span is approximately 9 inches or 22.9 centimeters.

14 g The space was to be approximately 3.5 feet (1.1 meters), and the ledge was to be approximately 1.75 feet wide (53.3 centimeters wide).

14 h The space was to be approximately 7 feet (2.1 meters), and the ledge was to be approximately 1.75 feet wide (53.3 centimeters wide).

16 i 12 (long) cubits is approximately 21 feet or 6.4 meters.

17 j 14 (long) cubits is approximately 24.5 feet or 7.5 meters.

17 k A half cubit is approximately 10.5 inches or 26.7 centimeters.

26 l Hebrew fill its hand

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The East Gate Assigned to the Prince

1The man then brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary that faced east, but it was shut. 2And the LORD said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It shall not be opened, and no man shall enter through it, because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it. Therefore it will remain shut. 3Only the prince himself may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD. He must enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.”

4Then the man brought me to the front of the temple by way of the north gate. I looked and saw the glory of the LORD filling His temple, and I fell facedown. 5The LORD said to me: “Son of man, pay attention; look carefully with your eyes and listen closely with your ears to everything I tell you concerning all the statutes and laws of the house of the LORD. Take careful note of the entrance to the temple, along with all the exits of the sanctuary.

Reproof of the Levites

6Tell the rebellious house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I have had enough of all your abominations, O house of Israel. 7In addition to all your other abominations, you brought in foreigners uncircumcised in both heart and flesh to occupy My sanctuary; you defiled My temple when you offered My food—the fat and the blood; you broke My covenant. 8And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but have appointed others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.’

9This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh may enter My sanctuary—not even a foreigner who lives among the Israelites.

10Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who wandered away from Me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their iniquity. 11Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and ministering there. They shall slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices for the people and stand before them to minister to them.

12Because they ministered before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore I swore with an uplifted hand concerning them that they would bear the consequences of their iniquity, declares the Lord GOD. 13They must not approach Me to serve Me as priests or come near any of My holy things or the most holy things. They will bear the shame of the abominations they have committed. 14Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of all the work for the temple and everything to be done in it.

The Duties of the Priests

15But the Levitical priests, who are descended from Zadok and who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, are to approach Me to minister before Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood, declares the Lord GOD. 16They alone shall enter My sanctuary and draw near to My table to minister before Me. They will keep My charge.

17When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen garments; they must not wear anything made of wool when they minister at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple. 18They are to wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them perspire.

19When they go out to the outer court, to the people, they are to take off the garments in which they have ministered, leave them in the holy chambers, and dress in other clothes so that they do not transmit holiness to the people with their garments.

20They must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long, but must carefully trim their hair. 21No priest may drink wine before he enters the inner court. 22And they shall not marry a widow or a divorced woman, but must marry a virgin of the descendants of the house of Israel, or a widow of a priest. 23They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean.

24In any dispute, they shall officiate as judges and judge according to My ordinances. They must keep My laws and statutes regarding all My appointed feasts, and they must keep My Sabbaths holy.

25A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person. However, for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister, he may do so, 26and after he is cleansed, he must count off seven days for himself. 27And on the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he must present his sin offering, declares the Lord GOD.

28In regard to their inheritance, I am their inheritance. You are to give them no possession in Israel, for I am their possession.

29They shall eat the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Everything in Israel devoted to the LORD will belong to them. 30The best of all the firstfruits and of every contribution from all your offerings will belong to the priests. You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest, so that a blessing may rest upon your homes. 31The priests may not eat any bird or animal found dead or torn by wild beasts.

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 45   ▶   ▶

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Consecration of the Land

1“When you divide the land by lot as an inheritance, you are to set aside a portion for the LORD, a holy portion of the land 25,000 cubits long and 20,000 cubits wide.a This entire tract of land will be holy.

2Within this area there is to be a section for the sanctuary 500 cubits square,b with 50 cubitsc around it for open land.

3From this holy portion, you are to measure off a length of 25,000 cubits and a width of 10,000 cubits,d and in it will be the sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.e
4It will be a holy portion of the land to be used by the priests who minister in the sanctuary, who draw near to minister before the LORD. It will be a place for their houses, as well as a holy area for the sanctuary.

5An adjacent area 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide shall belong to the Levites who minister in the temple; it will be their possession for towns in which to live.f

6As the property of the city, you are to set aside an area 5,000 cubits wide and 25,000 cubits long,g adjacent to the holy district. It will belong to the whole house of Israel.

The Prince’s Portion

7Now the prince will have the area bordering each side of the area formed by the holy district and the property of the city, extending westward from the western side and eastward from the eastern side, running lengthwise from the western boundary to the eastern boundary and parallel to one of the tribal portions. 8This land will be his possession in Israel.

And My princes will no longer oppress My people, but will give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes. 9For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.’

Honest Scales
(Deuteronomy 25:13–16; Proverbs 11:1–3)

10You must use honest scales, a just ephah,h and a just bath.i

11The ephah and the bath shall be the same quantity so that the bath will contain a tenth of a homer, and the ephah a tenth of a homer; the homer will be the standard measure for both.j

12The shekel will consist of twenty gerahs.k Twenty shekels plus twenty-five shekels plus fifteen shekels will equal one mina.l

Offerings and Feasts

13This is the contribution you are to offer: a sixth of an ephah from each homer of wheat, and a sixth of an ephah from each homer of barley.m
14The prescribed portion of oil, measured by the bath, is a tenth of a bath from each corn (a cor consists of ten baths or one homer, since ten baths are equivalent to a homer). 15And one sheep shall be given from each flock of two hundred from the well-watered pastures of Israel. These are for the grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, to make atonement for the people, declares the Lord GOD.

16All the people of the land must participate in this contribution for the prince in Israel. 17And it shall be the prince’s part to provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings for the feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths—for all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He will provide the sin offerings,o grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.

18This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the first day of the first month you are to take a young bull without blemish and purify the sanctuary. 19And the priest is to take some of the blood from the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the gateposts of the inner court. 20You must do the same thing on the seventh day of the month for anyone who strays unintentionally or in ignorance. In this way you will make atonement for the temple.

21On the fourteenth day of the first month you are to observe the Passover, a feast of seven days, during which unleavened bread shall be eaten. 22On that day the prince shall provide a bull as a sin offering for himself and for all the people of the land. 23Each day during the seven days of the feast, he shall provide seven bulls and seven rams without blemish as a burnt offering to the LORD, along with a male goat for a sin offering. 24He shall also provide as a grain offering an ephah for each bull and an ephah for each ram, along with a hin of olive oil for each ephah of grain.p
25During the seven days of the feast that begins on the fifteenth day of the seventh month,q he is to make the same provision for sin offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, and oil.’

Footnotes:

1 a LXX; the holy portion was to be approximately 8.3 miles long and 6.6 miles wide (13.3 kilometers long and 10.7 kilometers wide). Hebrew 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 wide. See also verses 3 and 5 and Ezekiel 48:9.

2 b 500 (long) cubits is approximately 875 feet or 266.7 meters.

2 c 50 (long) cubits is approximately 87.5 feet or 26.7 meters.

3 d The portion was to be approximately 8.3 miles long and 3.3 miles wide (13.3 kilometers long and 5.3 kilometers wide); similarly in verse 5.

3 e Or the Holy of Holies

5 f LXX; Hebrew their possession, twenty chambers

6 g The property of the city was to be approximately 1.7 miles wide and 8.3 miles long (2.7 kilometers wide and 13.3 kilometers long).

10 h An ephah is a dry measure of approximately 20 dry quarts or 22 liters.

10 i A bath was a liquid measure of approximately 5.8 gallons or 22 liters.

11 j A homer was a dry measure of approximately 6.24 bushels or 220 liters; also in verses 13 and 14.

12 k 20 gerahs is equivalent to one shekel (approximately 0.4 ounces or 11.4 grams).

12 l That is, 60 shekels total; elsewhere, the common mina was 50 shekels. Sixty shekels weighed approximately 1.5 pounds or 683.8 grams.

13 m That is, a sixtieth of the harvest of wheat and of barley; a sixth of an ephah was approximately 3.3 dry quarts or 3.7 liters.

14 n That is, one percent of one’s oil; a tenth of a bath was approximately 2.3 quarts or 2.2 liters.

17 o Or purification offerings; also in verses 19, 22, 23, and 25

24 p Literally a hin of oil for each ephah; that is, approximately 0.97 gallons or 3.67 liters of oil for each ephah of grain

25 q That is, Sukkot, the autumn feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; also translated as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Shelters and originally called the Feast of Ingathering (see Exodus 23:16 and Exodus 34:22).

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 46   ▶   ▶

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The Prince’s Offerings

1“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘The gate of the inner court that faces east must be kept shut during the six days of work, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened. 2The prince is to enter from the outside through the portico of the gateway and stand by the gatepost, while the priests sacrifice his burnt offerings and peace offerings. He is to bow in worship at the threshold of the gate and then depart, but the gate must not be shut until evening. 3On the Sabbaths and New Moons the people of the land are also to bow in worship before the LORD at the entrance to that gateway.

4The burnt offering that the prince presents to the LORD on the Sabbath day shall be six unblemished male lambs and an unblemished ram. 5The grain offering with the ram shall be one ephah,a and the grain offering with the lambs shall be as much as he is able, along with a hin of oil per ephah. 6On the day of the New Moon he shall offer a young, unblemished bull, six lambs, and a ram without blemish. 7He is to provide a grain offering of an ephah with the bull, an ephah with the ram, and as much as he is able with the lambs, along with a hin of oil per ephah. 8When the prince enters, he shall go in through the portico of the gateway, and he shall go out the same way.

9When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship must go out by the south gate, and whoever enters by the south gate must go out by the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each must go out by the opposite gate.

10When the people enter, the prince shall go in with them, and when they leave, he shall leave. 11At the festivals and appointed feasts, the grain offering shall be an ephah with a bull, an ephah with a ram, and as much as one is able to give with the lambs, along with a hin of oil per ephah.

12When the prince makes a freewill offering to the LORD, whether a burnt offering or a peace offering, the gate facing east must be opened for him. He is to offer his burnt offering or peace offering just as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and the gate must be closed after he goes out.

13And you shall provide an unblemished year-old lamb as a daily burnt offering to the LORD; you are to offer it every morning. 14You are also to provide with it every morning a grain offering of a sixth of an ephahb with a third of a hin of oilc to moisten the fine flour—a grain offering to the LORD. This is a permanent statute. 15Thus they shall provide the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil every morning as a regular burnt offering.’

16This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘If the prince gives a gift to any of his sons as an inheritance, it will belong to his descendants. It will become their property by inheritance. 17But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it will belong to that servant until the year of freedom; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs only to his sons; it shall be theirs.

18The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people by evicting them from their property. He is to provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people will be displaced from his property.’ ”

The Courts for Boiling and Baking

19Then the man brought me through the entrance at the side of the gate into the holy chambers facing north, which belonged to the priests, and he showed me a place there at the far western end 20and said to me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, so that they do not bring them into the outer court and transmit holiness to the people.”

21Then he brought me into the outer court and led me around to its four corners, and I saw a separate court in each of its corners. 22In the four corners of the outer court there were enclosed courts, each forty cubits long and thirty cubits wide.d Each of the four corner areas had the same dimensions. 23Around the inside of each of the four courts was a row of masonry with ovens built at the base of the walls on all sides.

24And he said to me, “These are the kitchens where those who minister at the temple will cook the sacrifices offered by the people.”

Footnotes:

5 a An ephah is approximately 20 dry quarts or 22 liters (probably about 38.3 pounds or 17.4 kilograms of grain); also in verses 7 and 11.

14 b A sixth of an ephah is approximately 3.3 dry quarts or 3.7 liters (probably about 4.2 pounds or 1.9 kilograms of flour).

14 c Or a third of a hin of olive oil; that is, approximately 1.3 quarts or 1.2 liters

22 d The enclosed courts were approximately 70 feet long and 52.5 feet wide (21.3 meters long and 16 meters wide).

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 47   ▶   ▶

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Waters from under the Temple

1Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.

2Next he brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and there I saw the water trickling out from the south side.

3As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubitsa and led me through ankle-deep water.

4Then he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through knee-deep water.

Again he measured a thousand cubits and led me through waist-deep water.

5Once again he measured off a thousand cubits, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough for swimming—a river that could not be crossed on foot.

6“Son of man, do you see this?” he asked. Then he led me back to the bank of the river.

7When I arrived, I saw a great number of trees along both banks of the river. 8And he said to me, “This water flows out to the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah. When it empties into the Sea,b the water there becomes fresh.c
9Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makes the waters fresh; so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish.

10Fishermen will stand by the shore; from En-gedi to En-eglaim they will spread their nets to catch fish of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.d

11But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.

12Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of all kinds will grow. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for healing.”

The Borders of the Land

13This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions.e
14You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with an uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will fall to you as an inheritance.

15This shall be the boundary of the land:

On the north side it will extend from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon through Lebo-hamath to Zedad, 16Berothah, and Sibraimf (which is on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17So the border will run from the Sea to Hazar-enan, along the northern border of Damascus, with the territory of Hamath to the north. This will be the northern boundary.

18On the east side the border will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the Eastern Sea and as far as Tamar.g This will be the eastern boundary.

19On the south side it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, and along the Brook of Egypth to the Great Sea. This will be the southern boundary.

20And on the west side, the Great Sea will be the boundary up to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This will be the western boundary.

21You are to divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners who dwell among you and who have children. You are to treat them as native-born Israelites; along with you, they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23In whatever tribe a foreigner dwells, you are to assign his inheritance there,” declares the Lord GOD.

Footnotes:

3 a 1,000 (long) cubits is approximately 1,750 feet or 533.4 meters.

8 b That is, the Dead Sea

8 c Hebrew is healed; also in verses 9 and 11

10 d That is, the Mediterranean Sea; also in verses 15, 19, and 20

13 e Since Levi had no portion, Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh received land as two tribes.

16 f LXX; MT 15...through Lebo to Zedad, 16Hamath, Berothah, and Sibraim

18 g See Syriac; that is, of Israel, to the Dead Sea and as far as Tamar; Hebrew of Israel. And along the Eastern Sea you are to measure.

19 h Hebrew does not include of Egypt.

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◀   ◀   Ezekiel 48   ▶   ▶

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The Portions for the Tribes

1“Now these are the names of the tribes:

At the northern frontier, Dan will have one portion bordering the road of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath and running on to Hazar-enan on the border of Damascus with Hamath to the north, and extending from the east side to the west side.

2Asher will have one portion bordering the territory of Dan from east to west.

3Naphtali will have one portion bordering the territory of Asher from east to west.

4Manasseh will have one portion bordering the territory of Naphtali from east to west.

5Ephraim will have one portion bordering the territory of Manasseh from east to west.

6Reuben will have one portion bordering the territory of Ephraim from east to west.

7Judah will have one portion bordering the territory of Reuben from east to west.

The Portions for the Priests and Levites

8Bordering the territory of Judah, from east to west, will be the portion you are to set apart. It will be 25,000 cubits wide,a and the length of a tribal portion from east to west. In the center will be the sanctuary.

9The special portion you set apart to the LORD shall be 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide.b

10This will be the holy portion for the priests. It will be 25,000 cubits long on the north side, 10,000 cubits wide on the west side, 10,000 cubits wide on the east side, and 25,000 cubits long on the south side. In the center will be the sanctuary of the LORD. 11It will be for the consecrated priests, the descendants of Zadok, who kept My charge and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray. 12It will be a special portion for them set apart from the land, a most holy portionc adjacent to the territory of the Levites.

13Bordering the territory of the priests, the Levites shall have an area 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. The whole length will be 25,000 cubits, and the width 10,000 cubits. 14They must not sell or exchange any of it, and they must not transfer this best part of the land, for it is holy to the LORD.

The Common Portion

15The remaining area, 5,000 cubitsd wide and 25,000 cubits long, will be for common use by the city, for houses, and for pastureland. The city will be in the center of it 16and will have these measurements: 4,500 cubitse on the north side, 4,500 cubits on the south side, 4,500 cubits on the east side, and 4,500 cubits on the west side.

17The pastureland of the city will extend 250 cubitsf to the north, 250 cubits to the south, 250 cubits to the east, and 250 cubits to the west.

18The remainder of the length bordering the holy portion and running adjacent to it will be 10,000 cubits on the east side and 10,000 cubits on the west side. Its produce will supply food for the workers of the city. 19The workers of the city who cultivate it will come from all the tribes of Israel.

20The entire portion will be a square, 25,000 cubits by 25,000 cubits. You are to set apart the holy portion, along with the city property.

The Portion for the Prince

21The remaining area on both sides of the holy portion and of the property of the city will belong to the prince. He will own the land adjacent to the tribal portions, extending eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the holy district toward the eastern border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the western border. And in the center of them will be the holy portion and the sanctuary of the temple.

22So the Levitical property and the city property will lie in the center of the area belonging to the prince—the area between the borders of Judah and Benjamin.

The Portions for the Remaining Tribes

23As for the rest of the tribes:

Benjamin will have one portion extending from the east side to the west side.

24Simeon will have one portion bordering the territory of Benjamin from east to west.

25Issachar will have one portion bordering the territory of Simeon from east to west.

26Zebulun will have one portion bordering the territory of Issachar from east to west.

27And Gad will have one portion bordering the territory of Zebulun from east to west.

28The southern border of Gad will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, then along the Brook of Egyptg and out to the Great Sea.h
29This is the land you are to allot as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these will be their portions,” declares the Lord GOD.

The City Gates and Dimensions

30“These will be the exits of the city:

Beginning on the north side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, 31the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. On the north side there will be three gates: the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi.

32On the east side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, there will be three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan.

33On the south side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, there will be three gates: the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun.

34And on the west side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, there will be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali.

35The perimeter of the city will be 18,000 cubits,i and from that day on the name of the city will be:

THE LORD IS THERE.j”

Footnotes:

8 a 25,000 (long) cubits is approximately 8.3 miles or 13.3 kilometers; also in verses 9, 10, 13, 15, 20, and 21.

9 b 10,000 (long) cubits is approximately 3.3 miles or 5.3 kilometers; also in verses 10, 13, and 18.

12 c Or a Most Holy Place

15 d 5,000 (long) cubits is approximately 1.7 miles or 2.7 kilometers.

16 e 4,500 (long) cubits is approximately 1.5 miles or 2.4 kilometers; also in verses 30, 32, 33, and 34.

17 f 250 (long) cubits is approximately 437.5 feet or 133.4 meters.

28 g Hebrew does not include of Egypt.

28 h That is, the Mediterranean Sea

35 i 18,000 (long) cubits is approximately 6 miles or 9.6 kilometers.

35 j Hebrew YHWH Shammah

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12)

Daniel Removed to Babylon

1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar,a to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god.

3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites from the royal familyb and the nobility— 4young men without blemish, handsome, gifted in all wisdom, knowledgeable, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace—and to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans.c

5The king assigned them daily provisions of the royal food and wine. They were to be trained for three years, after which they were to enter the king’s service.

6Among these young men were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7The chief official gave them new names: To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

Daniel’s Faithfulness

8But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.

9Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official, 10but he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age? You would endanger my head before the king!”

11Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12“Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then compare our appearances with those of the young men who are eating the royal food, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

14So he consented to this and tested them for ten days. 15And at the end of ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than all the young men who were eating the king’s food. 16So the steward continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and he gave them vegetables instead.

Daniel’s Wisdom

17To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.

18Now at the end of the time specified by the king, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19And the king spoke with them, and among all the young men he found no one equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the king’s service.

20In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. 21And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Footnotes:

2 a That is, Babylonia

3 b Hebrew from the seed of the kingdom

4 c That is, the Babylonians

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◀   ◀   Daniel 2   ▶   ▶

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Nebuchadnezzar’s Troubling Dream

1In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him. 2So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologersa to explain his dreams. When they came and stood before the king, 3he said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to understand it.”

4Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic,b “O king, may you live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”

5The king replied to the astrologers, “My word is final: If you do not tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut into pieces and your houses will be reduced to rubble. 6But if you tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and its interpretation.”

7They answered a second time, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will give the interpretation.”

8The king replied, “I know for sure that you are stalling for time, because you see that my word is final. 9If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one decree for you. You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words, hoping the situation will change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can give me its interpretation.”

10The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can do what the king requests! No king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer. 11What the king requests is so difficult that no one can tell it to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”

12This response made the king so furious with anger that he gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13So the decree went out that the wise men were to be executed, and men went to look for Daniel and his friends to execute them.

The Dream Revealed to Daniel

14When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon, Daniel replied with discretion and tact. 15“Why is the decree from the king so harsh?” he asked.

At this time Arioch explained the situation to Daniel. 16So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give him the interpretation.

17Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 18urging them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he blessed the God of heaven 20and declared:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
for wisdom and power belong to Him.

21He changes the times and seasons;

He removes kings and establishes them.

He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.

22He reveals the deep and hidden things;

He knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with Him.

23To You, O God of my fathers,

I give thanks and praise,
because You have given me
wisdom and power.

And now You have made known to me
what we have requested,
for You have made known to us
the dream of the king.”

Daniel Interprets the Dream

24Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation.”

25Arioch hastily brought Daniel before the king and said to him, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who will tell the king the interpretation.”

26The king responded to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me what I saw in the dream, as well as its interpretation?”

27Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires. 28But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these:

29As you lay on your bed, O king, your thoughts turned to the future, and the Revealer of Mysteries made known to you what will happen. 30And to me this mystery has been revealed, not because I have more wisdom than any man alive, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.

31As you, O king, were watching, a great statuec appeared. A great and dazzling statue stood before you, and its form was awesome. 32The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, 33its legs were iron, and its feet were part iron and part clay.

34As you watched, a stone was cut out,d but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. 35Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

36This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation.

37You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory. 38Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

39But after you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours.

Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule the whole earth.

40Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; for iron shatters and crushes all things, and like iron that crushes all things, it will shatter and crush all the others. 41And just as you saw that the feet and toes were made partly of fired clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom, yet some of the strength of iron will be in it—just as you saw the iron mixed with clay. 42And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so the peoplese will mix with one another, but will not hold together any more than iron mixes with clay.

44In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever. 45And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future.

The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

Nebuchadnezzar Promotes Daniel

46At this, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, paid homage to Daniel, and ordered that an offering of incense be presented to him. 47The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”

48Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49And at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to manage the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.

Footnotes:

2 a Or Chaldeans; also in verses 4, 5, and 10

4 b The original text from this point of Daniel 2:4 through Daniel 7:28 is in Aramaic.

31 c Or image; here and through the rest of Daniel 2

34 d LXX cut out from a mountain

43 e Aramaic the seed of men

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Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Statue

1King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statuea sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,b and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue he had set up.

3So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

4Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded: 5As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music,c you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.”

7Therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, the people of every nation and language would fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Accused

8At this time some astrologersd came forward and maliciously accused the Jews, 9saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever! 10You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue, 11and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace. 12But there are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who have ignored you, O king, and have refused to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

13Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up? 15Now, if you are ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”

16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17If the God whom we serve exists, then He is ablee to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. 18But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

The Fiery Furnace

19At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual, 20and he commanded some mighty men of valor in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing fiery furnace.

21So they were tied up, wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.

22The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the fiery flames killed the men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, firmly bound, fell into the blazing fiery furnace.

24Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and asked his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, firmly bound, into the fire?”

“Certainly, O king,” they replied.

25“Look!” he exclaimed. “I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!f”

26Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the blazing fiery furnace and called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out!”

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire, 27and when the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers had gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men. Not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.

28Nebuchadnezzar declared, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angelg and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can deliver in this way.”

30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Footnotes:

1 a Or image; here and throughout Daniel 3

1 b The statue was approximately 90 feet high and 9 feet wide (27.4 meters high and 2.7 meters wide).

5 c The precise identification of some musical instruments in this chapter is uncertain.

8 d Or Chaldeans

17 e Or If this be so, then the God whom serve is able

25 f Or like the Son of God

28 g Or Angel

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Nebuchadnezzar Confesses God’s Kingdom

1King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth:

May your prosperity be multiplied. 2I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

3How great are His signs,
how mighty His wonders!

His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;

His dominion endures from generation to generation.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Tree

4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. 5I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me. 6So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers,a and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.

8But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream: 9“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation. 10In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass:

There was a tree in the midst of the land,
and its height was great.

11The tree grew large and strong;
its top reached the sky,
and it was visible
to the ends of the earth.

12Its leaves were beautiful,
its fruit was abundant,
and upon it was food for all.

Under it the beasts of the field found shelter,
in its branches the birds of the air nested,
and from it every creature was fed.

13As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher,b a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14He called out in a loud voice:

‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches;
strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.

Let the beasts flee from under it,
and the birds from its branches.

15But leave the stump with its roots in the ground,
and a band of iron and bronze around it,
in the tender grass of the field.

Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven
and graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth.

16Let his mind be changed from that of a man,
and let him be given the mind of a beast
till seven times pass him by.

17This decision is the decree of the watchers,
the verdict declared by the holy ones,
so that the living will know
that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind
and gives it to whom He wishes,
setting over it the lowliest of men.’

18This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

19For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him.

So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.”

“My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!

20The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth, 21whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested— 22you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.

23And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying:

‘Cut down the tree and destroy it,
but leave the stump with its roots in the ground,
and a band of iron and bronze around it,
in the tender grass of the field.

Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven,
and graze with the beasts of the field
till seven times pass him by.’

24This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:

25You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.

26As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”

The Second Dream Fulfilled

28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

31While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you. 32You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”

33At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

Nebuchadnezzar Restored

34But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever:

“For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

35All the peoples of the earth
are counted as nothing,
and He does as He pleases
with the army of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.

There is no one who can restrain His hand
or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ ”

36At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

Footnotes:

7 a Or Chaldeans

13 b Or an angelic watcher or a messenger; also in verses 17 and 23

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Belshazzar’s Feast

1Later,a King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. 2Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his fatherb had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.

3Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. 4As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

The Handwriting on the Wall

5At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. As the king watched the hand that was writing, 6his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together.

7The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers,c and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

8So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him. 9Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered.

10Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queend entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale. 11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods.

Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king, 12did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.”

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting

13So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? 14I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.

15Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation. 16But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

17In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him. 18As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor. 19Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished.

20But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like that of a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes.

22But you his son,e O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways. 24Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

25Now this is the inscription that was written:

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.

26And this is the interpretation of the message:

MENEf means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

27TEKELg means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.

28PERESh means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”

29Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

30That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeansi was slain, 31and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.

Footnotes:

1 a Aramaic does not include Later. Some translators include Many years later to account for the time elapsed, probably about 30 years, since the previous chapter.

2 b Or predecessor or grandfather; also in verses 11, 13, and 18

7 c Or Chaldeans; also in verse 11

10 d Or queen mother

22 e Or descendant or successor or grandson

26 f Mene sounds like the Aramaic for numbered.

27 g Tekel sounds like the Aramaic for weighed.

28 h Peres (the singular of Parsin) sounds like the Aramaic for divided and for Persia.

30 i That is, the Babylonians

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The Plot against Daniel

1Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss. 3Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

4Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel, unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”

6So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever! 7All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. 8Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

9Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

10Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?”

The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”

13Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”

14As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him.

15Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.”

16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions.

The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”

17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.

18Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.

19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. 20When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

21Then Daniel replied, “O king, may you live forever! 22My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”

23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den, and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds whatsoever were found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

24At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Darius Honors God

25Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the land: “May your prosperity abound. 26I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel:

For He is the living God,
and He endures forever;

His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and His dominion will never end.

27He delivers and rescues;

He performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth,
for He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”

28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrusa the Persian.

Footnotes:

28 a Or prospered during the reign of Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus

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Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts
(Revelation 13:1–10)

1In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.

2Daniel declared: “In my vision in the night I looked, and suddenly the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea.a
3Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:

4The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man.

5Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’

6Next, as I watched, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

7After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns. 8While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.

Daniel’s Vision of the Ancient of Days

9As I continued to watch,
thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took His seat.

His clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of His head was like pure wool.

His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.

10A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from His presence.

Thousands upon thousands attended Him,
and myriads upon myriads stood before Him.

The court was convened,
and the books were opened.

11Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but they were granted an extension of life for a season and a time.

Daniel’s Vision of the Son of Man

13In my vision in the night I continued to watch,
and I saw One like the Son of Manb
coming with the clouds of heaven.c

He approached the Ancient of Days
and was led into His presence.

14And He was given dominion,
glory, and kingship,
that the people of every nation and language
should serve Him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and His kingdom is one
that will never be destroyed.

Daniel’s Visions Interpreted

15I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit, and the visions in my mind alarmed me. 16I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this.

So he told me the interpretation of these things: 17‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’

19Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left. 20I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance. 21As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, 22until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.

23This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings. 25He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.

26But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’

28Thus ends the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself.”

Footnotes:

2 a Perhaps the Great Sea, that is, the Mediterranean Sea

13 b Or one like a son of man

13 c See Matthew 24:30, Matthew 26:64, Mark 13:26, Mark 14:62, Luke 21:27, Revelation 1:13, and Revelation 14:14.

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◀   ◀   Daniel 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Daniel’s Vision of the Ram and the Goat

1In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, subsequent to the one that had appeared to me earlier. 2And in the vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.

3Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a ram with two horns standing beside the canal. The horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one grew up later. 4I saw the ram charging toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and there was no deliverance from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.

5As I was contemplating all this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came out of the west, crossing the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. 6He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with furious power. 7I saw him approach the ram in a rage against him, and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him, and the goat threw him to the ground and trampled him, and no one could deliver the ram from his power.

8Thus the goat became very great, but at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off, and four prominent horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven.

9From one of these horns a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10It grew as high as the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the earth, and trampled them. 11It magnified itself, even to the Prince of the host; it removed His daily sacrifice and overthrew the place of His sanctuary. 12And in the rebellion,a the host and the daily sacrifice were given over to the horn, and it flung truth to the ground and prospered in whatever it did.

13Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long until the fulfillment of the vision of the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?”

14He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored.”

Gabriel Interprets Daniel’s Vision

15While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16And I heard the voice of a man calling from between the banks of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”

17As he came near to where I stood, I was terrified and fell facedown.

“Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”

18While he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.

Then he touched me, helped me to my feet, 19and said, “Behold, I will make known to you what will happen in the latter time of wrath, because it concerns the appointed time of the end.

20The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece,b and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. 22The four horns that replaced the broken one represent four kingdoms that will rise from that nation, but will not have the same power.

23In the latter part of their reign, when the rebellion has reached its full measure, an insolent king, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne. 24His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people. 25Through his craft and by his hand, he will cause deceit to prosper, and in his own mind he will make himself great. In a time of peace he will destroy many, and he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken off, but not by human hands.

26The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been spoken is true. Now you must seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”

27I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was confounded by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

Footnotes:

12 a Or on account of transgression

21 b Hebrew of Javan

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◀   ◀   Daniel 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Daniel’s Prayer for His People

1In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes,a a Mede by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeansb — 2in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.c
3So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

4And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotiond to those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances. 6We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, and fathers, and to all the people of the land.

7To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all Israel near and far, in all the countries to which You have driven us because of our unfaithfulness to You. 8O LORD, we are covered with shame—our kings, our leaders, and our fathers—because we have sinned against You.

9To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him 10and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God to walk in His laws, which He set before us through His servants the prophets.

11All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey Your voice; so the oath and the curse written in the Law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You. 12You have carried out the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us a great disaster. For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.

13Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquities and giving attention to Your truth. 14Therefore the LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it upon us. For the LORD our God is righteous in all He does; yet we have not obeyed His voice.

15Now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and who made for Yourself a name renowned to this day, we have sinned; we have acted wickedly. 16O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, I pray that Your anger and wrath may turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all around us.

17So now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, O Lord, cause Your face to shine upon Your desolate sanctuary. 18Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion.

19O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your name.”

Gabriel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks

20While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain— 21while I was still praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22He instructed me and spoke with me, saying: “O Daniel, I have come now to give you insight and understanding. 23At the beginning of your petitions, an answer went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly precious. So consider the message and understand the vision:

24Seventy weekse are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.f

25Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the Messiah,g the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.

26Then after the sixty-two weeksh the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing.

Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed. 27And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week,i but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation,j until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him.k”

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew Ahasuerus

1 b That is, the Babylonians

2 c See Jeremiah 25:11–12 and Jeremiah 29:10.

4 d Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

24 e Or Seventy sevens; also twice in verse 25 and once in verse 26

24 f Or the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy One; literally the Most Holy

25 g Or the Anointed One; also in verse 26

26 h Hebrew Then after sixty-two sevens

27 i Or for one seven; similarly again in this verse

27 j Literally And on the wing (will come) the abomination that causes desolation, or And on the wing of abominations (will come) one who causes desolation,

27 k Literally until the decreed consummation is poured out upon (him who) is desolate.

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◀   ◀   Daniel 10   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Daniel’s Vision by the Tigris

1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, and it concerned a great conflict.a And the understanding of the message was given to him in a vision.

2In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. 3I ate no rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the three weeks were completed.

4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

7Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but a great terror fell upon them, and they ran and hid themselves.

8So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. 9I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.

10Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.”

And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12“Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision concerns those days.”

15While he was speaking these words to me, I set my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16And suddenly one with the likeness of a manb touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I am overcome with anguish, and I have no strength. 17How can I, your servant, speak with you, my lord? Now I have no strength, nor is any breath left in me.”

18Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19“Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!”

As he spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

20“Do you know why I have come to you?” he said. “I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I have gone forth, behold, the prince of Greecec will come. 21But first I will tell you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth. Yet no one has the courage to support me against these, except Michael your prince.

Footnotes:

1 a Or true and greatly burdensome

16 b Most MT manuscripts; literally with the likeness of sons of man; DSS, LXX, and one MT manuscript with the likeness of the hand of a man

20 c Hebrew of Javan

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◀   ◀   Daniel 11   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Kings of the South and North

1“And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, stood up to strengthen and protect him.

2Now then, I will tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. By the power of his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.a

3Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases. 4But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the authority with which he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others.

5The king of the South will grow strong, but one of his commanders will grow even stronger and will rule his own kingdom with great authority.

6After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to seal the agreement. But his daughter will not retain her position of power, nor will his strengthb endure. At that time she will be given up, along with her royal escort and her fatherc and the one who supported her.

7But one from her family lined will rise up in his place, come against the army of the king of the North, and enter his fortress, fighting and prevailing. 8He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold. For some years he will stay away from the king of the North, 9who will invade the realm of the king of the South and then return to his own land.

10But his sons will stir up strife and assemble a great army, which will advance forcefully, sweeping through like a flood, and will again carry the battle as far as his fortress. 11In a rage, the king of the South will march out to fight the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be delivered into the hand of his enemy.

12When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be proud in heart and will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not triumph. 13For the king of the North will raise another army, larger than the first, and after some yearse he will advance with a great army and many supplies.

14In those times many will rise up against the king of the South. Violent ones among your own people will exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they will fail.

15Then the king of the North will come, build up a siege ramp, and capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will not stand; even their best troops will not be able to resist. 16The invader will do as he pleases, and no one will stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land, with destruction in his hand. 17He will resolve to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and will reach an agreement with the king of the South. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plan will not succeed or help him.f

18Then he will turn his face to the coastlands and capture many of them. But a commander will put an end to his reproach and will turn it back upon him. 19After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall and be no more.

20In his place one will arise who will send out a tax collector for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be destroyed, though not in anger or in battle.

21In his place a despicable person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come in a time of peace and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22Then a flood of forces will be swept away before him and destroyed, along with a prince of the covenant.

23After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; for he will rise to power with only a few people. 24In a time of peace, he will invade the richest provinces and do what his fathers and forefathers never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will plot against the strongholds—but only for a time.

25And with a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South, who will mobilize a very large and powerful army but will not withstand the plots devised against him. 26Those who eat from his provisions will seek to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall slain.

27And the two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time. 28The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant; so he will do damage and return to his own land.

29At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time will not be like the first. 30Ships of Kittimg will come against him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and rage against the holy covenant and do damage. So he will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.

32With flattery he will corrupt those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. 33Those with insight will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by sword or flame, or be captured or plundered.

34Now when they fall, they will be granted a little help, but many will join them insincerely. 35Some of the wise will fall, so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

The King Who Exalts Himself

36Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished. 37He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers, nor for the one desired by women, nor for any other god, because he will magnify himself above them all.

38And in their place, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. 39He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and distributing the land for a price.h

40At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle,i but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood. 41He will also invade the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall. But these will be delivered from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the leaders of the Ammonites.

42He will extend his power over many countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape. 43He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt, and the Libyans and Cushitesj will also submit to him.

44But news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will go out with great fury to destroy many and devote them to destruction.k
45He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain, but he will meet his end with no one to help him.

Footnotes:

2 a Hebrew of Javan

6 b Or offspring

6 c Or child; see Vulgate and Syriac.

7 d Literally a branch from her roots

13 e Hebrew at the end of the times

17 f Or but she will not stand with him or support him

30 g Or western coastlands or Mediterranean islands

39 h Or for a reward

40 i Hebrew will thrust at him

43 j That is, people from the upper Nile region

44 k Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

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◀   ◀   Daniel 12   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The End Times
(Revelation 1:1–3)

1“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

2And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.a
3Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens,b and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.c

4But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”

5Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the fulfillment of these wonders?”

7And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”

8I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”

9“Go on your way, Daniel,” he replied, “for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.

11And from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12Blessed is he who waits and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

13But as for you, go on your way until the end. You will rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Footnotes:

2 a See John 5:29 and Revelation 11:18.

3 b Or expanse or firmament; see also Genesis 1:6–8.

3 c See Matthew 13:43.

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◀   ◀   Hosea 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14)

Hosea’s Wife and Children

1This is the word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash,a king of Israel.

2When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, He told him, “Go, take a prostitute as your wife and have children of adultery, because this land is flagrantly prostituting itself by departing from the LORD.”

3So Hosea went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

4Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel,b for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”

6Gomer again conceived and gave birth to a daughter, and the LORD said to Hosea, “Name her Lo-ruhamah,c for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I should ever forgive them. 7Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them—not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.”

8After she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, Gomer conceived and gave birth to a son. 9And the LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi,d for you are not My people, and I am not your God.e

10Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And it will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’f
11Then the people of Judah and of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one leader, and will go up out of the land. For great will be the day of Jezreel.

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash

4 b Jezreel means God sows; also in verse 11.

6 c Lo-ruhamah means she has not received mercy.

9 d Lo-ammi means not My people.

9 e Hebrew I am not yours

10 f Cited in Romans 9:26

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◀   ◀   Hosea 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Israel’s Adultery Rebuked

1“Say of your brothers, ‘My people,’a
and of your sisters, ‘My loved one.’b

2Rebuke your mother,
rebuke her,
for she is not My wife,
and I am not her husband.

Let her remove the adultery from her face
and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts.

3Otherwise, I will strip her naked
and expose her like the day of her birth.

I will make her like a desert
and turn her into a parched land,
and I will let her die of thirst.

4I will have no compassion on her children,
because they are the children of adultery.

5For their mother has played the harlot
and has conceived them in disgrace.

For she thought,

‘I will go after my lovers,
who give me bread and water,
wool and linen, oil and drink.’

6Therefore, behold,

I will hedge up her pathc with thorns;

I will enclose her with a wall,
so she cannot find her way.

7She will pursue her lovers but not catch them;
she will seek them but not find them.

Then she will say,

‘I will return to my first husband,
for then I was better off than now.’

8For she does not acknowledge
that it was I who gave her grain,
new wine, and oil,
who lavished on her silver and gold—
which they crafted for Baal.

9Therefore I will take back My grain in its time
and My new wine in its season;

I will take away My wool and linen,
which were given to cover her nakedness.

10And then I will expose her lewdness
in the sight of her lovers,
and no one will deliver her
out of My hands.

11I will put an end to all her exultation:

her feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths—
all her appointed feasts.

12I will destroy her vines and fig trees,
which she thinks are the wages paid by her lovers.

So I will make them into a thicket,
and the beasts of the field will devour them.

13I will punish her for the days of the Baals
when she burned incense to them,
when she decked herself with rings and jewelry,
and went after her lovers.

But Me she forgot,”

declares the LORD.

God’s Mercy to Israel

14“Therefore, behold, I will allure her
and lead her to the wilderness,
and speak to her tenderly.

15There I will give back her vineyards
and make the Valley of Achord
into a gateway of hope.

There she will respond as she did
in the days of her youth,
as in the day she came up out of Egypt.

16In that day,”

declares the LORD,

“you will call Me ‘my Husband,’e
and no longer call Me ‘my Master.’f

17For I will remove from her lips the names of the Baals;
no longer will their names be invoked.

18On that day I will make a covenant for them
with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air
and the creatures that crawl on the ground.

And I will abolish bow and sword
and weapons of war in the land,
and will make them lie down in safety.

19So I will betroth you to Me forever;

I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,
in loving devotiong and compassion.

20And I will betroth you in faithfulness,
and you will know the LORD.”

21“On that day I will respond—”

declares the LORD—

“I will respond to the heavens,
and they will respond to the earth.

22And the earth will respond to the grain,
to the new wine and oil,
and they will respond to Jezreel.h

23And I will sow her as My own in the land,
and I will have compassion on ‘No Compassion.’i

I will say to those called ‘Not My People,’j

‘You are My people,’k
and they will say,

‘You are my God.’ ”

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew Ammi

1 b Or Mercy is shown; Hebrew Ruhamah, which means she has received mercy

6 c Hebrew your path

15 d Achor means trouble.

16 e Hebrew my Ishi

16 f Hebrew my Baal

19 g Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

22 h Jezreel means God sows.

23 i Hebrew Lo-ruhamah; LXX I will love her who was not loved

23 j Hebrew Lo-ammi

23 k Cited in Romans 9:25 and 1 Peter 2:10

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◀   ◀   Hosea 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Hosea Redeems His Wife
(Zechariah 2:6–13)

1Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by anothera and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.b”

2So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silverc and a homer and a lethech of barley.d
3Then I said to her, “You must live with me for many days; you must not be promiscuous or belong to another, and I will do the same for you.”

4For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol. 5Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.

Footnotes:

1 a Or Go show love to a woman who is loved by another

1 b Literally and love raisin cakes

2 c 15 shekels is approximately 6 ounces or 171 grams of silver.

2 d Or a homer and a half of barley; that is, a total of approximately 9.36 bushels or 330 liters (probably about 436 pounds or 198 kilograms of barley); LXX a homer of barley and a wineskin full of wine

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◀   ◀   Hosea 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

God’s Case against His People

1Hear the word of the LORD,

O children of Israel,
for the LORD has a case
against the people of the land:

“There is no truth, no loving devotion,
and no knowledge of God in the land!

2Cursing and lying,
murder and stealing,
and adultery are rampant;
one act of bloodshed follows another.

3Therefore the land mourns,
and all who dwell in it will waste away
with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air;
even the fish of the sea disappear.

4But let no man contend;
let no man offer reproof;
for your people are like those
who contend with a priest.a

5You will stumble by day,
and the prophet will stumble with you by night;
so I will destroy your mother—

6My people are destroyed
for lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I will also reject you as My priests.

Since you have forgotten the law of your God,

I will also forget your children.

7The more they multiplied,
the more they sinned against Me;
they exchanged their Gloryb
for a thing of disgrace.

8They feed on the sinsc of My people
and set their hearts on iniquity.

9And it shall be
like people, like priest.

I will punish both of them for their ways
and repay them for their deeds.

10They will eat but not be satisfied;
they will be promiscuous but not multiply.

For they have stopped obeying the LORD.

11Promiscuity, wine, and new wine
take away understanding.

12My people consult their wooden idols,
and their divining rods inform them.

For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray
and they have played the harlot against their God.

13They sacrifice on the mountaintops
and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
because their shade is pleasant.

And so your daughters turn to prostitution
and your daughters-in-law to adultery.

14I will not punish your daughters
when they prostitute themselves,
nor your daughters-in-law
when they commit adultery.

For the men themselves go off with prostitutes
and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes.

So a people without understanding
will come to ruin.

15Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel,
may Judah avoid such guilt!

Do not journey to Gilgal,
do not go up to Beth-aven,d
and do not swear on oath,

‘As surely as the LORD lives!’

16For Israel is as obstinate
as a stubborn heifer.

Can the LORD now shepherd them
like lambs in an open meadow?

17Ephraime is joined to idols;
leave him alone!

18When their liquor is gone,
they turn to prostitution;
their rulersf dearly love disgrace.

19The whirlwind has wrapped themg in its wings,
and their sacrifices will bring them shame.

Footnotes:

4 a Or for My case is against you, O priests

7 b Or they exchanged their glorious God (Syriac); MT I will exchange their glory

8 c Or the sin offerings

15 d Beth-aven means house of wickedness. This is a derogatory term for Bethel, which means house of God; see 1 Kings 12:28–29.

17 e That is, the northern kingdom of Israel

18 f Hebrew her shields

19 g Hebrew has wrapped her

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◀   ◀   Hosea 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Judgment on Israel and Judah

1“Hear this, O priests!

Take heed, O house of Israel!

Give ear, O royal house!

For this judgment is against you
because you have been a snare at Mizpah,
a net spread out on Tabor.

2The rebels are deep in slaughter;
but I will chastise them all.

3I know all about Ephraim,a
and Israel is not hidden from Me.

For now, O Ephraim,
you have turned to prostitution;

Israel is defiled.

4Their deeds do not permit them
to return to their God,
for a spirit of prostitution is within them,
and they do not know the LORD.

5Israel’s arrogance testifies against them;

Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;
even Judah stumbles with them.

6They go with their flocks and herds
to seek the LORD,
but they do not find Him;

He has withdrawn Himself from them.

7They have been unfaithful to the LORD;
for they have borne illegitimate children.

Now the New Moonb will devour them
along with their land.

8Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah,
the trumpet in Ramah;
raise the battle cry in Beth-aven:c

Lead on, O Benjamin!

9Ephraim will be laid waste
on the day of rebuke.

Among the tribes of Israel

I proclaim what is certain.

10The princes of Judah
are like those who move boundary stones;d

I will pour out My fury
upon them like water.

11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,
for he is determined to follow worthless idols.e

12So I am like a moth to Ephraim,
and like decay to the house of Judah.

13When Ephraim saw his sickness
and Judah his wound,
then Ephraim turned to Assyria
and sent to the great king.f

But he cannot cure you
or heal your wound.

14For I am like a lion to Ephraim
and like a young lion to the house of Judah.

I, even I, will tear them to pieces
and then go away.

I will carry them off
where no one can rescue them.

15Then I will return to My place
until they admit their guilt and seek My face;
in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”

Footnotes:

3 a That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verses 5, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14

7 b Or their New Moon feast or the coming month

8 c Beth-aven means house of wickedness. This is a derogatory term for Bethel, which means house of God; see 1 Kings 12:28–29.

10 d See Proverbs 22:28 and Proverbs 23:10.

11 e Or to follow human precepts

13 f Or to King Jareb

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◀   ◀   Hosea 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Unrepentance of Israel and Judah

1Come, let us return to the LORD.

For He has torn us to pieces,
but He will heal us;

He has wounded us,
but He will bind up our wounds.

2After two days He will revive us;
on the third day He will raise us up,
that we may live in His presence.

3So let us know—
let us press on to know the LORD.

As surely as the sun rises,

He will appear;

He will come to us like the rain,
like the spring showers that water the earth.

4What shall I do with you, O Ephraima?

What shall I do with you, O Judah?

For your loyalty is like a morning mist,
like the early dew that vanishes.

5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;

I have slain them by the words of My mouth,
and My judgments go forth like lightning.

6For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,b
and the knowledge of God
rather than burnt offerings.

7But they, like Adam, have transgressedc the covenant;
there they were unfaithful to Me.

8Gilead is a city of evildoers,
tracked with footprints of blood.

9Like raiders who lie in ambush,
so does a band of priests;
they murder on the way to Shechem;
surely they have committed atrocities.

10In the house of Israel

I have seen a horrible thing:

Ephraim practices prostitution there,
and Israel is defiled.

11Also for you, O Judah,
a harvest is appointed,
when I restore

My people from captivity.d

Footnotes:

4 a That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 10

6 b Cited in Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 12:7

7 c Or As at Adam, they have transgressed

11 d Or restore the fortunes of My people

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◀   ◀   Hosea 7   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Ephraim’s Iniquity

1When I heal Israel,
the iniquity of Ephraima will be exposed,
as well as the crimes of Samaria.

For they practice deceit and thieves break in;
bandits raid in the streets.

2But they fail to consider in their hearts
that I remember all their evil.

Now their deeds are all around them;
they are before My face.

3They delight the king with their evil,
and the princes with their lies.

4They are all adulterers,
like an oven heated by a baker
who needs not stoke the fire
from the kneading to the rising of the dough.

5The princes are inflamed with wine
on the day of our king;
so he joins hands
with those who mock him.

6For they prepare their heart like an oven
while they lie in wait;
all night their anger smolders;b
in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

7All of them are hot as an oven,
and they devour their rulers.

All their kings fall;
not one of them calls upon Me.

8Ephraim mixes with the nations;

Ephraim is an unturned cake.

9Foreigners consume his strength,
but he does not notice.

Even his hair is streaked with gray,
but he does not know.

10Israel’s arrogance testifies against them,
yet they do not return to the LORD their God;
despite all this, they do not seek Him.

11So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove—
calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.

12As they go, I will spread My net over them;

I will bring them down like birds of the air.

I will chastise them
when I hear them flocking together.c

13Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me!

Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against Me!

Though I would redeem them,
they speak lies against Me.

14They do not cry out to Me from their hearts
when they wail upon their beds.

They slash themselvesd for grain and new wine,
but turn away from Me.

15Although I trained and strengthened their arms,
they plot evil against Me.

16They turn, but not to the Most High;
they are like a faulty bow.

Their leaders will fall by the sword
for the cursing of their tongue;
for this they will be ridiculed
in the land of Egypt.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verses 8 and 11

6 b Literally their baker sleeps

12 c Or I will chastise them according to what was reported against them in the assembly.

14 d Some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX; see 1 Kings 18:28. Most Hebrew manuscripts They gather together

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◀   ◀   Hosea 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Israel Will Reap the Whirlwind

1Put the ram’s horn to your lips!

An eagle looms over the house of the LORD,
because the people have transgressed My covenant
and rebelled against My law.

2Israel cries out to Me,

“O our God, we know You!”

3But Israel has rejected good;
an enemy will pursue him.

4They set up kings, but not by Me.

They make princes, but without My approval.

With their silver and gold they make themselves idols,
to their own destruction.

5He has rejected your calf,a O Samaria.

My anger burns against them.

How long will they be
incapable of innocence?

6For this thing is from Israel—
a craftsman made it, and it is not God.

It will be broken to pieces,
that calf of Samaria.

7For they sow the wind,
and they shall reap the whirlwind.

There is no standing grain;
what sprouts fails to yield flour.

Even if it should produce,
the foreigners would swallow it up.

8Israel is swallowed up!

Now they are among the nations
like a worthless vessel.

9For they have gone up to Assyria
like a wild donkey on its own.

Ephraimb has hired lovers.

10Though they hire allies among the nations,

I will now round them up,
and they will begin to diminish
under the oppression of the king of princes.

11Though Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin,
they became his altars for sinning.

12Though I wrote for them the great things of My law,
they regarded them as something strange.

13Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to Me,
and though they eat the meat,
the LORD does not accept them.

Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins:

They will return to Egypt.

14Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces;

Judah has multiplied its fortified cities.

But I will send fire upon their cities,
and it will consume their citadels.

Footnotes:

5 a Or calf idol; see 1 Kings 12:29.

9 b That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 11

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◀   ◀   Hosea 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Israel’s Punishment

1Do not rejoice, O Israel,
with exultation like the nations,
for you have played the harlot against your God;
you have made love for hire on every threshing floor.

2The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them,
and the new wine will fail them.

3They will not remain
in the land of the LORD;

Ephraima will return to Egypt
and eat unclean food in Assyria.

4They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD,
and their sacrifices will not please Him,
but will be to them like the bread of mourners;
all who eat will be defiled.

For their bread will be for themselves;
it will not enter the house of the LORD.

5What will you do on the appointed day,
on the day of the LORD’s feast?

6For even if they flee destruction,

Egypt will gather them
and Memphis will bury them.

Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles,
and thorns will overrun their tents.

7The days of punishment have come;
the days of retribution have arrived—
let Israel know it.

The prophet is called a fool,
and the inspired man insane,
because of the greatness
of your iniquity and hostility.

8The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman,
along with my God,b
yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths.

Hostility is in the house of his God!

9They have deeply corrupted themselves
as in the days of Gibeah;

He will remember their guilt;

He will punish their sins.

10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness.

I saw your fathers as the firstfruits
of the fig tree in its first season.

But they went to Baal-peor,
and consecrated themselves to Shame;
so they became as detestable
as the thing they loved.

11Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird,
with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception.

12Even if they raise their children,

I will bereave them of each one.

Yes, woe be to them
when I turn away from them!

13I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre,
planted in a meadow.

But Ephraim will bring out
his children for slaughter.

14Give them, O LORD—
what will You give?

Give them wombs that miscarry
and breasts that dry up!

15All their evil appears at Gilgal,
for there I hated them.

I will drive them from My house
for the wickedness of their deeds.

I will no longer love them;
all their leaders are rebellious.

16Ephraim is struck down;
their root is withered;
they cannot bear fruit.

Even if they bear children,

I will slay the darlings of their wombs.

17My God will reject them
because they have not obeyed Him;
and they shall be wanderers
among the nations.

Footnotes:

3 a That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; similarly in verses 8, 11, 13, and 16

8 b Or The prophet is the watchman over Ephraim, the people of my God

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◀   ◀   Hosea 10   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Retribution for Israel’s Sin

1Israel was a luxuriant vine,
yielding fruit for himself.

The more his fruit increased,
the more he increased the altars.

The better his land produced,
the better he made the sacred pillars.

2Their hearts are devious;
now they must bear their guilt.

The LORD will break down their altars
and demolish their sacred pillars.

3Surely now they will say,

“We have no king,
for we do not revere the LORD.

What can a king do for us?”

4They speak mere words;
with false oaths they make covenants.

So judgment springs up
like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.

5The people of Samaria will fear
for the calf of Beth-aven.a

Indeed, its people will mourn
with its idolatrous priests—
those who rejoiced in its glory—
for it has been taken from them into exile.

6Yes, it will be carried to Assyria
as tribute to the great king.b

Ephraimc will be seized with shame;

Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.d

7Samaria will be carried off with her king
like a twig on the surface of the water.

8The high places of Avene will be destroyed—
it is the sin of Israel;
thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars.

Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”

and to the hills, “Fall on us!”f

9Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel,
and there you have remained.

Did not the battle in Gibeah
overtake the sons of iniquity?g

10I will chasten them when I please;
nations will be gathered against them
to put them in bondage
for their double transgression.

11Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh;
but I will place a yoke on her fair neck.

I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow,
and Jacob will break the hard ground.

12Sow for yourselves righteousness
and reap the fruit of loving devotion;
break up your unplowed ground.

For it is time to seek the LORD
until He comes and sends righteousness
upon you like rain.

13You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice;
you have eaten the fruit of lies.

Because you have trusted in your own way
and in the multitude of your mighty men,

14the roar of battle will rise against your people,
so that all your fortresses will be demolished
as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel
in the day of battle,
when mothers were dashed to pieces
along with their children.

15Thus it will be done to you, O Bethel,
because of your great wickedness.

When the day dawns,
the king of Israel will be utterly cut off.

Footnotes:

5 a Beth-aven means house of wickedness. This is a derogatory term for Bethel, which means house of God; see 1 Kings 12:28–29.

6 b Or to King Jareb

6 c That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 11

6 d Or of its own counsel

8 e Or of wickedness; Aven is a reference to Beth-aven (a derogatory term for Bethel); see verse 5.

8 f Cited in Luke 23:30; see also Revelation 6:16.

9 g Or Did not the battle overtake the sons of iniquity in Gibeah?

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◀   ◀   Hosea 11   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Out of Egypt I Called My Son
(Matthew 2:13–15)

1When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called My son.a

2But the more I called Israel,
the farther they departed from Me.b

They sacrificed to the Baals
and burned incense to carved images.

3It was I who taught Ephraimc to walk,
taking them in My arms,
but they never realized
that it was I who healed them.

4I led them with cords of kindness,
with ropes of love;

I lifted the yoke from their necks
and bent down to feed them.

5Will they not return to the land of Egypt
and be ruled by Assyria
because they refused to repent?

6A sword will flash through their cities;
it will destroy the bars of their gates
and consume them in their own plans.

7My people are bent on turning from Me.

Though they call to the Most High,

He will by no means exalt them.

God’s Love for Israel

8How could I give you up, O Ephraim?

How could I surrender you, O Israel?

How could I make you like Admah?

How could I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart is turned within Me;

My compassion is stirred!

9I will not execute the full fury of My anger;

I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim.

For I am God and not man—
the Holy One among you—
and I will not come in wrath.

10They will walk after the LORD;

He will roar like a lion.

When He roars,

His children will come trembling from the west.

11They will come trembling like birds from Egypt
and like doves from the land of Assyria.

Then I will settle them in their homes,
declares the LORD.

12Ephraim surrounds Me with lies,
the house of Israel with deceit;
but Judah still walks with God
and is faithful to the Holy One.d

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in Matthew 2:15

2 b LXX; Hebrew The more they called them, the more they went from them.

3 c That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verses 8, 9, and 12

12 d Or and Judah is unruly against God, the faithful Holy One

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◀   ◀   Hosea 12   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Reproof of Ephraim, Judah, and Jacob

1Ephraima chases the wind
and pursues the east wind all day long;
he multiplies lies and violence;
he makes a covenant with Assyria
and sends olive oil to Egypt.

2The LORD also brings a charge against Judah.

He will punish Jacobb according to his ways
and repay him according to his deeds.

3In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel,
and in his vigor he wrestled with God.

4Yes, he struggled with the angelc and prevailed;
he wept and sought His favor;
he found Him at Bethel
and spoke with Him thered —

5the LORD is the God of Hosts—
the LORD is His name of renown.

6But you must return to your God,
maintaining love and justice,
and always waiting on your God.

7A merchant loves to defraud
with dishonest scales in his hands.

8And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become!

I have found wealth for myself.

In all my labors, they can find in me
no iniquity that is sinful.”

9But I am the LORD your God
ever since the land of Egypt.

I will again make you dwell in tents,
as in the days of the appointed feast.

10I spoke through the prophets
and multiplied their visions;

I gave parables through the prophets.

11Is there iniquity in Gilead?

They will surely come to nothing.

Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?

Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones
in the furrows of the field.

12Jacob fled to the land of Arame
and Israel worked for a wife—
for a wife he tended sheep.

13But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt,
and by a prophet he was preserved.

14Ephraim has provoked bitter anger,
so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him
and repay him for his contempt.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verses 8 and 14

2 b Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives.

4 c Or Angel

4 d LXX and Syriac; MT and there He spoke with us

12 e That is, northwest Mesopotamia

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◀   ◀   Hosea 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

God’s Anger against Israel

1When Ephraima spoke, there was trembling;
he was exalted in Israel.

But he incurred guilt through Baal,
and he died.

2Now they sin more and more
and make for themselves cast images,
idols skillfully made from their silver,
all of them the work of craftsmen.

People say of them,

“They offer human sacrifice
and kiss the calves!”b

3Therefore they will be like the morning mist,
like the early dew that vanishes,
like chaff blown from a threshing floor,
like smoke through an open window.

4Yet I am the LORD your God
ever since the land of Egypt;
you know no God but Me,
for there is no Savior besides Me.

5I knew you in the wilderness,
in the land of drought.

6When they had pasture,
they became satisfied;
when they were satisfied,
their hearts became proud,
and as a result they forgot Me.

7So like a lion I will pounce on them;
like a leopard I will lurk by the path.

8Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them,
and I will tear open their chests.

There I will devour them like a lion,
like a wild beast would tear them apart.

Death and Resurrection
(1 Corinthians 15:50–58)

9You are destroyed, O Israel,
because you are against Me—
against your helper.

10Where is your king nowc
to save you in all your cities,
and the rulers to whom you said,

“Give me a king and princes”?

11So in My anger I gave you a king,
and in My wrath I took him away.

12The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;
his sin is stored up.

13Labor pains come upon him,
but he is an unwise son.

When the time arrives,
he fails to present himself at the opening of the womb.

14I will ransom them from the power of Sheol;

I will redeem them from Death.d

Where, O Death, are your plagues?

Where, O Sheol, is your sting?e

Compassion is hidden from My eyes.

Judgment on Samaria

15Although he flourishes among his brothers,
an east wind will come—
a wind from the LORD
rising up from the desert.

His fountain will fail,
and his spring will run dry.

The wind will plunder his treasury
of every precious article.

16Samaria will bear her guilt
because she has rebelled against her God.

They will fall by the sword;
their little ones will be dashed to pieces,
and their pregnant women ripped open.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 12

2 b Or “The men who sacrifice kiss the calves!” See 1 Kings 19:18.

10 c Or Shall I be your King now

14 d Or Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death?

14 e LXX Where, O Death, is your penalty? Where, O Hades, is your sting? Cited in 1 Corinthians 15:55

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◀   ◀   Hosea 14   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Call to Repentance
(Jeremiah 3:11–25; Zechariah 1:1–6)

1Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
for you have stumbled by your iniquity.

2Bring your confessions
and return to the LORD.

Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity
and receive us graciously,
that we may present
the fruit of our lips.a

3Assyria will not save us,
nor will we ride on horses.

We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’

to the work of our own hands.

For in You the fatherless find compassion.”

A Promise of God’s Blessing

4I will heal their apostasy;

I will freely love them,
for My anger has turned away from them.

5I will be like the dew to Israel;
he will blossom like the lily
and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

6His shoots will sprout,
and his splendor will be like the olive tree,
his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.

7They will return and dwell in his shade;
they will grow grain and blossom like the vine.

His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

8O Ephraim,b what have I to do
anymore with idols?

It is I who answer and watch over him.

I am like a flourishing cypress;c
your fruit comes from Me.

9Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
whoever is discerning, let him know them.

For the ways of the LORD are right,
and the righteous walk in them
but the rebellious stumble in them.

Footnotes:

2 a LXX and Syriac; Hebrew that we may present our lips as sacrificial bulls

8 b That is, the northern kingdom of Israel

8 c Or pine or juniper or fir

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◀   ◀   Joel 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3)

The Invasion of Locusts

1This is the word of the LORD that came to Joel son of Pethuel:

2Hear this, O elders;
and give ear, all who dwell in the land.

Has anything like this ever happened in your days
or in the days of your fathers?

3Tell it to your children;
let your children tell it to their children,
and their children to the next generation.

4What the devouring locust has left,
the swarming locust has eaten;
what the swarming locust has left,
the young locust has eaten;
and what the young locust has left,
the destroying locust has eaten.a

5Wake up, you drunkards, and weep;
wail, all you drinkers of wine,
because of the sweet wine,
for it has been cut off from your mouth.

6For a nation has invaded My land,
powerful and without number;
its teeth are the teeth of a lion,
and its fangs are the fangs of a lioness.

7It has laid waste My grapevine
and splintered My fig tree.

It has stripped off the bark and thrown it away;
the branches have turned white.

A Call to Mourning

8Wail like a virgin dressed in sackcloth,
grieving for the husband of her youth.

9Grain and drink offerings have been cut off
from the house of the LORD;
the priests are in mourning,
those who minister before the LORD.

10The field is ruined;
the land mourns.

For the grain is destroyed,
the new wine is dried up, and the oil fails.

11Be dismayed, O farmers,
wail, O vinedressers,
over the wheat and barley,
because the harvest of the field has perished.

12The grapevine is dried up,
and the fig tree is withered;
the pomegranate, palm, and apple—
all the trees of the orchard—are withered.

Surely the joy of mankind has dried up.

A Call to Repentance
(Amos 5:4–15; Zephaniah 2:1–3; Luke 13:1–5)

13Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests;
wail, O ministers of the altar.

Come, spend the night in sackcloth,

O ministers of my God,
because the grain and drink offerings
are withheld from the house of your God.

14Consecrate a fast;
proclaim a solemn assembly!

Gather the elders
and all the residents of the land
to the house of the LORD your God,
and cry out to the LORD.

15Alas for the day!

For the Day of the LORD is near,
and it will come
as destruction from the Almighty.b

16Has not the food been cut off
before our very eyes—
joy and gladness
from the house of our God?

17The seeds lie shriveled beneath the clods;
the storehouses are in ruins;
the granaries are broken down,
for the grain has withered away.

18How the cattle groan!

The herds wander in confusion
because they have no pasture.

Even the flocks of sheep are suffering.

19To You, O LORD, I call,
for fire has consumed the open pastures
and flames have scorched all the trees of the field.

20Even the beasts of the field pant for You,
for the streams of water have dried up,
and fire has consumed the open pastures.

Footnotes:

4 a The precise identification of the four kinds of locusts mentioned here is uncertain.

15 b Hebrew Shaddai

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◀   ◀   Joel 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Army of Locusts
(Amos 7:1–9)

1Blow the ram’s horn in Zion;
sound the alarm on My holy mountain!

Let all who dwell in the land tremble,
for the Day of the LORD is coming;
indeed, it is near—

2a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness.

Like the dawn overspreading the mountains
a great and strong army appears,
such as never was of old,
nor will ever be in ages to come.

3Before them a fire devours,
and behind them a flame scorches.

The land before them is like the Garden of Eden,
but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—
surely nothing will escape them.

4Their appearance is like that of horses,
and they gallop like swift steeds.a

5With a sound like that of chariots
they bound over the mountaintops,
like the crackling of fire consuming stubble,
like a mighty army deployed for battle.

6Nations writhe in horror before them;
every face turns pale.

7They charge like mighty men;
they scale the walls like men of war.

Each one marches in formation,
not swerving from the course.

8They do not jostle one another;
each proceeds in his path.

They burst through the defenses,
never breaking ranks.

9They storm the city;
they run along the wall;
they climb into houses,
entering through windows like thieves.

10Before them the earth quakes;
the heavens tremble.

The sun and moon grow dark,
and the stars lose their brightness.

11The LORD raises His voice
in the presence of His army.

Indeed, His camp is very large,
for mighty are those who obey His command.

For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful.

Who can endure it?

Return with All Your Heart

12“Yet even now,”

declares the LORD,

“return to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

13So rend your hearts and not your garments,
and return to the LORD your God.

For He is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.b

And He relents from sending disaster.

14Who knows? He may turn and relent
and leave a blessing behind Him—
grain and drink offerings
for the LORD your God.

15Blow the ram’s horn in Zion,
consecrate a fast,
proclaim a sacred assembly.

16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation,
assemble the aged, gather the children,
even those nursing at the breast.

Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her chamber.

17Let the priests who minister before the LORD
weep between the portico and the altar,
saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD,
and do not make Your heritage a reproach,
an object of scorn among the nations.

Why should they say among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

Restoration Promised

18Then the LORD became jealous for His land,
and He spared His people.

19And the LORD answered His people:

“Behold, I will send you
grain, new wine, and oil,
and by them you will be satisfied.

I will never again make you
a reproach among the nations.

20The northern army I will drive away from you,
banishing it to a barren and desolate land,
its front ranks into the Eastern Sea,c
and its rear guard into the Western Sea.d

And its stench will rise;
its foul odor will ascend.

For He has done great things.

21Do not be afraid, O land;
rejoice and be glad,
for the LORD has done great things.

22Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field,
for the open pastures have turned green,
the trees bear their fruit,
and the fig tree and vine yield their best.e

23Be glad, O children of Zion,
and rejoice in the LORD your God,
for He has given you the autumn rains
for your vindication.

He sends you showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.

24The threshing floors will be full of grain,
and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

25I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—
the swarming locust, the young locust,
the destroying locust, and the devouring locustf—

My great army that I sent against you.

26You will have plenty to eat,
until you are satisfied.

You will praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has worked wonders for you.

My people will never again
be put to shame.

27Then you will know that I am present in Israel
and that I am the LORD your God,
and there is no other.

My people will never again
be put to shame.

I Will Pour Out My Spirit
(Acts 2:14–36)

28And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.

29Even on My menservants and maidservants,

I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

30I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth,
blood and fire and columnsg of smoke.

31The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and awesomeh Day of the LORD.

32And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD
will be saved;i
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised,
among the remnant called by the LORD.

Footnotes:

4 a Or like charioteers or like cavalry

13 b Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

20 c That is, the Dead Sea

20 d That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea

22 e Literally their strength

25 f The precise identification of the four kinds of insects mentioned here is uncertain.

30 g LXX clouds or billows

31 h Or dreadful; LXX glorious

32 i Cited in Acts 2:17–21 and Romans 10:13

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◀   ◀   Joel 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Judges the Nations

1“Yes, in those days and at that time,
when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity,a

2I will gather all the nations
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.b

There I will enter into judgment against them
concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel,
whom they have scattered among the nations
as they divided up My land.

3They cast lots for My people;
they bartered a boy for a prostitute
and sold a girl for wine to drink.

4Now what do you have against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering against Me a recompense? If you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense upon your heads. 5For you took My silver and gold and carried off My finest treasures to your temples.c
6You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks,d to send them far from their homeland.

7Behold, I will rouse them from the places to which you sold them; I will return your recompense upon your heads. 8I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans—to a distant nation.”

Indeed, the LORD has spoken.

9Proclaim this among the nations:

“Prepare for war;
rouse the mighty men;
let all the men of war
advance and attack!

10Beat your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks into spears.

Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’

11Come quickly, all you surrounding nations,
and gather yourselves.

Bring down Your mighty ones,

O LORD.

12Let the nations be roused
and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
for there I will sit down
to judge all the nations on every side.

13Swing the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe.e

Come, trample the grapes,
for the winepress is full;
the wine vats overflow
because their wickedness is great.

14Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!

For the Day of the LORD is near
in the valley of decision.

15The sun and moon will grow dark,
and the stars will no longer shine.

16The LORD will roar from Zion
and raise His voice from Jerusalem;
heaven and earth will tremble.

But the LORD will be a refuge for His people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

17Then you will know that I am the LORD your God,
who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain.

Jerusalem will be holy,
never again to be overrun by foreigners.

18And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine,
and the hills will flow with milk.

All the streams of Judah will run with water,
and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD
to water the Valley of Acacias.f

19Egypt will become desolate,
and Edom a desert wasteland,
because of the violence done to the people of Judah,
in whose land they shed innocent blood.

20But Judah will be inhabited forever,
and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

21For I will avenge their blood,
which I have not yet avenged.g”

For the LORD dwells in Zion.

Footnotes:

1 a Or restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem

2 b Jehoshaphat means the LORD judges; also in verse 12.

5 c Or palaces

6 d Or to the peoples of Javan

13 e LXX the harvest has come; see also Mark 4:29.

18 f Or Valley of Shittim

21 g Or For I will pardon their bloodguilt, which I have not yet pardoned.

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◀   ◀   Amos 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9)

Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors
(Jeremiah 12:14–17)

1These are the words of Amos, who was among the sheepherdersa of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two yearsb before the earthquake, in the days when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoashc was king of Israel. 2He said:

“The LORD roars from Zion
and raises His voice from Jerusalem;
the pastures of the shepherds mourn,
and the summit of Carmel withers.”

3This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of Damascus, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,d
because they threshed Gilead
with sledges of iron.

4So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael
to consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.

5I will break down the gates of Damascus;

I will cut off the rulere of the Valley of Avenf
and the one who wields the scepter in Beth-eden.

The people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,”

says the LORD.

6This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of Gaza, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,
because they exiled a whole population,
delivering them up to Edom.

7So I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza,
to consume its citadels.

8I will cut off the ruler of Ashdod
and the one who wields the scepter in Ashkelon.

I will turn My hand against Ekron,
and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,”

says the Lord GOD.

9This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of Tyre, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,
because they delivered up a whole congregation of exiles to Edom
and broke a covenant of brotherhood.

10So I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre
to consume its citadels.”

11This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of Edom, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,
because he pursued his brother with the sword
and stifled all compassion;
his anger raged continually,
and his fury flamed incessantly.

12So I will send fire upon Teman
to consume the citadels of Bozrah.”

13This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,
because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead
in order to enlarge their territory.

14So I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah
to consume its citadels
amid war cries on the day of battle
and a violent wind on the day of tempest.

15Their king will go into exileg —
he and his princes together,”

says the LORD.

Footnotes:

1 a Or sheep breeders

1 b Or during the two years

1 c Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash

3 d Or I will not revoke the punishment; Hebrew I will not revoke it; also in verses 6, 9, 11, and 13

5 e Or the inhabitants

5 f Aven means wickedness.

15 g Possibly Milcom will go into exile; Milcom, also called Molech, was god of the Ammonites; see Leviticus 18:21 and 1 Kings 11:7.

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◀   ◀   Amos 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Judgment on Moab, Judah, and Israel

1This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of Moab, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,a
because he burned to lime
the bones of Edom’s king.

2So I will send fire against Moab
to consume the citadels of Kerioth.

Moab will die in tumult,
amid war cries and the sound of the ram’s horn.

3I will cut off the ruler of Moab
and kill all the officials with him,”

says the LORD.

4This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of Judah, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,
because they reject the Law of the LORD
and fail to keep His statutes;
they are led astray by the lies
in which their fathers walked.

5So I will send fire upon Judah
to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”

6This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of Israel, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,
because they sell the righteous for silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals.

7They trample on the heads of the poor
as on the dust of the earth;
they push the needy out of their way.

A man and his father
have relations with the same girl
and so profane My holy name.

8They lie down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge.

And in the house of their God,b
they drink wine obtained through fines.c

9Yet it was I who destroyed
the Amorite before them,
though his height was like that of the cedars,
and he was as strong as the oaks.

Yet I destroyed his fruit above
and his roots below.

10And I brought you up from the land of Egypt
and led you forty years in the wilderness,
that you might take possession
of the land of the Amorite.

11I raised up prophets from your sons
and Nazirites from your young men.

Is this not true,

O children of Israel?”

declares the LORD.

12“But you made the Nazirites drink wine
and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

13Behold, I am about to crush you in your place
as with a cart full of grain.

14Escape will fail the swift,
the strong will not prevail by his strength,
and the mighty will not save his life.

15The archer will not stand his ground,
the fleet of foot will not escape,
and the horseman will not save his life.

16Even the bravest of mighty men
will flee naked on that day,”

declares the LORD.

Footnotes:

1 a Or I will not revoke the punishment; Hebrew I will not revoke it; also in verses 4 and 6

8 b Or of their gods

8 c Or they drink the wine of those who have been fined

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◀   ◀   Amos 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Witnesses against Israel

1Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:

2“Only you have I knowna
from all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish you
for all your iniquities.”

3Can two walk together
without agreeing where to go?b

4Does a lion roar in the forest
when he has no prey?

Does a young lion growl in his den
if he has caught nothing?

5Does a bird land in a snare
where no bait has been set?

Does a trap spring from the ground
when it has nothing to catch?

6If a ram’s horn sounds in a city,
do the people not tremble?

If calamity comes to a city,
has not the LORD caused it?

7Surely the Lord GOD does nothing
without revealing His plan
to His servants the prophets.

8The lion has roared—
who will not fear?

The Lord GOD has spoken—
who will not prophesy?

9Proclaim to the citadels of Ashdod
and to the citadels of Egypt:

“Assemble on the mountains of Samaria;
see the great unrest in the city
and the acts of oppression in her midst.”

10“For they know not how to do right,”

declares the LORD.

“They store up violence and destruction
in their citadels.”

11Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says:

“An enemyc will surround the land;
he will pull down your strongholds
and plunder your citadels.”

12This is what the LORD says:

“As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion
two legs or a piece of an ear,
so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued
having just the corner of a bed
or the cushion of a couch.d

13Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,
declares the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts.

14On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions,

I will visit destruction on the altars of Bethel;
the horns of the altar will be cut off,
and they will fall to the ground.

15I will tear down the winter house
along with the summer house;
the houses of ivory will also perish,
and the great houses will come to an end,”

declares the LORD.

Footnotes:

2 a Or chosen

3 b Or without an appointment to meet

11 c Or An adversary

12 d Or so will the Israelites be snatched away, those who sit in Samaria on the edge of their beds and in Damascus on their couches

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◀   ◀   Amos 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Punishment Brings No Repentance

1Hear this word,
you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria,
you women who oppress the poor
and crush the needy,
who say to your husbands,

“Bring us more to drink.”

2The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness:

“Behold, the days are coming
when you will be taken away with hooks,
and your posterity with fishhooks.

3You will go out through broken walls,
each one straight ahead of her,
and you will be cast out toward Harmon,a”

declares the LORD.

4“Go to Bethel and transgress;
rebel even more at Gilgal!

Bring your sacrifices every morning,
your tithes every three days.b

5Offer leavened bread as a thank offering,
and loudly proclaim your freewill offerings.

For that is what you children of Israel love to do,”

declares the Lord GOD.

6“I beset all your cities with cleanness of teethc
and all your towns with lack of bread,
yet you did not return to Me,”

declares the LORD.

7“I also withheld the rain from you
when the harvest was three months away.

I sent rain on one city
but withheld it from another.

One field received rain;
another without rain withered.

8People staggered from city to city
for water to drink,
but they were not satisfied;
yet you did not return to Me,”

declares the LORD.

9“I struck you with blight and mildew
in your growing gardens and vineyards;
the locust devoured your fig and olive trees,
yet you did not return to Me,”

declares the LORD.

10“I sent plagues among you
like those of Egypt;

I killed your young men with the sword,
along with your captured horses.

I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camp,
yet you did not return to Me,”

declares the LORD.

11“Some of you I overthrew
as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,
and you were like a firebrandd snatched from a blaze,
yet you did not return to Me,”

declares the LORD.

12“Therefore, that is what I will do
to you, O Israel,
and since I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel!

13For behold, He who forms the mountains,
who creates the wind
and reveals His thoughts to man,
who turns the dawn to darkness
and strides on the heights of the earth—
the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name.”

Footnotes:

3 a That is, possibly Mount Hermon

4 b Or years

6 c That is, with empty stomachs

11 d That is, a burning stick

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◀   ◀   Amos 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Lamentation against Israel

1Hear this word, O house of Israel, this lamentation I take up against you:

2“Fallen is Virgin Israel,
never to rise again.

She lies abandoned on her land,
with no one to raise her up.”

3This is what the Lord GOD says:

“The city that marches out a thousand strong
will only see a hundred return,
and the one that marches out a hundred strong
will have but ten left in the house of Israel.”

A Call to Repentance
(Joel 1:13–20; Zephaniah 2:1–3; Luke 13:1–5)

4For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel:

“Seek Me and live!

5Do not seek Bethel or go to Gilgal;
do not journey to Beersheba,
for Gilgal will surely go into exile,
and Bethel will come to nothing.a

6Seek the LORD and live,
or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph;
it will devour everything,
with no one at Bethel to extinguish it.

7There are those who turn justice into wormwood
and cast righteousness to the ground.

8He who made the Pleiades and Orion,
who turns darkness into dawn
and darkens day into night,
who summons the waters of the sea
and pours them over the face of the earth—
the LORD is His name—

9He flashes destruction on the strong,
so that fury comes upon the stronghold.

10There are those who hate the one who reproves in the gate
and despise him who speaks with integrity.

11Therefore, because you trample on the poor
and exact from him a tax of grain,
you will never live
in the stone houses you have built;
you will never drink the wine
from the lush vineyards you have planted.

12For I know that your transgressions are many
and your sins are numerous.

You oppress the righteous by taking bribes;
you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.

13Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times,
for the days are evil.

14Seek good, not evil,
so that you may live.

And the LORD, the God of Hosts,
will be with you, as you have claimed.

15Hate evil and love good;
establish justice in the gate.

Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts,
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”

Woe to Rebellious Israel
(Acts 7:39–43)

16Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says:

“There will be wailing in all the public squares
and cries of ‘Alas! Alas!’ in all the streets.

The farmer will be summoned to mourn,
and the mourners to wail.

17There will be wailing in all the vineyards,
for I will pass through your midst,”

says the LORD.

18Woe to you who long for the Day of the LORD!

What will the Day of the LORD be for you?

It will be darkness and not light.

19It will be like a man who flees from a lion,
only to encounter a bear,
or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall,
only to be bitten by a snake.

20Will not the Day of the LORD
be darkness and not light,
even gloom with no brightness in it?

21“I hate, I despise your feasts!

I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.

22Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;
for your peace offerings of fattened cattle

I will have no regard.

23Take away from Me the noise of your songs!

I will not listen to the music of your harps.

24But let justice roll on like a river,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

25Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings
forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

26You have taken along Sakkuth your king
and Kaiwan your star god,b
the idols you made for yourselves.

27Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,”c
says the LORD, whose name is the God of Hosts.

Footnotes:

5 a Hebrew to Aven, a reference to Beth-aven, a derogatory term for Bethel; see Hosea 4:15.

26 b LXX You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan

27 c Cited in Acts 7:42–43

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◀   ◀   Amos 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Woe to Those at Ease in Zion
(Luke 6:24–26)

1Woe to those at ease in Zion
and those secure on Mount Samaria,
the distinguished ones of the foremost nation,
to whom the house of Israel comes.

2Cross over to Calneh and see;
go from there to the great Hamath;
then go down to Gath of the Philistines.

Are you better than these kingdoms?

Is their territory larger than yours?

3You dismiss the day of calamity
and bring near a reign of violence.

4You lie on beds inlaid with ivory,
and lounge upon your couches.

You dine on lambs from the flock
and calves from the stall.

5You improvise songs on the harp like David
and invent your own musical instruments.

6You drink wine by the bowlful
and anoint yourselves with the finest oils,
but you fail to grieve
over the ruin of Joseph.

7Therefore, you will now go into exile
as the first of the captives,
and your feasting and lounging
will come to an end.

The Pride of Israel

8The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself—the LORD, the God of Hosts, has declared:

“I abhor Jacob’s pride
and detest his citadels,
so I will deliver up the city
and everything in it.”

9And if there are ten men left in one house, they too will die. 10And when the relative who is to burn the bodiesa picks them up to remove them from the house, he will call to one inside, “Is anyone else with you?”

“None,” that person will answer.

“Silence,” the relative will retort, “for the name of the LORD must not be invoked.”

11For the LORD gives a command:

“The great house will be smashed to pieces,
and the small house to rubble.”

12“Do horses gallop on the cliffs?

Does one plow the seab with oxen?

But you have turned justice into poison
and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—

13you who rejoice in Lo-debarc and say,

‘Did we not take Karnaimd by our own strength?’

14For behold, I will raise up a nation
against you, O house of Israel,”

declares the LORD, the God of Hosts,

“and they will oppress you
from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah.”

Footnotes:

10 a Or to make a funeral fire to honor the dead

12 b Literally Does one plow (there)

13 c Lo-debar means nothing.

13 d Karnaim means horn, a symbol of strength.

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◀   ◀   Amos 7   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Locusts, Fire, and Plumb Line
(Joel 2:1–11)

1This is what the Lord GOD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts just after the king’s harvest, as the late spring crop was coming up.a
2And when the locusts had eaten every green plant in the land, I said, “Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?”

3So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said.

4This is what the Lord GOD showed me: The Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the land. 5Then I said, “Lord GOD, please stop! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?”

6So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen either,” said the Lord GOD.

7This is what He showed me: Behold, the Lord was standing by a wall true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand. 8“Amos, what do you see?” asked the LORD.

“A plumb line,” I replied.

“Behold,” said the Lord, “I am setting a plumb line among My people Israel; I will no longer spare them:

9The high places of Isaac will be deserted,
and the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste;
and I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam
with My sword.”

Amaziah Accuses Amos

10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words, 11for this is what Amos has said:

‘Jeroboam will die by the sword,
and Israel will surely go into exile,
away from their homeland.’ ”

12And Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. 13But never prophesy at Bethel again, because it is the sanctuary of the king and the temple of the kingdom.”

14“I was notb a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the sonc of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees. 15But the LORD took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’

16Now, therefore, hear the word of the LORD. You say:

‘Do not prophesy against Israel;
do not preach against the house of Isaac.’

17Therefore this is what the LORD says:

‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city,
and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword.

Your land will be divided by a measuring line,
and you yourself will die on pagand soil.

And Israel will surely go into exile,
away from their homeland.’ ”

Footnotes:

1 a LXX A swarm of locusts coming from the east; and, behold, one grasshopper, king Gog.

14 b Or I am not

14 c Or nor am I the son

17 d Hebrew unclean

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◀   ◀   Amos 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Basket of Summer Fruit

1This is what the Lord GOD showed me: I saw a basket of summer fruit.a

2“Amos, what do you see?” He asked.

“A basket of summer fruit,” I replied.

So the LORD said to me, “The end has come for My people Israel; I will no longer spare them.”

3“In that day,” declares the Lord GOD, “the songsb of the templec will turn to wailing. Many will be the corpses, strewn in silence everywhere!”

4Hear this, you who trample the needy,
who do away with the poor of the land,

5asking, “When will the New Moon be over,
that we may sell grain?

When will the Sabbath end,
that we may market wheat?

Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel;d
let us cheat with dishonest scales.

6Let us buy the poor with silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals,
selling even the chaff with the wheat!”

7The LORD has sworn by the Pride of Jacob:

“I will never forget any of their deeds.

8Will not the land quake for this,
and all its dwellers mourn?

All of it will swell like the Nile;
it will surge and then subside
like the Nile in Egypt.

9And in that day,
declares the Lord GOD,

I will make the sun go down at noon,
and I will darken the earth in the daytime.

10I will turn your feasts into mourning
and all your songs into lamentation.

I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth
and every head to be shaved.

I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son,
and its outcome like a bitter day.

11Behold, the days are coming,
declares the Lord GOD,
when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

12People will stagger from sea to sea
and roam from north to east,
seeking the word of the LORD,
but they will not find it.

13In that day the lovely young women—
the young men as well—
will faint from thirst.

14Those who swear by the guilt of Samaria
and say, ‘As surely as your god lives, O Dan,’

or, ‘As surely as the waye of Beersheba lives’—
they will fall, never to rise again.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or ripe fruit; also in verse 2

3 b Or the singing women

3 c Or palace

5 d Or Let us reduce the measure and increase the price

14 e Or the god

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◀   ◀   Amos 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Destruction of Israel

1I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said:

“Strike the tops of the pillars
so that the thresholds shake.

Topple them on the heads of all the people,
and I will kill the rest with the sword.

None of those who flee will get away;
none of the fugitives will escape.

2Though they dig down to Sheol,
from there My hand will take them;
and though they climb up to heaven,
from there I will pull them down.

3Though they hide themselves atop Carmel,
there I will track them and seize them;
and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea,
there I will command the serpenta to bite them.

4Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity,
there I will command the sword to slay them.

I will fix My eyes upon them
for harm and not for good.”

5The Lord GOD of Hosts,

He who touches the earth and it melts,
and all its dwellers mourn—
all the land rises like the Nile,
then sinks like the river of Egypt—

6He builds His upper rooms in the heavens
and founds His vault upon the earth.

He summons the waters of the sea
and pours them over the face of the earth.

The LORD is His name.

7“Are you not like the Cushitesb to Me,

O children of Israel?”

declares the LORD.

“Did I not bring Israel
up from the land of Egypt,
the Philistines from Caphtor,c
and the Arameans from Kir?

8Surely the eyes of the Lord GOD
are on the sinful kingdom,
and I will destroy it from the face of the earth.

Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,”

declares the LORD.

9“For surely I will give the command,
and I will shake the house of Israel
among all the nations
as grain is sifted in a sieve;
but not a pebble will reach the ground.

10All the sinners among My people
will die by the sword—
all those who say,

‘Disaster will never draw near or confront us.’ ”

A Promise of Restoration
(Acts 15:5–21)

11“In that day I will restore
the fallen tent of David.

I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins,
and rebuild it as in the days of old,

12that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations that bear My name,”d
declares the LORD, who will do this.

13“Behold, the days are coming,”

declares the LORD,

“when the plowman will overtake the reaper
and the treader of grapes, the sower of seed.

The mountains will drip with sweet wine,
with which all the hills will flow.

14I will restore My people Israel from captivity;e
they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities.

They will plant vineyards and drink their wine;
they will make gardens and eat their fruit.

15I will firmly plant them in their own land,
never again to be uprooted
from the land that I have given them,”

says the LORD your God.

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew nachash; translated in most cases as snake

7 b That is, people from the upper Nile region

7 c That is, Crete

12 d Hebrew; LXX that the remnant of men, and all the nations that bear My name, may earnestly seek Me; cited in Acts 15:16–18

14 e Or restore the fortunes of My people Israel

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◀   ◀   Obadiah 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Destruction of Edom
(Jeremiah 49:7–22)

1This is the vision of Obadiah:

This is what the Lord GOD says about Edom—

We have heard a message from the LORD;
an envoy has been sent among the nations
to say, “Rise up,
and let us go to battle against her!”—

2“Behold, I will make you small among the nations;
you will be deeply despised.

3The pride of your heart has deceived you,

O dwellers in the clefts of the rocksa
whose habitation is the heights,
who say in your heart,

‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’

4Though you soar like the eagle
and make your nest among the stars,
even from there I will bring you down,”

declares the LORD.

5“If thieves came to you,
if robbers by night—
oh, how you will be ruined—
would they not steal only what they wanted?

If grape gatherers came to you,
would they not leave some gleanings?

6But how Esau will be pillaged,
his hidden treasures sought out!

7All the men allied with you
will drive you to the border;
the men at peace with you
will deceive and overpower you.

Those who eat your breadb
will set a trap for you
without your awareness of it.

8In that day, declares the LORD,
will I not destroy the wise men of Edom
and the men of understanding
in the mountains of Esau?

9Then your mighty men, O Teman,
will be terrified,
so that everyone in the mountains of Esau
will be cut down in the slaughter.

10Because of the violence against your brother Jacob,
you will be covered with shame
and cut off forever.

11On the day you stood aloof
while strangers carried off his wealth
and foreigners entered his gate
and cast lots for Jerusalem,
you were just like one of them.

12But you should not gloat in that day,
your brother’s day of misfortune,
nor rejoice over the people of Judah
in the day of their destruction,
nor boast proudlyc
in the day of their distress.

13You should not enter the gate of My people
in the day of their disaster,
nor gloat over their affliction
in the day of their disaster,
nor loot their wealth
in the day of their disaster.

14Nor should you stand at the crossroads
to cut off their fugitives,
nor deliver up their survivors
in the day of their distress.

The Deliverance of Israel

15For the Day of the LORD is near
for all the nations.

As you have done, it will be done to you;
your recompense will return upon your own head.

16For as you drank on My holy mountain,
so all the nations will drink continually.

They will drink and gulp it down;
they will be as if they had never existed.

17But on Mount Zion there will be deliverance,
and it will be holy,
and the house of Jacob
will reclaim their possession.

18Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire,
and the house of Joseph a burning flame;
but the house of Esau will be stubble—

Jacob will set it ablaze and consume it.

Therefore no survivor will remain
from the house of Esau.”

For the LORD has spoken.

19Those from the Negev will possess the mountains of Esau;
those from the foothillsd will possess the land of the Philistines.

They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria,
and Benjamin will possess Gilead.

20And the exiles of this host of the Israelites
will possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath;
and the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad
will possess the cities of the Negev.

21The deliverers will ascende Mount Zion
to rule over the mountains of Esau.

And the kingdom will belong to the LORD.

Footnotes:

3 a Or in the retreats of Sela

7 b Hebrew does not include Those who eat.

12 c Hebrew nor enlarge your mouth

19 d Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

21 e Or The deliverers will go up from; LXX Those being delivered will go up

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◀   ◀   Jonah 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4)

Jonah Flees from the LORD
(Nahum 1:1–15)

1Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, 2“Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”

3Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

The Great Storm
(Acts 27:13–26)

4Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart. 5The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.

6The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

7“Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us.”

So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

8“Tell us now,” they demanded, “who is to blame for this calamity that is upon us? What is your occupation, and where have you come from? What is your country, and who are your people?”

9“I am a Hebrew,” replied Jonah. “I worship the LORD, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.”

10Then the men were even more afraid and said to him, “What have you done?” The men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

Jonah Cast into the Sea

11Now the sea was growing worse and worse, so they said to Jonah, “What must we do to you to calm this sea for us?”

12“Pick me up,” he answered, “and cast me into the sea, so it may quiet down for you. For I know that I am to blame for this violent storm that has come upon you.”

13Nevertheless, the men rowed harda to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was raging against them more and more.

14So they cried out to the LORD: “Please, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life! Do not charge us with innocent blood! For You, O LORD, have done as You pleased.”

15At this, they picked up Jonah and cast him into the sea, and the raging sea grew calm.

16Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to Him.

17Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.

Footnotes:

13 a Hebrew the men dug in

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◀   ◀   Jonah 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jonah’s Prayer

1From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God, 2saying:

“In my distress I called to the LORD,
and He answered me.

From the belly of Sheol I called for help,
and You heard my voice.

3For You cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas,
and the current swirled about me;
all Your breakers and waves swept over me.

4At this, I said,

‘I have been banished from Your sight;
yet I will look once more
toward Your holy temple.’

5The waters engulfed me
to take my life;
the watery depths closed around me;
the seaweed wrapped around my head.

6To the roots of the mountains I descended;
the earth beneath me barred me in forever!

But You raised my life from the pit,

O LORD my God!

7As my life was fading away,

I remembered the LORD.

My prayer went up to You,
to Your holy temple.

8Those who cling to worthless idols
forsake His loving devotion.a

9But I, with the voice of thanksgiving,
will sacrifice to You.

I will fulfill what I have vowed.

Salvation is from the LORD!”

10And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Footnotes:

8 a Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

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◀   ◀   Jonah 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Ninevites Repent
(Matthew 12:38–42; Luke 11:29–32)

1Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2“Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you.”

3This time Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, in accordance with the word of the LORD.

Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city,a requiring a three-day journey.b
4On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!”

5And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least.

6When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

7Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink. 8Furthermore, let both man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and have everyone call out earnestly to God. Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands. 9Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”

10When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them.

Footnotes:

3 a Or was a great city to God

3 b Literally great city, a three-day journey

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◀   ◀   Jonah 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jonah’s Anger at the LORD’s Compassion

1Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and he became angry.a
2So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster. 3And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

4But the LORD replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”

5Then Jonah left the city and sat down east of it, where he made himself a shelter and sat in its shade to see what would happen to the city. 6So the LORD God appointed a vine,b and it grew up to provide shade over Jonah’s head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant.

7When dawn came the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant so that it withered.

8As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

9Then God asked Jonah, “Have you any right to be angry about the plant?”

“I do,” he replied. “I am angry enough to die!”

10But the LORD said, “You cared about the plant, which you neither tended nor made grow. It sprang up in a night and perished in a night. 11So should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well?”

Footnotes:

1 a Or It was exceedingly evil to Jonah, and he became angry

6 b Hebrew qiqayon; that is, possibly the castor oil plant; also in verses 7, 9, and 10

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◀   ◀   Micah 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7)

Judgment to Come
(Isaiah 7:17–25)

1This is the word of the LORD that came to Micah the Moreshite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—what he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem:

2Hear, O peoples, all of you;
listen, O earth, and everyone in it!

May the Lord GOD bear witness against you,
the Lord from His holy temple.

3For behold, the LORD comes forth
from His dwelling place;

He will come down and tread
on the high places of the earth.

4The mountains will melt beneath Him,
and the valleys will split apart,
like wax before the fire,
like water rushing down a slope.

5All this is for the transgression of Jacob
and the sins of the house of Israel.

What is the transgression of Jacob?

Is it not Samaria?

And what is the high place of Judah?

Is it not Jerusalem?

6Therefore I will make Samaria
a heap of rubble in the open field,
a planting area for a vineyard.

I will pour her stones into the valley
and expose her foundations.

7All her carved images will be smashed to pieces;
all her wages will be burned in the fire,
and I will destroy all her idols.

Since she collected the wages of a prostitute,
they will be used again on a prostitute.

Weeping and Mourning

8Because of this I will lament and wail;

I will walk barefoot and naked.

I will howl like a jackala
and mourn like an ostrich.b

9For her wound is incurable;
it has reached even Judah;
it has approached the gate of my people,
as far as Jerusalem itself.

10Do not tell it in Gath;c do not weep at all.

Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah.d

11Depart in shameful nakedness,

O dwellers of Shaphir.e

The dwellers of Zaananf
will not come out.

Beth-ezelg is in mourning;
its support is taken from you.

12For the dwellers of Marothh pined for good,
but calamity came down from the LORD,
even to the gate of Jerusalem.

13Harness your chariot horses,

O dweller of Lachish.i

You were the beginning of sin to the Daughter of Zion,
for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.

14Therefore, send farewell giftsj to Moresheth-gath;k
the houses of Achzibl will prove deceptive
to the kings of Israel.

15I will again bring a conqueror against you,

O dweller of Mareshah.m

The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.

16Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hair
in mourning for your precious children;
make yourselves as bald as an eagle,
for they will go from you into exile.

Footnotes:

8 a Or a serpent or a dragon

8 b Literally like daughters of an ostrich or like daughters of an owl

10 c Gath sounds like the Hebrew for tell.

10 d Beth-Leaphrah means house of dust.

11 e Shaphir means pleasant.

11 f Zaanan sounds like the Hebrew for come out.

11 g Beth-ezel means adjoining house.

12 h Maroth sounds like the Hebrew for bitter.

13 i Lachish sounds like the Hebrew term for team of horses.

14 j Or give dowry

14 k Moresheth sounds like the Hebrew for gift or dowry.

14 l Achzib means deception.

15 m Mareshah sounds like the Hebrew for conqueror.

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◀   ◀   Micah 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Woe to Oppressors

1Woe to those who devise iniquity
and plot evil on their beds!

At morning’s light they accomplish it
because the power is in their hands.

2They covet fields and seize them;
they take away houses.

They deprive a man of his home,
a fellow man of his inheritance.

3Therefore this is what the LORD says:

“I am planning against this nation a disaster
from which you cannot free your necks.

Then you will not walk so proudly,
for it will be a time of calamity.

4In that day they will take up a proverb against you
and taunt you with this bitter lamentation:

‘We are utterly ruined!

He has changed the portion of my people.

How He has removed it from me!

He has allotted our fields to traitors.’ ”

5Therefore, you will have no one in the assembly of the LORD
to divide the land by lot.

Reproof of False Prophets
(Ezekiel 13:1–16)

6“Do not preach,” they preach.

“Do not preach these things;
disgrace will not overtake us.”

7Should it be said, O house of Jacob,

“Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient?

Are these the things He does?”

Do not My words bring good
to him who walks uprightly?

8But of late My people have risen up
like an enemy:

You strip off the splendid robe
from unsuspecting passersby
like men returning from battle.

9You drive the women of My people
from their pleasant homes.

You take away My blessing
from their children forever.

10Arise and depart,
for this is not your place of rest,
because its defilement brings destruction—
a grievous destruction!

11If a man of wind were to come
and say falsely,

“I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”a
he would be just the preacher for this people!

The Remnant of Israel
(Micah 5:7–15)

12I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob;

I will collect the remnant of Israel.

I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
like a flock in the midst of its pasture—
a noisy throng.

13One who breaks open the way
will go up before them;
they will break through the gate,
and go out by it.

Their King will pass through before them,
the LORD as their leader.

Footnotes:

11 a Or “I will prophesy to you for wine and strong drink”

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◀   ◀   Micah 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Rulers and Prophets Condemned

1Then I said:

“Hear now, O leaders of Jacob,
you rulers of the house of Israel.

Should you not know justice?

2You hate good and love evil.

You tear the skin from my people
and strip the flesh from their bones.

3You eat the flesh of my people
after stripping off their skin
and breaking their bones.

You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot,
like meat in a cauldron.”

4Then they will cry out to the LORD,
but He will not answer them.

At that time He will hide His face from them
because of the evil they have done.

5This is what the LORD says:

“As for the prophets
who lead My people astray,
who proclaim peace
while they chew with their teeth,
but declare war against one
who puts nothing in their mouths:

6Therefore night will come over you without visions,
and darkness without divination.

The sun will set on these prophets,
and the daylight will turn black over them.

7Then the seers will be ashamed
and the diviners will be disgraced.

They will all cover their mouths
because there is no answer from God.”

8As for me, however, I am filled with power
by the Spirit of the LORD,
with justice and courage,
to declare to Jacob his transgression
and to Israel his sin.

9Now hear this, O leaders of the house of Jacob
and rulers of the house of Israel,
who despise justice
and pervert all that is right,

10who build Zion with bloodshed
and Jerusalem with iniquity.

11Her leaders judge for a bribe,
her priests teach for a price,
and her prophets practice divination for money.

Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying,

“Is not the LORD among us?

No disaster can come upon us.”

12Therefore, because of you,

Zion will be plowed like a field,

Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,
and the temple mount a wooded ridge.

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◀   ◀   Micah 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Mountain of the House of the LORD
(Isaiah 2:1–4)

1In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD
will be established as the chief of the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,
and the peoples will stream to it.

2And many nations will come and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us His ways,
so that we may walk in His paths.”

For the law will go forth from Zion
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3Then He will judge between many peoples
and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide.

Then they will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation,
nor will they train anymore for war.

4And each man will sit under his own vine
and under his own fig tree,
with no one to frighten him.

For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.

5Though each of the peoples
may walk in the name of his god,
yet we will walk in the name of the LORD our God
forever and ever.

The Restoration of Zion
(Zechariah 8:1–23)

6“On that day,” declares the LORD,

“I will gather the lame;

I will assemble the outcast,
even those whom I have afflicted.

7And I will make the lame into a remnant,
and the outcast into a strong nation.

Then the LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion
from that day and forever.

8And you, O watchtower of the flock,

O strongholda of the Daughter of Zion—
the former dominion will be restored to you;
sovereignty will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.”

9Why do you now cry aloud?

Is there no king among you?

Has your counselor perished
so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?

10Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion,
like a woman in labor.

For now you will leave the city
and camp in the open fields.

You will go to Babylon;
there you will be rescued;
there the LORD will redeem you
from the hand of your enemies!

11But now many nations
have assembled against you,
saying, “Let her be defiled,
and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”

12But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD
or understand His plan,
for He has gathered them
like sheaves to the threshing floor.

13Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion,
for I will give you horns of iron
and hooves of bronze
to break to pieces many peoples.

Then you will devoteb their gain to the LORD,
their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

Footnotes:

8 a Or hill; Hebrew And you, Migdal-eder, the Ophel

13 b Or devote to destruction

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◀   ◀   Micah 5   ▶   ▶

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A Ruler from Bethlehem
(Matthew 2:1–12)

1Now, O daughter of troops,
mobilize your troops;
for a siege is laid against us!

With a rod they will strike the cheek
of the judge of Israel.

2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are small among the clansa of Judah,
out of you will come forth for Me

One to be ruler over Israelb—

One whose origins are of old,
from the days of eternity.

3Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of His brothers will return
to the children of Israel.

4He will stand and shepherd His flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majestic name of the LORD His God.

And they will dwell securely,
for then His greatness will extend
to the ends of the earth.

5And He will be our peacec
when Assyria invades our land
and tramples our citadels.

We will raise against it seven shepherds,
even eight leaders of men.

6And they will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,
and the land of Nimrod with the blade drawn.

So He will deliver us
when Assyria invades our land
and marches into our borders.

The Remnant of Jacob
(Micah 2:12–13)

7Then the remnant of Jacob will be
in the midst of many peoples
like dew from the LORD,
like showers on the grass,
which do not wait for man
or linger for mankind.

8Then the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which tramples and tears as it passes through,
with no one to rescue them.

9Your hand will be lifted over your foes,
and all your enemies will be cut off.

10“In that day,”

declares the LORD,

“I will remove your horses from among you
and wreck your chariots.

11I will remove the cities of your land
and tear down all your strongholds.

12I will cut the sorceries from your hand,
and you will have no fortune-tellers.

13I will also cut off the carved images
and sacred pillars from among you,
so that you will no longer bow down
to the work of your own hands.

14I will root out the Asherah poles from your midst
and demolish your cities.

15I will take vengeance in anger and wrath
upon the nations that have not obeyed Me.”

Footnotes:

2 a Or thousands

2 b Cited in Matthew 2:6

5 c Or their peace

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◀   ◀   Micah 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Case against Israel

1Hear now what the LORD says:

“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.

2Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment,
you enduring foundations of the earth.

For the LORD has a case against His people,
and He will argue it against Israel:

3‘My people, what have I done to you?

Testify against Me how I have wearied you!

4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt
and redeemed you from the house of slavery.

I sent Moses before you,
as well as Aaron and Miriam.

5My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.

Remember your journey from Shittima to Gilgal,
so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’ ”

6With what shall I come before the LORD
when I bow before the God on high?

Should I come to Him with burnt offerings,
with year-old calves?

7Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?

Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8He has shown you, O man, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you
but to act justly, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God?

The Punishment of Israel

9The voice of the LORD calls out to the city

(and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name):

“Heed the rod
and the One who ordained it.

10Can I forget any longer,

O house of the wicked,
the treasures of wickedness
and the short ephah, which is accursed?

11Can I excuse dishonest scales
or bags of false weights?

12For the wealthy of the city
are full of violence,
and its residents speak lies;
their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.

13Therefore I am striking you severely,
to ruin you because of your sins.

14You will eat but not be satisfied,
and your hunger will remain with you.

What you acquire, you will not preserve;
and what you save, I will give to the sword.

15You will sow but not reap;
you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil;
you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.

16You have kept the statutes of Omri
and all the practices of Ahab’s house;
you have followed their counsel.

Therefore I will make you a desolation,
and your inhabitants an object of contempt;
you will bear the scorn of the nations.b”

Footnotes:

5 a Or Acacia Grove

16 b LXX; Hebrew scorn of My people

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◀   ◀   Micah 7   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Israel’s Great Misery
(Matthew 10:34–39; Luke 12:49–53)

1Woe is me!

For I am like one gathering summer fruit
at the gleaning of the vineyard;
there is no cluster to eat,
no early fig that I crave.

2The godly man has perished from the earth;
there is no one upright among men.

They all lie in wait for blood;
they hunt one another with a net.

3Both hands are skilled at evil;
the prince and the judge demand a bribe.

When the powerful utters his evil desire,
they all conspire together.

4The best of them is like a brier;
the most upright is sharper than a hedge of thorns.

The day for your watchmen has come,
the day of your visitation.a

Now is the time of their confusion.

5Do not rely on a friend;
do not trust in a companion.

Seal the doors of your mouth
from her who lies in your arms.b

6For a son dishonors his father,
a daughter rises against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

A man’s enemies are the members
of his own household.c

Israel’s Confession and Comfort

7But as for me, I will look to the LORD;

I will wait for the God of my salvation.

My God will hear me.

8Do not gloat over me, my enemy!

Though I have fallen, I will arise;
though I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be my light.

9Because I have sinned against Him,

I must endure the rage of the LORD,
until He argues my case
and executes justice for me.

He will bring me into the light;

I will see His righteousness.

10Then my enemy will see
and will be covered with shame—
she who said to me,

“Where is the LORD your God?”

My eyes will see her;
at that time she will be trampled
like mud in the streets.

11The day for rebuilding your walls will come—
the day for extending your boundary.

12On that day they will come to you
from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,
even from Egypt to the Euphrates,d
from sea to sea and mountain to mountain.

13Then the earth will become desolate
because of its inhabitants,
as the fruit of their deeds.

God’s Compassion on Israel

14Shepherd with Your staff Your people,
the flock of Your inheritance.

They live alone in a woodland,
surrounded by pastures.e

Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead,
as in the days of old.

15As in the days when you came out of Egypt,

I will show My wonders.

16Nations will see and be ashamed,
deprived of all their might.

They will put their hands over their mouths,
and their ears will become deaf.

17They will lick the dust like a snake,
like reptiles slithering on the ground.

They will crawl from their holes
in the presence of the LORD our God;
they will tremble in fear of You.

18Who is a God like You,
who pardons iniquity
and passes over the transgression
of the remnant of His inheritance—
who does not retain His anger forever,
because He delights in loving devotion?f

19He will again have compassion on us;

He will vanquish our iniquities.

You will cast out all our sins
into the depths of the sea.

20You will show faithfulness to Jacob
and loving devotion to Abraham,
as You swore to our fathers
from the days of old.

Footnotes:

4 a Or your punishment

5 b Hebrew in your bosom

6 c Cited in Matthew 10:35–36; see also Luke 12:53.

12 d Hebrew the River

14 e Or in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel

18 f Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

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◀   ◀   Nahum 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3)

The Burden against Nineveh
(Jonah 1:1–3)

1This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:

2The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
the LORD is avenging and full of wrath.

The LORD takes vengeance on His foes
and reserves wrath for His enemies.

3The LORD is slow to anger
and great in power;
the LORD will by no means
leave the guilty unpunished.

His path is in the whirlwind and storm,
and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

4He rebukes the sea and dries it up;

He makes all the rivers run dry.

Bashan and Carmel wither,
and the flower of Lebanon wilts.

5The mountains quake before Him,
and the hills melt away;
the earth trembles at His presence—
the world and all its dwellers.

6Who can withstand His indignation?

Who can endure His burning anger?

His wrath is poured out like fire;
even rocks are shattered before Him.

7The LORD is good,
a stronghold in the day of distress;

He cares for those who trust in Him.

8But with an overwhelming flood

He will make an end of Nineveha
and pursue His enemies into darkness.

9Whatever you plot against the LORD,

He will bring to an end.

Affliction will not rise up
a second time.

10For they will be entangled as with thorns
and consumed like the drink of a drunkard—
like stubble that is fully dry.

11From you, O Nineveh, comes forth
a plotter of evil against the LORD,
a counselor of wickedness.

12This is what the LORD says:

“Though they are allied and numerous,
yet they will be cut down and pass away.

Though I have afflicted you, O Judah,

I will afflict you no longer.

13For I will now break their yoke from your neck
and tear away your shackles.”

14The LORD has issued a command concerning you, O Nineveh:

“There will be no descendants
to carry on your name.

I will cut off the carved image and cast idol
from the house of your gods;

I will prepare your grave,
for you are contemptible.”

15Look to the mountains—
the feet of one who brings good news,
who proclaims peace!

Celebrate your feasts, O Judah;
fulfill your vows.

For the wicked will never again march through you;
they will be utterly cut off.

Footnotes:

8 a Literally of her place

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◀   ◀   Nahum 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Overthrow of Nineveh

1One who scatters advances
against you, O Nineveh.

Guard the fortress!

Watch the road!

Brace yourselves!a

Summon all your strength!

2For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob
like the splendor of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
and ruined the branches of their vine.

3The shields of his mighty men are red;
the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet.

The fittings of the chariots flash like fire
on the day they are prepared,
and the spears of cypress
have been brandished.b

4The chariots dash through the streets;
they rush around the plazas,
appearing like torches,
darting about like lightning.

5He summons his nobles;
they stumble as they advance.

They race to its wall;
the protective shield is set in place.

6The river gates are thrown open
and the palace collapses.

7It is decreed that the city be exiled
and carried away;
her maidservants moan like doves,
and beat upon their breasts.

8Nineveh has been like a pool of water
throughout her days,
but now it is draining away.

“Stop! Stop!” they cry,
but no one turns back.

9“Plunder the silver!

Plunder the gold!”

There is no end to the treasure,
an abundance of every precious thing.

10She is emptied!

Yes, she is desolate and laid waste!

Hearts melt, knees knock,
bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!

11Where is the lions’ lair
or the feeding ground of the young lions,
where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs,
with nothing to frighten them away?

12The lion mauled enough for its cubs
and strangled prey for the lioness.

It filled its dens with the kill,
and its lairs with mauled prey.

13“Behold, I am against you,”

declares the LORD of Hosts.

“I will send your chariots up in smoke,
and the sword will devour your young lions.

I will cut off your prey from the earth,
and the voices of your messengers
will no longer be heard.”

Footnotes:

1 a Hebrew Strengthen your loins!

3 b Hebrew; alternately, the spears may be of pine or juniper or fir; LXX and Syriac they are prepared, and the horsemen rush to and fro.

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◀   ◀   Nahum 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Judgment on Nineveh

1Woe to the city of blood,
full of lies,
full of plunder,
never without prey.

2The crack of the whip,
the rumble of the wheel,
galloping horse
and bounding chariot!

3Charging horseman,
flashing sword,
shining spear;
heaps of slain,
mounds of corpses,
dead bodies without end—
they stumble over their dead—

4because of the many harlotries of the harlot,
the seductive mistress of sorcery,
who betrays nations by her prostitution
and clans by her witchcraft.

5“Behold, I am against you,”

declares the LORD of Hosts.

“I will lift your skirts over your face.

I will show your nakedness to the nations
and your shame to the kingdoms.

6I will pelt you with filth
and treat you with contempt;

I will make a spectacle of you.

7Then all who see you
will recoil from you and say,

‘Nineveh is devastated;
who will grieve for her?’

Where can I find
comforters for you?”

8Are you better than Thebes,a
stationed by the Nile with water around her,
whose rampart was the sea,
whose wall was the water?

9Cushb and Egypt were her boundless strength;

Put and Libya were her allies.

10Yet she became an exile;
she went into captivity.

Her infants were dashed to pieces
at the head of every street.

They cast lots for her dignitaries,
and all her nobles were bound in chains.

11You too will become drunk;
you will go into hiding
and seek refuge from the enemy.

12All your fortresses are fig trees
with the first ripe figs;
when shaken, they fall
into the mouth of the eater!

13Look at your troops—
they are like your women!

The gates of your land
are wide open to your enemies;
fire consumes their bars.

14Draw your water for the siege;
strengthen your fortresses.

Work the clay and tread the mortar;
repair the brick kiln!

15There the fire will devour you;
the sword will cut you down
and consume you like a young locust.

Make yourself many like the young locust;
make yourself many like the swarming locust!

16You have multiplied your merchants
more than the stars of the sky.

The young locust strips the land
and flies away.

17Your guardsc are like the swarming locust,
and your scribesd like clouds of locusts
that settle on the walls on a cold day.

When the sun rises, they fly away,
and no one knows where.

18O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber;
your officers sleep.

Your people are scattered on the mountains
with no one to gather them.

19There is no healing for your injury;
your wound is severe.

All who hear the news of you
applaud your downfall,
for who has not experienced
your constant cruelty?

Footnotes:

8 a Hebrew No-amon

9 b That is, the upper Nile region

17 c Or princes

17 d Or marshals

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◀   ◀   Habakkuk 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3)

Habakkuk’s First Complaint

1This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision:

2How long, O LORD, must I call for help
but You do not hear,
or cry out to You, “Violence!”

but You do not save?

3Why do You make me see iniquity?

Why do You tolerate wrongdoing?

Destruction and violence are before me.

Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.

4Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never goes forth.

For the wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.

The LORD’s Answer

5“Look at the nations and observe—
be utterly astounded!a

For I am doing a work in your days
that you would never believe
even if someone told you.b

6For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeansc —
that ruthless and impetuous nation
which marches through the breadth of the earth
to seize dwellings not their own.

7They are dreaded and feared;
from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty.

8Their horses are swifter than leopards,
fiercer than wolves of the night.

Their horsemen charge ahead,
and their cavalry comes from afar.

They fly like a vulture,
swooping down to devour.

9All of them come bent on violence;
their hordes advance like the east wind;
they gather prisoners like sand.

10They scoff at kings
and make rulers an object of scorn.

They laugh at every fortress
and build up siege ramps to seize it.

11Then they sweep by like the wind
and pass on through.

They are guilty;
their own strength is their god.”

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint
(Psalm 11:1–7)

12Are You not from everlasting,

O LORD, my God, my Holy One?

We will not die.

O LORD, You have appointed them
to execute judgment;

O Rock, You have established them
for correction.

13Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil,
and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.

So why do You tolerate the faithless?

Why are You silent
while the wicked swallow up
those more righteous than themselves?

14You have made men like the fish of the sea,
like creeping things that have no ruler.

15The foe pulls all of them upd with a hook;
he catches them in his dragnet,
and gathers them in his fishing net;
so he rejoices gladly.

16Therefore he sacrifices to his dragnet
and burns incense to his fishing net,
for by these things his portion is sumptuous
and his food is rich.

17Will he, therefore, empty his net
and continue to slay nations without mercy?

Footnotes:

5 a LXX Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish!

5 b Cited in Acts 13:41

6 c That is, the Babylonians

15 d Literally He pulls all of them up

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◀   ◀   Habakkuk 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The LORD Answers Again

1I will stand at my guard post
and station myself on the ramparts.

I will watch to see what He will say to me,
and how I should answer when corrected.

2Then the LORD answered me:

“Write down this vision
and clearly inscribe it on tablets,
so that a herald may run with it.

3For the vision awaits an appointed time;
it testifies of the end and does not lie.

Though it lingers, wait for it,
since it will surely come and will not delay.a

4Look at the proud one; his soul is not uprightb —
but the righteous will live by faithc —

5and wealthd indeed betrays him.

He is an arrogant man never at rest.

He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,
and like Death, he is never satisfied.

He gathers all the nations to himself
and collects all the peoples as his own.

Woe to the Chaldeans

6Will not all of these take up a taunt against him,
speaking with mockery and derision:

‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his
and makes himself rich with many loans!

How long will this go on?’

7Will not your creditors suddenly arise
and those who disturb you awaken?

Then you will become their prey.

8Because you have plundered many nations,
the remnant of the people will plunder you—
because of your bloodshed against man
and your violence against the land, the city,
and all their dwellers.

9Woe to him who builds his house
by unjust gain,
to place his nest on high
and escape the hand of disaster!

10You have plotted shame for your house
by cutting off many peoples
and forfeiting your life.e

11For the stones will cry out from the wall,
and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork.

12Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed
and establishes a town by iniquity!

13Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hosts
that the labor of the people only feeds the fire,
and the nations weary themselves in vain?

14For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.

15Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,
pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk,
in order to gaze at their nakedness!

16You will be filled with shame instead of glory.

You too must drink
and expose your uncircumcision!f

The cup in the LORD’s right hand
will come around to you,
and utter disgrace will cover your glory.

17For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you,
and the destruction of animals will terrify you,
because of your bloodshed against men
and your violence against the land, the city,
and all their dwellers.

18What use is an idol,
that a craftsman should carve it—
or an image,
a teacher of lies?

For its maker trusts in his own creation;
he makes idols that cannot speak.

19Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’

or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’

Can it give guidance?

Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
yet there is no breath in it at all.”

20But the LORD is in His holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before Him.

Footnotes:

3 a Or Though He lingers, wait for Him, since He will surely come and will not delay; see also LXX; cited in Hebrews 10:37.

4 b LXX If he should draw back, My soul has no pleasure in him

4 c Or faithfulness; cited in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38

5 d DSS; MT wine

10 e Literally sinning against your soul

16 f DSS, LXX, and Syriac and stagger

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◀   ◀   Habakkuk 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Habakkuk’s Prayer

1This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth:a

2O LORD, I have heard the report of You;

I stand in awe, O LORD, of Your deeds.

Revive them in these years;
make them known in these years.

In Your wrath, remember mercy!

3God came from Teman,
and the Holy One from Mount Paran.

Selahb

His glory covered the heavens,
and His praise filled the earth.

4His radiance was like the sunlight;
rays flashed from His hand,
where His power is hidden.

5Plague went before Him,
and fever followed in His steps.

6He stood and measured the earth;

He looked and startled the nations;
the ancient mountains crumbled;
the perpetual hills collapsed.

His ways are everlasting.

7I saw the tents of Cushan in distress;
the curtains of Midian were trembling.

8Were You angry at the rivers, O LORD?

Was Your wrath against the streams?

Did You rage against the sea
when You rode on Your horses,
on Your chariots of salvation?

9You brandished Your bow;

You called for many arrows.

Selah

You split the earth with rivers.

10The mountains saw You and quaked;
torrents of water swept by.

The deep roared with its voice
and lifted its hands on high.

11Sun and moon stood still
in their places
at the flash of Your flying arrows,
at the brightness of Your shining spear.

12You marched across the earth with fury;

You threshed the nations in wrath.

13You went forth for the salvation of Your people,
to save Your anointed.

You crushed the head of the house of the wicked
and stripped him from head to toe.

Selah

14With his own spear You pierced his head,
when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,
gloating as though ready
to secretly devour the weak.

15You trampled the sea with Your horses,
churning the great waters.

16I heard and trembled within;
my lips quivered at the sound.

Decay entered my bones;

I trembled where I stood.

Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress
to come upon the people who invade us.

Habakkuk Rejoices

17Though the fig tree does not bud
and no fruit is on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though the sheep are cut off from the fold
and no cattle are in the stalls,

18yet I will exult in the LORD;

I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!

19GOD the Lord is my strength;

He makes my feet like those of a deer;

He makes me walk upon the heights!

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments.

Footnotes:

1 a Shigionoth is probably a musical term indicating the setting for the prayer.

3 b Selah or Interlude is probably a musical or literary term; also in verses 9 and 13.

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◀   ◀   Zephaniah 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3)

Zephaniah Prophesies Judgment on Judah
(Matthew 13:36–43)

1This is the word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:

2“I will completely sweep away
everything from the face of the earth,”

declares the LORD.

3“I will sweep away man and beast;

I will sweep away the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
and the idols with their wicked worshipers.a

I will cut off mankind
from the face of the earth,”

declares the LORD.

4“I will stretch out My hand against Judah
and against all who dwell in Jerusalem.

I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal,
the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests—

5those who bow on the rooftops
to worship the host of heaven,
those who bow down and swear by the LORD
but also swear by Milcom,b

6and those who turn back
from following the LORD,
neither seeking the LORD
nor inquiring of Him.”

The Day of the LORD
(Malachi 4:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; 2 Peter 3:8–13)

7Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD,
for the Day of the LORD is near.

Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice;

He has consecrated His guests.

8“On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice

I will punish the princes,
the sons of the king,
and all who are dressed in foreign apparel.

9On that day I will punish
all who leap over the threshold,c
who fill the house of their masterd
with violence and deceit.

10On that day,” declares the LORD,

“a cry will go up from the Fish Gate,
a wail from the Second District,e
and a loud crashing from the hills.

11Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow,f
for all your merchantsg will be silenced;
all who weigh out silver will be cut off.

12And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps
and punish the men settled in complacency,h
who say to themselves,

‘The LORD will do nothing,
either good or bad.’

13Their wealth will be plundered
and their houses laid waste.

They will build houses but not inhabit them,
and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

14The great Day of the LORD is near—
near and coming quickly.

Listen, the Day of the LORD!

Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.

15That day will be
a day of wrath,
a day of trouble and distress,
a day of destruction and desolation,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness,

16a day of horn blast and battle cry
against the fortified cities,
and against the high corner towers.

17I will bring such distress on mankind
that they will walk like the blind,
because they have sinned against the LORD.

Their blood will be poured out like dust
and their flesh like dung.

18Neither their silver nor their gold
will be able to deliver them
on the Day of the LORD’s wrath.

The whole earth will be consumed
by the fire of His jealousy.”

For indeed, He will make a sudden end
of all who dwell on the earth.i

Footnotes:

3 a Or and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble

5 b Or by their king; Milcom is a variant of Molech; see Leviticus 18:21 and 1 Kings 11:7.

9 c See 1 Samuel 5:5.

9 d Or the temple of their gods

10 e Or the Second Quarter, a newer section of Jerusalem; Hebrew the Mishneh

11 f Or the market district or the Mortar

11 g Or all the people of Canaan

12 h Or thickening on the dregs

18 i Or of all the people living in the land

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◀   ◀   Zephaniah 2   ▶   ▶

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A Call to Repentance
(Joel 1:13–20; Amos 5:4–15; Luke 13:1–5)

1Gather yourselves, gather together,

O shameful nation,

2before the decree takes effecta
and the day passes like chaff,
before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you,
before the Day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you.

3Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth
who carry out His justice.

Seek righteousness; seek humility.

Perhaps you will be sheltered
on the day of the LORD’s anger.

Judgment on the Philistines
(Jeremiah 47:1–7)

4For Gaza will be abandoned,
and Ashkelon left in ruins.

Ashdod will be driven out at noon,
and Ekron will be uprooted.

5Woe to the dwellers of the seacoast,

O nation of the Cherethites!

The word of the LORD is against you,

O Canaan, land of the Philistines:

“I will destroy you,
and no one will be left.”

6So the seacoast will become a land of pastures,
with wellsb for shepherds and folds for sheep.

7The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah;
there they will find pasture.

They will lie down in the evening
among the houses of Ashkelon,
for the LORD their God will attend to them
and restore their captives.c

Judgment on Moab and Ammon
(Isaiah 16:1–14; Jeremiah 48:1–47)

8“I have heard the reproach of Moab
and the insults of the Ammonites,
who have taunted My people
and threatened their borders.

9Therefore, as surely as I live,”

declares the LORD of Hosts,
the God of Israel,

“surely Moab will be like Sodom
and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—
a place of weeds and salt pits,
a perpetual wasteland.

The remnant of My people will plunder them;
the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.”

10This they shall have in return for their pride,
for taunting and mocking the people
of the LORD of Hosts.

11The LORD will be terrifying to them
when He starves all the gods of the earth.

Then the nations of every shore
will bow in worship to Him,
each in its own place.

Judgment on Cush and Assyria

12“You too, O Cushites,d
will be slain by My sword.”

13And He will stretch out His hand against the north
and destroy Assyria;

He will make Nineveh a desolation,
as dry as a desert.

14Herds will lie down in her midst,
creatures of every kind.e

Both the desert owl and screech owlf
will roost atop her pillars.

Their calls will sound from the window,
but desolation will lie on the threshold,
for He will expose the beams of cedar.

15This carefree city
that dwells securely,
that thinks to herself:

“I am it, and there is none besides me,”

what a ruin she has become,
a resting place for beasts.

Everyone who passes by her
hisses and shakes his fist.

Footnotes:

2 a Hebrew is given birth

6 b Or caves or camps

7 c Or their fortunes

12 d That is, people from the upper Nile region

14 e Hebrew beasts of every nation

14 f The precise identification of the animals rendered desert owl and screech owl is uncertain.

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◀   ◀   Zephaniah 3   ▶   ▶

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Judgment on Jerusalem

1Woe to the city of oppressors,
rebellious and defiled!

2She heeded no voice;
she accepted no correction.

She does not trust in the LORD;
she has not drawn near to her God.

3Her princes are roaring lions;
her judges are evening wolves,
leaving nothing for the morning.

4Her prophets are reckless,
faithless men.

Her priests profane the sanctuary;
they do violence to the law.

5The LORD within her is righteous;

He does no wrong.

He applies His justice morning by morning;

He does not fail at dawn,
yet the unjust know no shame.

Purification of the Nations

6“I have cut off the nations;
their corner towers are destroyed.

I have made their streets deserted
with no one to pass through.

Their cities are laid waste,
with no man, no inhabitant.

7I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me
and accept correction.’

Then her dwelling place would not be cut off
despite all for which I punished her.

But they rose early
to corrupt all their deeds.

8Therefore wait for Me,”

declares the LORD,

“until the day

I rise to testify.a

For My decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them My indignation—
all My burning anger.

For all the earth will be consumed
by the fire of My jealousy.

A Faithful Remnant

9For then I will restore
pure lips to the peoples,
that all may call upon the name of the LORD
and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

10From beyond the rivers of Cushb

My worshipers, My scattered people,
will bring Me an offering.

11On that day you will not be put to shame
for any of the deeds
by which you have transgressed against Me.

For then I will remove from among you
those who rejoice in their pride,
and you will never again be haughty
on My holy mountain.

12But I will leave within you a meek and humble people,
and they will trust in the name of the LORD.

13The remnant of Israel
will no longer do wrong or speak lies,
nor will a deceitful tongue
be found in their mouths.

But they will feed and lie down,
with no one to make them tremble.”

Israel’s Restoration

14Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

O Daughter of Jerusalem!

15The LORD has taken away your punishment;

He has turned back your enemy.

Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you;
no longer will you fear any harm.

16On that day they will say to Jerusalem:

“Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands fall limp.

17The LORD your God is among you;

He is mighty to save.

He will rejoice over you with gladness;

He will quiet you with His love;c

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

18“I will gather those among you who grieve
over the appointed feasts,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

19Behold, at that time,

I will deal with all who afflict you.

I will save the lame
and gather the scattered;
and I will appoint praise and fame
for the disgraced throughout the earth.

20At that time I will bring you in;
yes, at that time I will gather you.

For I will give you fame and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your captivesd
before your very eyes,”

says the LORD.

Footnotes:

8 a LXX and Syriac; Hebrew rise up to plunder

10 b That is, the upper Nile region

17 c Or He will be silent in His love; LXX and Syriac He will renew you with His love

20 d Or your fortunes

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◀   ◀   Haggai 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2)

A Call to Rebuild the Temple
(Ezra 5:1–5)

1In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak,a the high priest, stating 2that this is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“These people say, ‘The time has not yet come
to rebuild the house of the LORD.’ ”

3Then the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet, saying:

4“Is it a time for you yourselves
to live in your paneled houses,
while this house lies in ruins?”

5Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Consider carefully your ways.

6You have planted much
but harvested little.

You eat but never have enough.

You drink but never have your fill.

You put on clothes but never get warm.

You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.”

7This is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Consider carefully your ways.

8Go up into the hills,
bring down lumber, and build the house,
so that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,
says the LORD.

9You expected much,
but behold, it amounted to little.

And what you brought home, I blew away.

Why? declares the LORD of Hosts.

Because My house still lies in ruins,
while each of you is busy
with his own house.

10Therefore, on account of you
the heavens have withheld their dew
and the earth has withheld its crops.

11I have summoned a drought
on the fields and on the mountains,
on the grain, new wine, and oil,
and on whatever the ground yields,
on man and beast,
and on all the labor of your hands.”

The People Obey

12Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. So the people feared the LORD.

13Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, delivered the message of the LORD to the people:

“I am with you,”

declares the LORD.

14So the LORD stirred the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and began the work on the house of the LORD of Hosts, their God, 15on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.

Footnotes:

1 a Jehozadak is a variant of Jozadak; also in verses 12 and 14; see Ezra 3:2.

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◀   ◀   Haggai 2   ▶   ▶

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The Coming Glory of God’s House

1On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet, saying: 2“Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak,a the high priest, and also to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not appear to you like nothing in comparison?’

4But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,
declares the LORD.

Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak,
the high priest.

And be strong, all you people of the land,
declares the LORD.

Work! For I am with you,
declares the LORD of Hosts.

5This is the promise I made to you
when you came out of Egypt.

And My Spirit remains among you;
do not be afraid.”

6For this is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Once more, in a little while,

I will shake the heavens and the earth,b
the sea and the dry land.

7I will shake all the nations,
and they will come with all their treasures,
and I will fill this house with glory,
says the LORD of Hosts.

8The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,
declares the LORD of Hosts.

9The latter glory of this house
will be greater than the former,
says the LORD of Hosts.

And in this place I will provide peace,
declares the LORD of Hosts.”

Blessings for a Defiled People

10On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying, 11“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling. 12If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item become holy?’ ”

“No,” replied the priests.

13So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?”

“Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.

14Then Haggai replied, “So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares the LORD, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.

15Now consider carefully from this day forward:c Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD, 16from that time, when one came expecting a heap of twenty ephahs of grain,d there were but ten. When one came to the winepress to draw out fifty baths,e there were but twenty. 17I struck you—all the work of your hands—with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to Me, declares the LORD.

18Consider carefully from this day forward—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider carefully: 19Is there still seed in the barn? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet yielded fruit. But from this day on, I will bless you.”

Zerubbabel the LORD’s Signet Ring

20For the second time that day, the twenty-fourth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to Haggai, saying, 21“Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth:

22I will overturn royal thrones
and destroy the power
of the kingdoms of the nations.

I will overturn chariots and their riders;
horses and their riders will fall,
each by the sword of his brother.

23On that day,
declares the LORD of Hosts,

I will take you, My servant,

Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,
declares the LORD,
and I will make you like My signet ring,
for I have chosen you,
declares the LORD of Hosts.”

Footnotes:

2 a Jehozadak is a variant of Jozadak; also in verse 4; see Ezra 3:2.

6 b Cited in Hebrews 12:26

15 c Or backward; also in verse 18

16 d Literally a heap of twenty

16 e Literally to draw out fifty from the winepress

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14)

A Call to Repentance
(Jeremiah 3:11–25; Hosea 14:1–3)

1In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying:

2“The LORD was very angry with your fathers. 3So tell the people that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Return to Me, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Hosts.’

4Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Turn now from your evil ways and deeds.’

But they did not listen or pay attention to Me, declares the LORD.

5Where are your fathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? They repented and said, ‘Just as the LORD of Hosts purposed to do to us according to our ways and deeds, so He has done to us.’ ”

The Vision of the Horses

7On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat,a in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo.

8I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.

9“What are these, my lord?” I asked.

And the angel who was speaking with me replied, “I will show you what they are.”

10Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.”

11And the riders answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and tranquil.”

12Then the angel of the LORD said, “How long, O LORD of Hosts, will You withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been angry these seventy years?”

13So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me.

14Then the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15but I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was a little angry, but they have added to the calamity.b’

16Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there My house will be rebuilt, declares the LORD of Hosts, and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.’

17Proclaim further that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘My cities will again overflow with prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’ ”

The Vision of the Horns and the Craftsmen

18Then I looked up and saw four horns. 19So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?”

And he told me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

20Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

21“What are these coming to do?” I asked.

And He replied, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head; but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations that have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

Footnotes:

7 a Shebat is the eleventh month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of January and February.

15 b Or they have overdone the punishment

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 2   ▶   ▶

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The Vision of the Measuring Line
(Ezekiel 40:1–4)

1Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.

2“Where are you going?” I asked.

“To measure Jerusalem,” he replied, “and to determine its width and length.”

3Then the angel who was speaking with me went out, and another angel came out to meet him 4and said to him, “Run and tell that young man: ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the multitude of men and livestock within it. 5For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.’ ”

The Redemption of Zion
(Hosea 3:1–5)

6“Get up! Get up! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven,” declares the LORD. 7“Get up, O Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the Daughter of Babylon!”

8For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Mea against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the appleb of His eye— 9I will surely wave My hand over them, so that they will become plunder for their own servants. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me.”

10“Shout for joy and be glad, O Daughter of Zion, for I am coming to dwell among you,” declares the LORD. 11“On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you. 12And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and He will once again choose Jerusalem. 13Be silent before the LORD, all people, for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.”

Footnotes:

8 a Or After the Glorious One has sent Me or After He has honored Me and sent Me

8 b Or the pupil

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Vision of Joshua the High Priest

1Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angela of the LORD, with Satanb standing at his right hand to accuse him.

2And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrandc snatched from the fire?”

3Now Joshua was dressed in filthy garments as he stood before the angel. 4So the angel said to those standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes!”

Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have removed your iniquity, and I will clothe you with splendid robes.”

5Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him, as the angel of the LORD stood by.

6Then the angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: 7“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘If you walk in My ways and keep My instructions, then you will govern My house and will also have charge of My courts; and I will give you a place among these who are standing here.

8Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch. 9See the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes.d Behold, I will engrave on it an inscription, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, you will each invite your neighbor to sit under your own vine and fig tree.’ ”

Footnotes:

1 a Or Angel; also in verses 3, 4, 5, and 6; corresponding pronouns may also be capitalized.

1 b That is, the Accuser or the Adversary; also in verse 2

2 c That is, a burning stick

9 d Or facets

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Vision of the Lampstand and Olive Trees

1Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and woke me, as a man is awakened from his sleep.

2“What do you see?” he asked.

“I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps. 3There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left.”

4“What are these, my lord?” I asked the angel who was speaking with me.

5“Do you not know what they are?” replied the angel.

“No, my lord,” I answered.

6So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts. 7What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ ”

8Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you. 10For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyesa of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb lineb in the hand of Zerubbabel.”

11Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?” 12And I questioned him further, “What are the two olive branches beside the two gold pipes from which the golden oilc pours?”

13“Do you not know what these are?” he inquired.

“No, my lord,” I replied.

14So he said, “These are the two anointed onesd who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.”e

Footnotes:

10 a Or facets

10 b Or the chosen capstone

12 c Hebrew from which the gold

14 d Hebrew the two sons of new oil

14 e See Revelation 11:4.

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Vision of the Flying Scroll

1Again I lifted up my eyes and saw before me a flying scroll.

2“What do you see?” asked the angel.

“I see a flying scroll,” I replied, “twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.a”

3Then he told me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, for according to one side of the scroll, every thief will be removed; and according to the other side, every perjurer will be removed. 4I will send it out, declares the LORD of Hosts, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by My name. It will remain inside his house and destroy it, down to its timbers and stones.”

The Vision of the Woman in a Basket

5Then the angel who was speaking with me came forward and told me, “Now lift up your eyes and see what is approaching.”

6“What is it?” I asked.

And he replied, “A measuring basketb is going forth.” Then he continued, “This is their iniquityc in all the land.”

7And behold, the cover of lead was raised, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket.

8“This is Wickedness,” he said. And he shoved her down into the basket, pushing down the lead cover over its opening.

9Then I lifted up my eyes and saw two women approaching, with the wind in their wings. Their wings were like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.

10“Where are they taking the basket?” I asked the angel who was speaking with me.

11“To build a house for it in the land of Shinar,d” he told me. “And when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its pedestal.”

Footnotes:

2 a The flying scroll was approximately 30 feet long and 15 feet wide (9.1 meters long and 4.6 meters wide).

6 b Or An ephah

6 c One Hebrew manuscript, LXX, and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts their appearance or (literally) their eye

11 d That is, Babylonia

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Vision of the Four Chariots

1And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. 2The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, 3the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong.

4So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

5And the angel told me, “These are the four spiritsa of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth. 6The one with the black horses is going toward the land of the north, the one with the white horses toward the west,b and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”

7As the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, “Go and patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.

8Then the LORD summoned me and said, “Behold, those going to the land of the north have given rest to My Spirit in the land of the north.”

The Crown and the Temple

9The word of the LORD also came to me, saying, 10“Take an offering from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon—and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.c

12And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD. 13Yes, He will build the temple of the LORD; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. And He will be a priest on His throne,d and there will be peaceful counsel between the two.’

14The crown will reside in the temple of the LORD as a memorial to Helem,e Tobijah, Jedaiah, and the graciousf son of Zephaniah. 15Even those far away will come and build the temple of the LORD, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

Footnotes:

5 a Or winds

6 b Or the one with the white horses after them

11 c Jehozadak is a variant of Jozadak; see Ezra 3:2.

13 d Or And there will be a priest on His throne

14 e Hebrew; Syriac Heldai; see verse 10.

14 f Or and Hen; Syriac and Josiah; see verse 10.

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 7   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Call to Justice and Mercy

1In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Chislev.a
2Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, along with their men,b to plead before the LORD 3by asking the priests of the house of the LORD of Hosts, as well as the prophets, “Should I weep and fast in the fifth month, as I have done these many years?”

4Then the word of the LORD of Hosts came to me, saying, 5“Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for these seventy years, was it really for Me that you fasted? 6And when you were eating and drinking, were you not doing so simply for yourselves? 7Are these not the words that the LORD proclaimed through the earlier prophets, when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were populous and prosperous, and the Negev and the foothillsc were inhabited?’ ”

8Then the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, 9“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Administer true justice. Show loving devotiond and compassion to one another. 10Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

11But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.e
12They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.

13And just as I had called and they would not listen, so when they called I would not listen, says the LORD of Hosts. 14But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known, and the land was left desolate behind them so that no one could come or go. Thus they turned the pleasant land into a desolation.”

Footnotes:

1 a Chislev is the ninth month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of November and December.

2 b Or Bethel-sharezer had sent Regem-melech, along with his men,

7 c Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

9 d Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

11 e Hebrew they made their ears too heavy to hear

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Restoration of Jerusalem
(Micah 4:6–13)

1Again the word of the LORD of Hosts came to me, saying: 2This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I am jealous for Zion with great zeal; I am jealous for her with great fervor.”

3This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.”

4This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Old men and old women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of great age. 5And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

6This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “If this is impossiblea in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be impossible in My eyes?” declares the LORD of Hosts.

7This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. 8I will bring them back to dwell in Jerusalem, where they will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.”

9This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were present when the foundations were laid to rebuild the temple, the house of the LORD of Hosts. 10For before those days neither man nor beast received wages, nor was there safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I had turned every man against his neighbor. 11But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the LORD of Hosts.

12“For the seed will be prosperous, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will yield its produce, and the skies will give their dew. To the remnant of this people I will give all these things as an inheritance. 13As you have been a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid; let your hands be strong.”

14For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Just as I resolved to bring disaster upon you when your fathers provoked Me to anger, and I did not relent,” says the LORD of Hosts, 15“so now I have resolved to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid. 16These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates, 17do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD.

18Then the word of the LORD of Hosts came to me, saying, 19“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: The fasts of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months will become times of joy and gladness, cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. Therefore you are to love both truth and peace.”

20This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Peoples will yet come—the residents of many cities— 21and the residents of one city will go to another, saying: ‘Let us go at once to plead before the LORD and to seek the LORD of Hosts. I myself am going.’ 22And many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead before the LORD.”

23This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’ ”

Footnotes:

6 a Or marvelous; twice in this verse

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Burden against Israel’s Enemies

1This is the burden of the word of the LORD
against the land of Hadrach
and Damascus its resting place—
for the eyes of men
and of all the tribes of Israel
are upon the LORDa—

2and also against Hamath,
which borders it,
as well as Tyre and Sidon,
though they are very shrewd.

3Tyre has built herself a fortress;
she has heaped up silver like dust,
and gold like the dirt of the streets.

4Behold, the Lord will impoverish her
and cast her wealth into the sea,b
and she will be consumed by fire.

5Ashkelon will see and fear;

Gaza will writhe in agony,
as will Ekron,
for her hope will wither.

There will cease to be a king in Gaza,
and Ashkelon will be uninhabited.

6A mixed race will occupy Ashdod,
and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

7I will remove the blood from their mouths
and the abominations from between their teeth.

Then they too will become a remnant for our God;
they will become like a clanc in Judah,
and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

8But I will camp around My house because of an army,
because of those who march to and fro,
and never again will an oppressor overrun My people,
for now I keep watch with My own eyes.

Zion’s Coming King
(Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19)

9Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!

Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem!

See, your King comes to you,
righteous and victorious,d
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.e

10And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraimf
and the horse from Jerusalem,
and the bow of war will be broken.

Then He will proclaim peace to the nations.

His dominion will extend from sea to sea,
and from the Euphratesg
to the ends of the earth.

11As for you,
because of the blood of My covenant,

I will release your prisoners
from the waterless pit.

12Return to your stronghold,

O prisoners of hope;
even today I declare
that I will restore to you double.

13For I will bend Judah as My bow
and fit it with Ephraim.

I will rouse your sons, O Zion,
against the sons of Greece.h

I will make you like the sword
of a mighty man.

The LORD Will Save His People

14Then the LORD will appear over them,
and His arrow will go forth like lightning.

The Lord GOD will sound the ram’s horn
and advance in the whirlwinds of the south.

15The LORD of Hosts will shield them.

They will destroy and conquer with slingstones;
they will drink and roar as with wine.

And they will be filled like sprinkling bowls,
drenched like the corners of the altar.

16On that day the LORD their God will save them
as the flock of His people;
for like jewels in a crown
they will sparkle over His land.

17How lovely they will be,
and how beautiful!

Grain will make the young men flourish,
and new wine, the young women.

Footnotes:

1 a Or for the eye of the LORD is on all men and all the tribes of Israel

4 b Or strike down her power on the sea

7 c Or like a leader

9 d Or righteous and endowed with salvation

9 e Cited in Matthew 21:5 and John 12:15

10 f That is, the northern kingdom of Israel

10 g Hebrew the River

13 h Hebrew the sons of Javan

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 10   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Judah and Israel Will Be Restored

1Ask the LORD for rain in springtime;
the LORD makes the storm clouds,
and He will give everyone showers of rain
and crops in the field.

2For idols speak deceit
and diviners see illusions;
they tell false dreams
and offer empty comfort.

Therefore the people wander like sheep,
oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

3“My anger burns against the shepherds,
and I will punish the leaders.a

For the LORD of Hosts attends to His flock,
the house of Judah;

He will make them
like His royal steed in battle.

4The cornerstone will come from Judah,
the tent peg from him,
as well as the battle bow
and every ruler together.

5They will be like mighty men in battle,
trampling the enemy in the mire of the streets.

They will fight because the LORD is with them,
and they will put the horsemen to shame.

6I will strengthen the house of Judah
and save the house of Joseph.

I will restore them because I have compassion on them,
and they will be as though I had not rejected them.

For I am the LORD their God,
and I will answer them.

7Ephraim will be like a mighty man,
and their hearts will be glad as with wine.

Their children will see it and be joyful;
their hearts will rejoice in the LORD.

8I will whistle for them to gather,
for I have redeemed them;
and they will be as numerous
as they once were.

9Though I sow them among the nations,
they will remember Me in distant lands;
they and their children
will live and return.

10I will bring them back from Egypt
and gather them from Assyria.

I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon
until no more room is found for them.

11They will pass through the sea of distress
and strike the waves of the sea;
all the depths of the Nile will dry up.

The pride of Assyria will be brought down,
and the scepter of Egypt will depart.

12I will strengthen them in the LORD,
and in His name they will walk,”

declares the LORD.

Footnotes:

3 a Or these male goats

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 11   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Doomed Flock

1Open your doors, O Lebanon,
that the fire may consume your cedars!

2Wail, O cypress,a for the cedar has fallen;
the majestic trees are ruined!

Wail, O oaks of Bashan,
for the dense forest has been cut down!

3Listen to the wailing of the shepherds,
for their glory is in ruins.

Listen to the roaring of the young lions,
for the thickets of the Jordan are destroyed.

4This is what the LORD my God says: “Pasture the flock marked for slaughter, 5whose buyers slaughter them without remorse. Those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich!’ Even their own shepherds have no compassion on them.

6For I will no longer have compassion on the people of the land, declares the LORD, but behold, I will cause each man to fall into the hands of his neighbor and his king, who will devastate the land, and I will not deliver it from their hands.”

7So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter, especially the afflicted of the flock. Then I took for myself two staffs, calling one Favor and the other Union, and I pastured the flock. 8And in one month I dismissed three shepherds.

My soul grew impatient with the flock, and their souls also detested me. 9Then I said, “I will no longer shepherd you. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish; and let those who remain devour one another’s flesh.”

Thirty Pieces of Silver
(Matthew 27:3–10)

10Next I took my staff called Favor and cut it in two,b revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations. 11It was revoked on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me knew that it was the word of the LORD.

12Then I told them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed out my wages, thirty pieces of silver.

13And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—this magnificent price at which they valued me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

14Then I cut in two my second staff called Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

15And the LORD said to me: “Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 16For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will neither care for the lost, nor seek the young, nor heal the broken, nor sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the choice sheep and tear off their hooves.

17Woe to the worthless shepherd,
who deserts the flock!

May a sword strike his arm
and his right eye!

May his arm be completely withered
and his right eye utterly blinded!”

Footnotes:

2 a Or pine or juniper or fir

10 b Or broke it; similarly in verse 14

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 12   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Coming Deliverance of Jerusalem

1This is the burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel.

Thus declares the LORD, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth, who forms the spirit of man within him:

2“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.

3On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured.

4On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and every rider with madness. I will keep a watchful eye on the house of Judah, but I will strike with blindness all the horses of the nations.

5Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts: ‘The people of Jerusalem are my strength, for the LORD of Hosts is their God.’

6On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among the sheaves; they will consume all the peoples around them on the right and on the left, while the people of Jerusalem remain secure there.

7The LORD will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and of the people of Jerusalem may not be greater than that of Judah. 8On that day the LORD will defend the people of Jerusalem, so that the weakest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angela of the LORD going before them.

9So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Mourning the One They Pierced
(John 19:31–37)

10Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spiritb of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me,c the One they have pierced.d They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

11On that day the wailing in Jerusalem will be as great as the wailing of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12The land will mourn, each clan on its own: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14and all the remaining clans and their wives.

Footnotes:

8 a Or Angel

10 b Or the Spirit

10 c Or to Me

10 d Cited in John 19:37

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

An End to Idolatry

1“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the people of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. 2And on that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will erase the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the prophets and the spirit of impuritya from the land.

3And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not remain alive, because you have spoken falsely in the name of the LORD.’ When he prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will pierce him through.

4And on that day every prophet who prophesies will be ashamed of his vision, and he will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive. 5He will say, ‘I am not a prophet; I work the land, for I was purchased as a servant in my youth.b’ 6If someone asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your chestc?’ he will answer, ‘These are the wounds I received in the house of my friends.’

The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered
(Matthew 26:31–35; Mark 14:27–31)

7Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,
against the man who is My Companion,
declares the LORD of Hosts.

Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered,d
and I will turn My hand against the little ones.

8And in all the land,
declares the LORD,
two-thirds will be cut off and perish,
but a third will be left in it.

9This third I will bring through the fire;

I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.

They will call on My name,
and I will answer them.

I will say, ‘They are My people,’

and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’ ”

Footnotes:

2 a Or the unclean spirit

5 b Or I am a farmer, for the land has been my livelihood since my youth.

6 c Literally between your hands

7 d Cited in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27

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◀   ◀   Zechariah 14   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Destroyers of Jerusalem Destroyed

1Behold, a day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided in your presence. 2For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.

3Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. 4On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving to the north and half to the south. 5You will flee by My mountain valley, for it will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.a

6On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. 7It will be a day known only to the LORD, without day or night; but when evening comes, there will be light.

8And on that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it toward the Eastern Seab and the other half toward the Western Sea,c in summer and winter alike. 9On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.

10All the land from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem will be turned into a plain, but Jerusalem will be raised up and will remain in her place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses. 11People will live there, and never again will there be an utter destruction. So Jerusalem will dwell securely.

12And this will be the plague with which the LORD strikes all the peoples who have warred against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.

13On that day a great panic from the LORD will come upon them, so that each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of one will rise against the other. 14Judah will also fight at Jerusalem, and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected—gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance. 15And a similar plague will strike the horses and mules, camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.

All Nations Will Worship the King
(Leviticus 23:33–44; Nehemiah 8:13–18)

16Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.d
17And should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, then the rain will not fall on them. 18And if the people of Egypt will not go up and enter in, then the rain will not fall on them; this will be the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 19This will be the punishment of Egypt and of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

20On that day, HOLY TO THE LORDe will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the house of the LORD will be like the sprinkling bowls before the altar. 21Indeed, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD of Hosts, and all who sacrifice will come and take some pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanitef in the house of the LORD of Hosts.

Footnotes:

5 a LXX; Hebrew with You

8 b That is, the Dead Sea

8 c That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea

16 d That is, Sukkot, the autumn feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; also translated as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Shelters and originally called the Feast of Ingathering (see Exodus 23:16 and Exodus 34:22).

20 e That is, the LORD

21 f Or merchant

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◀   ◀   Malachi 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4)

The LORD’s Love for Israel
(Genesis 25:19–28; Romans 9:6–29)

1This is the burden of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi:a

2“I have loved you,” says the LORD.

But you ask, “How have You loved us?”

“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, 3but Esau I have hated,b and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.c”

4Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever. 5You will see this with your own eyes, and you yourselves will say, ‘The LORD is great—even beyond the borders of Israel.’ ”

The Polluted Offerings

6“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name.

“But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’

7By presenting defiled food on My altar.

But you ask, ‘How have we defiled Youd?’

By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible.

8When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.

9“But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious? Since this has come from your hands, will He show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.

10“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.

11For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts. 12“But you profane it when you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is contemptible.’

13You also say: ‘Oh, what a nuisance!’ And you turn up your nose at it,” says the LORD of Hosts.

“You bring offerings that are stolen, lame, or sick! Should I accept these from your hands?” asks the LORD.

14“But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.

Footnotes:

1 a Malachi means My messenger.

3 b Cited in Romans 9:13

3 c Or to the serpents of the wilderness or to the dragons of the wilderness

7 d LXX defiled it

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◀   ◀   Malachi 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Warning to the Priests

1“And now this decree is for you, O priests:

2If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.

3Behold, I will rebuke your descendants,a and I will spread dung on your faces, the waste from your feasts, and you will be carried off with it.

4Then you will know that I have sent you this commandment so that My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of Hosts. 5“My covenant with him was one of life and peace, which I gave to him; it called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name.

6True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.

8But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts. 9“So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not kept My ways, but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”

Judah’s Unfaithfulness

10Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why then do we break faith with one another so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?

11Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god. 12As for the man who does this, may the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who is awake and aware—even if he brings an offering to the LORD of Hosts.

13And this is another thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and groaning, because He no longer regards your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.

14Yet you ask, “Why?”

It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

15Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.

16“For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,”b says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.

17You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?”

By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”

Footnotes:

3 a Or I will blight your grain

16 b Literally “For He hates sending away,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “And he covers his garment with violence,”

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◀   ◀   Malachi 3   ▶   ▶

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I Will Send My Messenger
( Matthew 11:7–19; Luke 7:24–35)

1“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me.a Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.

2But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.

3And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.

4Then the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in days of old and years gone by.

5“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Robbing God

6“Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed. 7Yet from the days of your fathers, you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Hosts.

“But you ask, ‘How can we return?’

8Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me!

But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’

In tithes and offerings. 9You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. 10Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.b
11I will rebuke the devourerc for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your land, and the vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the LORD of Hosts.

12“Then all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight,” says the LORD of Hosts.

The Book of Remembrance

13“Your words against Me have been harsh,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we spoken against You?’

14You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts? 15So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’ ”

16At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.

17“They will be Mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

Footnotes:

1 a Cited in Matthew 11:10, Mark 1:2, and Luke 7:27

10 b Literally blessing for which there will be no room

11 c The devourer is probably a name for a crop-destroying pest.

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◀   ◀   Malachi 4   ▶   ▶

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The Day of the LORD
(Zephaniah 1:7–18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; 2 Peter 3:8–13)

1“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”

2“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings,a and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall. 3Then you will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the LORD of Hosts.

4“Remember the law of My servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him for all Israel at Horeb.b

5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesomec Day of the LORD. 6And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.d Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Footnotes:

2 a Or the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings

4 b That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

5 c Or dreadful; LXX glorious

6 d Cited in Luke 1:17

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◀   ◀   Matthew 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28)

The Genealogy of Jesus
(Ruth 4:18–22; Luke 3:23–38)

1This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

2Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,
and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

3Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar,

Perez the father of Hezron,
and Hezron the father of Ram.a

4Ram was the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
and Nahshon the father of Salmon.

5Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab,

Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth,

Obed the father of Jesse,

6and Jesse the father of David the king.

Next:

David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife,

7Solomon the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
and Abijah the father of Asa.b

8Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
and Joram the father of Uzziah.

9Uzziah was the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,
and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.

10Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,c

Amon the father of Josiah,

11and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers
at the time of the exile to Babylon.

12After the exile to Babylon:

Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

13Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,

Abiud the father of Eliakim,
and Eliakim the father of Azor.

14Azor was the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Achim,
and Achim the father of Eliud.

15Eliud was the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob,

16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary,
of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17In all, then, there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

The Birth of Jesus
(Isaiah 7:10–16; Luke 2:1–7)

18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.

20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus,d because He will save His people from their sins.”

22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

23“Behold, the virgin will be with child
and will give birth to a son,
and they will call Him Immanuel”e

(which means, “God with us”f).

24When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and embraced Mary as his wife. 25But he had no union with herg until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.

Footnotes:

3 a Greek Aram, a variant of Ram; also in verse 4; see 1 Chronicles 2:9–10.

7 b Greek Asaph, a variant of Asa; also in verse 8; see 1 Chronicles 3:10.

10 c Greek Amōs, a variant spelling of Amon; twice in this verse; see 1 Chronicles 3:14.

21 d Jesus means The LORD saves.

23 e Literally they will call His name Immanuel; Isaiah 7:14 (see also DSS)

23 f See Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 8:8, and Isaiah 8:10.

25 g Literally he did not know her

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◀   ◀   Matthew 2   ▶   ▶

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The Pilgrimage of the Magi
(Micah 5:1–6)

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the easta and have come to worship Him.”

3When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’b”

7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight. 11On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.

The Flight to Egypt
(Hosea 11:1–7)

13When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”

14So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”c

Weeping and Great Mourning
(Jeremiah 31:1–25)

16When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18“A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children,
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”d

The Return to Nazareth
(Luke 2:39–40)

19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 20“Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those seeking the Child’s life are now dead.”

21So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Footnotes:

2 a Or as it rose

6 b Micah 5:2; see also 2 Samuel 5:2.

15 c Hosea 11:1

18 d Jeremiah 31:15

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◀   ◀   Matthew 3   ▶   ▶

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The Mission of John the Baptist
(Isaiah 40:1–5; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20; John 1:19–28)

1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for Him.’ ”a

4John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

7But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. 9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11I baptize you with waterb for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.c
12His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus
(Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22; John 1:29–34)

13At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

15“Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.

16As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened,d and He sawe the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”

Footnotes:

3 a Isaiah 40:3 (see also LXX)

11 b Or in water

11 c Or in the Holy Spirit and in fire

16 d NA, BYZ, and TR the heavens were opened to Him

16 e Or and he saw; see John 1:32–33.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 4   ▶   ▶

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The Temptation of Jesus
(Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13)

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.

3The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4But Jesus answered, “It is written:

‘Man shall not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’a”

5Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. 6“If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He will command His angels concerning You,
and they will lift You up in their hands,
so that You will not strike Your foot
against a stone.’b”

7Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’c”

8Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9“All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”

10“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’d”

11Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.

Jesus Begins His Ministry
(Isaiah 9:1–7; Mark 1:14–15; Luke 4:14–15)

12When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

15“Land of Zebulun
and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles—

16the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.”e

17From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

The First Disciples
(Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11; John 1:35–42)

18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
20And at once they left their nets and followed Him.

21Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.

Jesus Heals the Multitudes
(Mark 3:7–12; Luke 6:17–19)

23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed—and He healed them.

25The large crowds that followed Him came from Galilee, the Decapolis,f Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Footnotes:

4 a Deuteronomy 8:3

6 b Psalm 91:11–12

7 c Deuteronomy 6:16

10 d Deuteronomy 6:13

16 e Isaiah 9:1–2

25 f That is, the Ten Cities

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◀   ◀   Matthew 5   ▶   ▶

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The Sermon on the Mount

1When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him, 2and He began to teach them, saying:

The Beatitudes
(Psalm 1:1–6; Luke 6:20–23)

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.a

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.

10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Salt and Light
(Mark 9:49–50; Luke 14:34–35; Philippians 2:12–18)

13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14You are the light of the world. A city on a hillb cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

17Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 18For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

19So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Anger and Reconciliation
(Luke 12:57–59)

21You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’c and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brotherd will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’e will be subject to the Sanhedrin.f But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.g

23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

25Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.h

Adultery
(Leviticus 18:1–30)

27You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’i
28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.j
30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.

Divorce
(Deuteronomy 24:1–5; Luke 16:18)

31It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’k
32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her.l And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths and Vows
(Numbers 30:1–16)

33Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’m
34But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.n

Love Your Enemies
(Leviticus 24:17–23; Luke 6:27–36)

38You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’o
39But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; 41and if someone forces you to go one mile,p go with him two miles.q
42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’r and ‘Hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,s
45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?

48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Footnotes:

5 a Or Blessed are those who exercise strength under control, for they will inherit the land; see Psalm 37:11.

14 b Literally A city lying on a hill

21 c Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17

22 d BYZ and TR include without cause.

22 e Raca is an Aramaic expression of contempt.

22 f Or the Council

22 g Or the hell of fire; Greek the Gehenna of fire

26 h Greek kodrantēn; that is, a Roman copper coin worth about 1-64 of a denarius

27 i Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18

29 j Greek Gehenna; also in verse 30

31 k Deuteronomy 24:1

32 l Or causes her to commit adultery

33 m Numbers 30:2

37 n Or from evil

38 o Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21

41 p Greek one milion; that is, a Roman mile, approximately 4,855 feet or 1,480 meters

41 q Literally go with him two.

43 r Leviticus 19:18

44 s BYZ and TR love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully accuse you and persecute you; see Luke 6:27–28.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 6   ▶   ▶

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Giving to the Needy
(Deuteronomy 15:7–11)

1“Be careful not to perform your righteous actsa before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

The Lord’s Prayer
(Luke 11:1–4)

5And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 6But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

7And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

9So then, this is how you should pray:

‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.

10Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

11Give us this day our daily bread.

12And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.b’

14For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.

Proper Fasting

16When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Treasures in Heaven
(Luke 12:32–34)

19Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rustc destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Lamp of the Body
(Luke 11:33–36)

22The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good,d your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad,e your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Do Not Worry
(Luke 12:22–31)

25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?f

28And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first the kingdom of Godg and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

Footnotes:

1 a BYZ and TR charitable acts or alms

13 b Or from evil; BYZ and TR include For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

19 c Or worm; also in verse 20

22 d Literally If your eye is sound; see Proverbs 22:9

23 e Literally if your eye is evil; see Proverbs 23:6 and Proverbs 28:22

27 f Or a single cubit to his height; a cubit was approximately 18 inches or 45 centimeters.

33 g SBL, WH, and NE seek first His kingdom; see also Luke 12:31.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 7   ▶   ▶

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Judging Others
(Luke 6:37–42; Romans 14:1–12)

1“Do not judge, or you will be judged. 2For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? 5You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

6Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

Ask, Seek, Knock
(Luke 11:5–13)

7Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

12In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.

The Narrow Gate
(Luke 13:22–30)

13Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit
(Luke 6:43–45)

15Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’

The House on the Rock
(Luke 6:46–49)

24Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.

26But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”

The Authority of Jesus

28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, 29because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 8   ▶   ▶

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The Leper’s Prayer
(Leviticus 14:1–32; Mark 1:40–45; Luke 5:12–16)

1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2Suddenly a lepera came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

3Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

4Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”b

The Faith of the Centurion
(Luke 7:1–10; John 4:43–54)

5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came and pleaded with Him, 6“Lord, my servantc lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.”

7“I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied.

8The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”

10When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

Jesus Heals at Peter’s House
(Mark 1:29–34; Luke 4:38–41)

14When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, He saw Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever. 15So He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve Him.

16When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

“He took on our infirmities
and carried our diseases.”d

The Cost of Discipleship
(Luke 9:57–62; Luke 14:25–33; John 6:59–66)

18When Jesus saw a large crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the sea.e
19And one of the scribes came to Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”

20Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

21Another of His disciples requested, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

22But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Jesus Calms the Storm
(Psalm 107:1–43; Mark 4:35–41; Luke 8:22–25)

23When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

26“You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm.

27The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”

The Demons and the Pigs
(Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–39)

28When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,f He was met by two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.

29“What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

30In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31So the demons begged Jesus, “If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

32“Go!” He told them. So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and died in the waters.

33Those tending the pigs ran off into the town and reported all this, including the account of the demon-possessed men. 34Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.

Footnotes:

2 a A leper was one afflicted with a skin disease. See Leviticus 13.

4 b See Leviticus 14:1–32.

6 c Or child; also in verse 13

17 d Isaiah 53:4

18 e That is, the Sea of Galilee; Greek to the other side

28 f BYZ, TR, and GOC Gergesenes; other manuscripts Gerasenes

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◀   ◀   Matthew 9   ▶   ▶

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Jesus Heals a Paralytic
(Mark 2:1–12; Luke 5:17–26)

1Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own town. 2Just then some men broughta to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”

3On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”

4But Jesus knewb what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
7And the man got up and went home.

8When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Jesus Calls Matthew
(Mark 2:13–17; Luke 5:27–32)

9As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.

10Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’c For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.d”

Questions about Fasting
(Mark 2:18–20; Luke 5:33–35)

14At that time John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often,e but Your disciples do not fast?”

15Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

The Patches and the Wineskins
(Mark 2:21–22; Luke 5:36–39)

16No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result.

17Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

The Healing Touch of Jesus
(Mark 5:21–43; Luke 8:40–56)

18While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.”

19So Jesus got up and went with him, along with His disciples. 20Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak. 21She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.”

22Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was cured from that very hour.

23When Jesus entered the house of the synagogue leader, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd. 24“Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him.

25After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26And the news about this spread throughout that region.

Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute
(Mark 7:31–37)

27As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

28After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked.

“Yes, Lord,” they answered.

29Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.”
30And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one finds out about this!”
31But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout the land.

32As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus. 33And when the demon had been driven out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”

34But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”

The Lord of the Harvest
(Luke 10:1–12)

35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. 36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”

Footnotes:

2 a Literally And behold, they brought

4 b NA, BYZ, and TR saw

13 c Hosea 6:6

13 d BYZ and TR but sinners, to repentance; see Luke 5:32.

14 e NE and WH do not include so often.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 10   ▶   ▶

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The Twelve Apostles
(Mark 3:13–19; Luke 6:12–16)

1And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness.

2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot,a and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.b

The Ministry of the Twelve
(Mark 6:7–13; Luke 9:1–6)

5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers,c drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

9Do not carry any gold or silver or copper in your belts. 10Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.

11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy there and stay at his housed until you move on. 12As you enter the home, greet its occupants.e
13If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it; but if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Sheep among Wolves
(2 Timothy 1:3–12)

16Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. 20For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul,f how much more the members of his household!

Fear God Alone
(Luke 12:4–7)

26So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. 27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.

28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.g

29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?h Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ
(Luke 12:8–12)

32Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. 33But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.

Not Peace but a Sword
(Micah 7:1–6; Luke 12:49–53)

34Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn

‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

36A man’s enemies will be the members
of his own household.’i

37Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; 38and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

The Reward of Service
(2 Kings 4:8–17)

40He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me. 41Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

Footnotes:

4 a Greek Simon the Cananean

4 b Literally the one also having betrayed Him

8 c A leper was one afflicted with a skin disease. See Leviticus 13.

11 d Literally stay there

12 e Literally greet it

25 f WH Beezeboul; Vulgate Beelzebub

28 g Greek Gehenna

29 h Greek an assarion; that is, a Roman copper coin worth about 1-16 of a denarius

36 i Micah 7:6

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◀   ◀   Matthew 11   ▶   ▶

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John’s Inquiry
(Luke 7:18–23)

1After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.a

2Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciplesb
3to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”

4Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepersc are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.d”

Jesus Testifies about John
(Malachi 3:1–5; Luke 7:24–35)

7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written:

‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,
who will prepare Your way before You.’e

11Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence,f and the violent lay claim to it. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.g

15He who has ears,h let him hear.

16To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17‘We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’

18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”

Woe to the Unrepentant
(Luke 10:13–16)

20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Rest for the Weary
(Luke 10:21–24)

25At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

27All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.

28Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Footnotes:

1 a That is, in the towns of Galilee

2 b BYZ and TR he sent two of his disciples

5 c A leper was one afflicted with a skin disease. See Leviticus 13.

6 d Or who is not offended by Me

10 e Malachi 3:1

12 f Or has been forcefully advancing

14 g See Malachi 4:5.

15 h BYZ and TR ears to hear

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◀   ◀   Matthew 12   ▶   ▶

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The Lord of the Sabbath
(1 Samuel 21:1–7; Mark 2:23–28; Luke 6:1–5)

1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

3Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread,a which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.

5Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.

7If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’b you would not have condemned the innocent. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
(Mark 3:1–6; Luke 6:6–11)

9Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue, 10and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

11He replied, “If one of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

13Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored to full use, just like the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

God’s Chosen Servant
(Isaiah 42:1–9)

15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all, 16warning them not to make Him known. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

18“Here is My Servant,
whom I have chosen,

My beloved,
in whom My soul delights.

I will put My Spirit on Him,
and He will proclaim justice to the nations.

19He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear His voice in the streets.

20A bruised reed He will not break,
and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish,
till He leads justice to victory.

21In His name the nations will put their hope.”c

A House Divided
(Mark 3:20–27; Luke 11:14–23)

22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that he could speak and see. 23The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”

24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul,d the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”

25Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

29Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

30He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

The Unpardonable Sin
(Mark 3:28–30)

31Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.

Good and Bad Fruit
(Luke 6:43–45)

33Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. 36But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah
(Jonah 3:1–10; Luke 11:29–32)

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

39Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

41The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here. 42The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

An Unclean Spirit Returns
(Luke 11:24–26)

43When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order. 45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
(Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:19–21)

46While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. 47Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.”e

48But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”
49Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. 50For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Footnotes:

4 a Or the Bread of the Presence

7 b Hosea 6:6

21 c Isaiah 42:1–4 (see also LXX)

24 d WH Beezeboul; Vulgate Beelzebub; also in verse 27

47 e WH does not include verse 47.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 13   ▶   ▶

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The Parable of the Sower
(Mark 4:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.

3And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

5Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.

8Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.

9He who has ears,a let him hear.”

The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables
(Isaiah 6:1–13; Mark 4:10–12; Luke 8:9–10)

10Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”

11He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13This is why I speak to them in parables:

‘Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’b

14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled:

‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

15For this people’s heart has grown callous;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn, and I would heal them.’c

16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

The Parable of the Sower Explained
(Mark 4:13–20; Luke 8:11–15)

18Consider, then, the parable of the sower: 19When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sownd along the path.

20The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

22The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

23But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.”

The Parable of the Weeds
(Ezekiel 17:1–10)

24Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. 26When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.

27The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

28‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

29‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’ ”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed
(Mark 4:30–34; Luke 13:18–19)

31He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. 32Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

The Parable of the Leaven
(Luke 13:20–21)

33He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”

I Will Open My Mouth in Parables
(Psalm 78:1–72)

34Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable. 35So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open My mouth in parables;

I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”e

The Parable of the Weeds Explained
(Zephaniah 1:1–6)

36Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

40As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. 42And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.f

He who has ears, let him hear.

The Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl

44The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Net

47Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.

49So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous, 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51Have you understood all these things?”

“Yes,” they answered.

52Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

The Rejection at Nazareth
(Mark 6:1–6; Luke 4:16–30)

53When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place. 54Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked. 55“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph,g Simon, and Judas? 56Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57And they took offense at Him.

But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
58And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

Footnotes:

9 a BYZ and TR ears to hear; also in verse 43

13 b See Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 42:20, Jeremiah 5:21, and Ezekiel 12:2.

15 c Isaiah 6:9–10 (see also LXX)

19 d Literally the one sown; also in verses 20, 22, and 23

35 e Psalm 78:2 (see also LXX); SBL, NE, and WH do not include of the world.

43 f See Daniel 12:3.

55 g BYZ and TR Joses; see Mark 6:3.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 14   ▶   ▶

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The Beheading of John
(Mark 6:14–29; Luke 9:7–9)

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus 2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

6On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod 7so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.

8Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

9The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted 10and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.

11John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.

12Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand
(Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–15)

13When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns. 14When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16“They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”

17“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18“Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said. 19And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21About five thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.

Jesus Walks on Water
(Mark 6:45–52; John 6:16–21)

22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. 23After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, 24but the boat was already fara from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25During the fourth watch of the night,b Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. 26When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.

27But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

28“Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.”

29“Come,” said Jesus.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the strength of the wind,c he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

32And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

Jesus Heals at Gennesaret
(Mark 6:53–56)

34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him 36and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

Footnotes:

24 a Greek many stadia; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters

25 b That is, between three and six in the morning

30 c Literally when he saw the strong wind; NE and WH do not include strong.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 15   ▶   ▶

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The Tradition of the Elders
(Mark 7:1–13)

1Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”

3Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’a and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’b
5But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ 6he need not honor his father or mother with it.c Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:

8‘These people honor Me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from Me.

9They worship Me in vain;
they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’d”

What Defiles a Man
(Mark 7:14–23)

10Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “Listen and understand. 11A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

12Then the disciples came to Him and said, “Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

13But Jesus replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots. 14Disregard them! They are blind guides.e If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

15Peter said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

16“Do you still not understand?” Jesus asked. 17“Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated? 18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. 20These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.”

The Faith of the Canaanite Woman
(Mark 7:24–30)

21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.”

23But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

26But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

27“Yes, Lord,” she said, “even the dogsf eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

28“O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

The Feeding of the Four Thousand
(2 Kings 4:42–44; Mark 8:1–10)

29Moving on from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then He went up on a mountain and sat down. 30Large crowds came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and laid them at His feet, and He healed them. 31The crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.

32Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”

33The disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?”

34“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

35And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36Taking the seven loaves and the fish, He gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

37They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38A total of four thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.

39After Jesus had dismissed the crowds, He got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

Footnotes:

4 a Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16

4 b Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9

6 c NE and TR (see also Mark 7:12); literally he need not honor his father or mother; SBL, NA, WH, and BYZ do not include or mother.

9 d Isaiah 29:13 (see also LXX)

14 e Or blind guides of the blind

27 f Or puppies

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◀   ◀   Matthew 16   ▶   ▶

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The Demand for a Sign
(Mark 8:11–13; Luke 12:54–56)

1Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.

2But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’ 3and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times.a
4A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
(Mark 8:14–21; Luke 12:1–3)

5When they crossed to the other side, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6“Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7They discussed this among themselves and concluded, “It is because we did not bring any bread.”

8Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you debating among yourselves about having no bread? 9Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

12Then they understood that He was not telling them to beware of the leaven used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Peter’s Confession of Christ
(Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–20; John 6:67–71)

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!b For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

20Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.

Christ’s Passion Foretold
(Mark 8:31–33; Luke 9:21–22)

21From that time on Jesusc began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”

23But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Take Up Your Cross
(Mark 8:34–38; Luke 9:23–27)

24Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.

28Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Footnotes:

3 a Several manuscripts do not include When evening comes... of the times. from verses 2 and 3.

17 b Greek Simon Bar-Jonah

21 c NE and WH Jesus Christ

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◀   ◀   Matthew 17   ▶   ▶

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The Transfiguration
(Mark 9:1–13; Luke 9:28–36; 2 Peter 1:16–21)

1After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

3Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus. 4Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three sheltersa—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.b Listen to Him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.

7Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do not be afraid.”
8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

10The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

11Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. 12But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”

13Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

The Boy with a Demon
(Mark 9:14–29; Luke 9:37–42)

14When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him. 15“Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

17“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.”
18Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

The Power of Faith
(Luke 17:5–10)

19Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”c

The Second Prediction of the Passion
(Mark 9:30–32; Luke 9:43–45)

22When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men. 23They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” And the disciples were deeply grieved.

The Temple Tax

24After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma taxd came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”

25“Yes,” he answered.

When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”

26“From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus declared. 27“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin.e Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”

Footnotes:

4 a Or three tabernacles

5 b Cited in 2 Peter 1:17

20 c BYZ and TR include 21But this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting; see Mark 9:29.

24 d Greek the didrachma; twice in this verse

27 e Greek a stater; that is, a silver coin worth approximately one shekel

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◀   ◀   Matthew 18   ▶   ▶

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The Greatest in the Kingdom
(Mark 9:33–41; Luke 9:46–50)

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. 3“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.

Temptations and Trespasses
(Mark 9:42–48; Luke 17:1–4)

6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

7Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.a

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
(Luke 15:1–7)

10See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.b

12What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? 13And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

A Brother Who Sins
(Deuteronomy 19:15–21)

15If your brother sins against you,c go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’d
17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Ask in My Name
(John 16:23–33)

19Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. 20For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”

The Unforgiving Servant
(Romans 12:14–21)

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!e

23Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents.f
25Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.

26Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

27His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.

28But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.g He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’

29So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’

30But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.

31When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.

32Then the master summoned him and declared, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me. 33Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’ 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.

35That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Footnotes:

9 a Or the hell of fire; Greek the Gehenna of fire

10 b BYZ and TR include 11For the Son of Man came to save the lost; see Luke 19:10.

15 c NE and WH do not include against you.

16 d Deuteronomy 19:15

22 e Or seventy times seven; see Genesis 4:24 LXX

24 f A talent was worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer.

28 g A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 19   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Teachings about Divorce
(Mark 10:1–12)

1When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.

3Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

4Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’a
5and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’b? 6So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

7“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?c”

8Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart; but it was not this way from the beginning. 9Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.d”

10His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.”

11“Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, “but only those to whom it has been given. 12For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

Jesus Blesses the Children
(Mark 10:13–16; Luke 18:15–17)

13Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
15And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.

The Rich Young Man
(Mark 10:17–31; Luke 18:18–30)

16Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?”

17“Why do you ask Me about what is good?”e Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18“Which ones?” the man asked.

Jesus answered, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, 19honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’f”

20“All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?”

21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

22When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”

28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things,g when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wifeh or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

Footnotes:

4 a Genesis 1:27; Genesis 5:2

5 b Genesis 2:24 (see also LXX)

7 c See Deuteronomy 24:1.

9 d SBL and BYZ include And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery; see Matthew 5:32.

17 e BYZ and TR 16...“Good Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” 17“Why do you call Me good?” See Mark 10:17–18 and Luke 18:18–19.

19 f Exodus 20:12–16; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 5:16–20

28 g Or in the regeneration

29 h NE, WH, and NA do not include or wife.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 20   ▶   ▶

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The Parable of the Workers

1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denariusa for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3About the third hourb he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4‘You also go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5So they went.

He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hourc and did the same thing.

6About the eleventh hourd he went out and found still others standing around. ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ he asked.

7‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

So he told them, ‘You also go into my vineyard.’e

8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first.’

9The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius.

11On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’

13But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. 15Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”f

The Third Prediction of the Passion
(Mark 10:32–34; Luke 18:31–34)

17As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside and said, 18“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death 19and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. And on the third day He will be raised to life.”

A Mother’s Request
(Mark 10:35–45)

20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.

21“What do you want?” He inquired.

She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left.”

22“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”g

“We can,” the brothers answered.

23“You will indeed drink My cup,”h Jesus said. “But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”

24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

The Blind Men by the Road
(Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:35–43)

29As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30And there were two blind men sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

31The crowd admonished them to be silent, but they cried out all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked.

33“Lord,” they answered, “let our eyes be opened.”

34Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.

Footnotes:

2 a A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; similarly in verses 9, 10, and 13.

3 b That is, about nine in the morning

5 c That is, about noon and again about three in the afternoon

6 d That is, about five in the afternoon; also in verse 9

7 e BYZ and TR include and whatever is right, you shall receive.

16 f BYZ and TR include For many are called, but few are chosen.

22 g BYZ includes or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. TR is similar.

23 h BYZ and TR include and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 21   ▶   ▶

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The Triumphal Entry
(Zechariah 9:9–13; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19)

1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples, 2saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. 3If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5“Say to the Daughter of Zion,

‘See, your King comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”a

6So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.

8A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”b

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”c

“Hosanna in the highest!”d

10When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple
(Mark 11:15–19; Luke 19:45–48; John 2:12–25)

12Then Jesus entered the temple courtse and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. 13And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’f But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’g”

14The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them. 15But the chief priests and scribes were indignant when they saw the wonders He performed and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

16“Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked.

“Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read:

‘From the mouths of children and infants

You have ordained praise’h?”

17Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.

The Barren Fig Tree
(Mark 11:12–14; Mark 11:20–25)

18In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, He was hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.

20When the disciples saw this, they marveled and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

21“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Jesus’ Authority Challenged
(Mark 11:27–33; Luke 20:1–8)

23When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”

24“I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?”

They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.” 27So they answered, “We do not know.”

And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

28But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

29‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.i

30Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing.

‘I will, sir,’ he said. But he did not go.

31Which of the two did the will of his father?”

“The first,j” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
(Mark 12:1–12; Luke 20:9–18)

33Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

34When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. 35But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.

36Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group. But the tenants did the same to them.

37Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?”

41“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”

42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.

This is from the Lord,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’k?

43Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.l”

45When the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they knew that Jesus was speaking about them. 46Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.

Footnotes:

5 a Zechariah 9:9

9 b Hosanna is a transliteration of the Hebrew Hosia-na, meaning Save, we pray or Save now, which became a shout of praise; see Psalm 118:25; also in verse 15.

9 c Psalm 118:26

9 d Or “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” See Psalm 118:25 and Psalm 148:1.

12 e Literally the temple; also in verses 15 and 23; BYZ and TR the temple of God

13 f Isaiah 56:7

13 g Jeremiah 7:11

16 h Psalm 8:2 (see also LXX)

29 i NE and WH But he went.

31 j NE and WH The latter

42 k Psalm 118:22–23

44 l Tischendorf and some early manuscripts do not include verse 44; see also Luke 20:18.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 22   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Parable of the Banquet
(Luke 14:15–24)

1Once again, Jesus spoke to them in parables: 2“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come.

4Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

5But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business. 6The rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.

7The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city. 8Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’

10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. 12‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’

But the man was speechless.

13Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Paying Taxes to Caesar
(Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:19–26)

15Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words. 16They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance. 17So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me? 19Show Me the coin used for the tax.”

And they brought Him a denarius.a

20“Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?”

21“Caesar’s,” they answered.

So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

22And when they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection
(Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40)

23That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him. 24“Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.b
25Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother. 26The same thing happened to the second and third brothers, down to the seventh. 27And last of all, the woman died. 28In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For all of them were married to her.”

29Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angelsc in heaven. 31But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you: 32‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’d? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

33When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

The Greatest Commandment
(Deuteronomy 6:1–19; Mark 12:28–34)

34And when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question: 36“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?”

37Jesus declared, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’e
38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’f
40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Whose Son Is the Christ?
(Mark 12:35–37; Luke 20:41–44)

41While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus questioned them: 42“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?”

“David’s,” they answered.

43Jesus said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord’? For he says:

44‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand
until I put Your enemies
under Your feet.” ’g

45So if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how can He be David’s son?”

46No one was able to answer a word, and from that day on no one dared to question Him any further.

Footnotes:

19 a A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

24 b Deuteronomy 25:5

30 c SBL, BYZ, and TR the angels of God

32 d Exodus 3:6

37 e Deuteronomy 6:5

39 f Leviticus 19:18

44 g Psalm 110:1

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◀   ◀   Matthew 23   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Woes to Scribes and Pharisees
(Luke 11:37–54)

1Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples: 2“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4They tie up heavy, burdensome loadsa and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, 7the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.b

8But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ. 11The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.c

15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of helld as you are.

16Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? 18And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ 19You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred? 20So then, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the One who dwells in it. 22And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it.

23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.e

25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish,f so that the outside may become clean as well.

27Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. 28In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

29Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. 30And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32Fill up, then,g the measure of the sin of your fathers. 33You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?

34Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute in town after town. 35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Lament over Jerusalem
(Luke 13:31–35)

37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! 38Look, your house is left to you desolate.h
39For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’i”

Footnotes:

4 a SBL, NE, and WH They tie up heavy loads

7 b Literally and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by men

13 c BYZ and TR include 14Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. See Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.

15 d Greek Gehenna; also in verse 33

24 e See Leviticus 11:4 and Leviticus 11:23, where camels and gnats are both forbidden as food.

26 f NA does not include and dish.

32 g Or Go ahead, then, and complete

38 h NE and WH do not include desolate.

39 i Psalm 118:26

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◀   ◀   Matthew 24   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Temple Destruction and Other Signs
(Mark 13:1–8; Luke 21:5–9)

1As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings.

2“Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

3While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

4Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Witnessing to All Nations
(Mark 13:9–13; Luke 21:10–19)

9Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, 11and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.

12Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. 13But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The Abomination of Desolation
(Mark 13:14–23; Luke 21:20–24)

15So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’a described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. 18And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

19How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath. 21For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. 22If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.

23At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. 25See, I have told you in advance.

The Return of the Son of Man
(Mark 13:24–27; Luke 21:25–28)

26So if they tell you, ‘There He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

29Immediately after the tribulation of those days:

‘The sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.b’

30At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven,c and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.d
31And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree
(Mark 13:28–31; Luke 21:29–33)

32Now learn this lessone from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. 33So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near,f right at the door. 34Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

Readiness at Any Hour
(Genesis 6:1–7; Mark 13:32–37; Luke 12:35–48)

36No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,g but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. 39And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.

42Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.

45Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time? 46Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

48But suppose that servant is wicked and says in his heart, ‘My master will be away a long time.’ 49And he begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. 51Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Footnotes:

15 a See Daniel 9:27, Daniel 11:31, and Daniel 12:11.

29 b Or and the celestial bodies will be shaken; see Isaiah 13:10, Isaiah 34:4, and Joel 2:10.

30 c Or the sky; twice in this verse

30 d See Daniel 7:13–14.

32 e Or this parable

33 f Or it is near

36 g BYZ and TR do not include nor the Son.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 25   ▶   ▶

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The Parable of the Ten Virgins

1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. 4But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.

11Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’

12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’

13Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.a

The Parable of the Talents
(Luke 19:11–27)

14For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. 15To one he gave five talents,b to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey.

16The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to workc and gained five more. 17Likewise, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the servant who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

19After a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them. 20The servant who had received the five talents came and presented five more. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

21His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’

22The servant who had received the two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more.’

23His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’

24Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’

26‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.

28Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Sheep and the Goats

31When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

34Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, 36I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’

37Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’

40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

41Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’

45Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’

46And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Footnotes:

13 a BYZ and TR include when the Son of Man comes.

15 b A talent was worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer.

16 c Or 15... And he went on his journey at once. 16... went and put them to work. Translators vary as to the placement of the Greek adverb eutheōs (at once) at the end of verse 15 or at the beginning of verse 16.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 26   ▶   ▶

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The Plot to Kill Jesus
(Mark 14:1–2; Luke 22:1–2; John 11:45–57)

1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples, 2“You know that the Passover is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

3At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. 5“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany
(Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8)

6While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,a
7a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.

8When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste? 9This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.”

10Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me. 11The poor you will always have with you,b but you will not always have Me. 12By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial. 13Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
(Mark 14:10–11; Luke 22:3–6)

14Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Preparing the Passover
(Mark 14:12–16; Luke 22:7–13)

17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,c the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

18He answered, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him that the Teacher says, ‘My time is near. I will keep the Passover with My disciples at your house.’ ”
19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

The Last Supper
(Mark 14:17–26; Luke 22:14–23; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)

20When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples.d
21And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”

22They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”

23Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

25Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”

26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

27Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28This is My blood of the covenant,e which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

30And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Zechariah 13:7–9; Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–38; John 13:36–38)

31Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written:

‘I will strike the Shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’f

32But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

33Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.”

34“Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

35Peter replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane
(Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46)

36At that time Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

37He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

39Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

40Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. 41“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

42A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”
43And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy.

44So He left them and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing. 45Then He returned to the disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! See, My betrayer is approaching!”

The Betrayal of Jesus
(Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:1–14)

47While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” 49Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

50“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.”g

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him. 51At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

52“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

55At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts,h and you did not arrest Me. 56But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.”

Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin
(Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:66–71; John 18:19–24)

57Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered. 58But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

59Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrini were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. 60But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Finally two came forward 61and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”

62So the high priest stood up and asked Him, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”

63But Jesus remained silent.

Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

64“You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Powerj and coming on the clouds of heaven.”k

65At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66What do you think?”

“He deserves to die,” they answered.

67Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him 68and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”

Peter Denies Jesus
(Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–62; John 18:15–18)

69Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.

70But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.”

71When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!”

73After a little while, those standing nearby came up to Peter. “Surely you are one of them,” they said, “for your accent gives you away.”

74At that he began to curse and swear to them, “I do not know the man!”

And immediately a rooster crowed.

75Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Footnotes:

6 a Aramaic Simon the Potter or Simon the Jar Maker

11 b See Deuteronomy 15:11.

17 c Literally On the first of the Unleavened; see Exodus 12:14–20.

20 d BYZ and TR the Twelve

28 e BYZ and TR the new covenant

31 f Zechariah 13:7

50 g Or “Friend,” Jesus replied, “for what have you come?”

55 h Literally the temple

59 i Or the whole Council

64 j Or the right hand of the Mighty One

64 k See Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 27   ▶   ▶

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Jesus Delivered to Pilate
(Mark 15:1–5)

1When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death. 2They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.

Judas Hangs Himself
(Zechariah 11:10–17)

3When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. 4“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said.

“What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

5So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

6The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7After conferring together, they used the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

“They took the thirty pieces of silver,
the price set on Him by the people of Israel,

10and they gave them for the potter’s field,
as the Lord had commanded me.”a

Jesus before Pilate
(Luke 23:1–5; John 18:28–40)

11Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

12And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer.

13Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?”

14But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
(Mark 15:6–11; Luke 23:13–25)

15Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing. 16At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.b
17So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”

20But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death.

21“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they replied.

22“What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify Him!”

23“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?”

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”

Pilate Washes His Hands
(Mark 15:12–15)

24When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,c” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

25All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

26So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus
(Isaiah 50:4–11; Mark 15:16–20; Luke 22:63–65; John 19:1–15)

27Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him. 28They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt down before Him to mock Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.

31After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.

The Crucifixion
(Psalm 22:1–31; Mark 15:21–32; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–27)

32Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.

33And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull, 34they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it.

35When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.d
36And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.

37Above His head they posted the written charge against Him:

THIS IS JESUS,
THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38Two robberse were crucified with Him, one on His right hand and the other on His left.

39And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”

41In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, 42“He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him.f For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

44In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with Him berated Him.

The Death of Jesus
(Psalm 22:1–31; Mark 15:33–41; Luke 23:44–49; John 19:28–30)

45From the sixth hour until the ninth hourg darkness came over all the land. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,h lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”i

47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.” 48One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with sour wine,j put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink.k

49But the others said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.”l

50When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit. 51At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.

54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

55And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

The Burial of Jesus
(Isaiah 53:9–12; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42)

57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guards at the Tomb

62The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate. 63“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’
64So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.”

65“You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

Footnotes:

10 a See Jeremiah 19:1–15, Jeremiah 32:6–9, and Zechariah 11:12–13.

16 b SBL and NA Jesus Barabbas; also in verse 17, but universally called Barabbas in verses 20, 21, and 26

24 c Literally this blood; BYZ and TR this righteous blood

35 d See Psalm 22:18; TR includes to fulfill what was said through the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, and cast lots for My clothing.”

38 e Or insurrectionists; also in verse 44

43 f Psalm 22:8

45 g That is, from noon until three in the afternoon

46 h NE and WH Eloi, Eloi

46 i Psalm 22:1

48 j Or filled it with wine vinegar

48 k See Psalm 69:21.

49 l WH includes And another took a spear and pierced His side, and water and blood flowed out; see John 19:34.

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◀   ◀   Matthew 28   ▶   ▶

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The Resurrection
(Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–9)

1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week,a Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

2Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men.

5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay.b
7Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ See, I have told you.”

8So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples. 9Suddenlyc Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him. 10“Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.”

The Report of the Guards

11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money 13and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ 14If this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”

15So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission
(Mark 16:14–18)

16Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated. 17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.

18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19Therefore go and make disciplesd of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Footnotes:

1 a Literally Now after the Sabbaths, it being dawn toward the first of the Sabbaths,

6 b BYZ and TR where the Lord lay

9 c BYZ and TR They were going to tell His disciples, and suddenly

19 d Literally Having gone, therefore, make disciples

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◀   ◀   Mark 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16)

The Mission of John the Baptist
(Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–17; Luke 3:1–22; John 1:19–34)

1This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.a
2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:b

“Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,
who will prepare Your way.”c

3“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for Him.’ ”d

4John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

6John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 7And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you with water,e but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.f”

9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He sawg the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

The Temptation and Preaching of Jesus
(Matthew 4:1–17; Luke 4:1–15)

12At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, 13and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.

14After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.h
15“The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

The First Disciples
(Matthew 4:18–22; Luke 5:1–11; John 1:35–42)

16As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
18And at once they left their nets and followed Him.

19Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets. 20Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.

Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit
(Luke 4:31–37)

21Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. 22The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

23Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue: 24“What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

25But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”
26At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.

27All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” 28And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals at Peter’s House
(Matthew 8:14–17; Luke 4:38–41)

29As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her. 31So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed, 33and the whole town gathered at the door. 34And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

Jesus Prays and Preaches
(Luke 4:42–44)

35Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray. 36Simon and his companions went to look for Him, 37and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!”

38But Jesus answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come.”
39So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

The Leper’s Prayer
(Leviticus 14:1–32; Matthew 8:1–4; Luke 5:12–16)

40Then a leperi came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

41Moved with compassion,j Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”
42And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.

43Jesus promptly sent him away with a stern warning: 44“See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”k

45But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news.

Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.

Footnotes:

1 a SBL and WH the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2 b BYZ and TR in the prophets:

2 c Malachi 3:1

3 d Isaiah 40:3 (see also LXX)

8 e Or in water

8 f Or in the Holy Spirit

10 g Or he saw; see John 1:32–33

14 h BYZ and TR the gospel of the kingdom of God

40 i A leper was one afflicted with a skin disease. See Leviticus 13.

41 j SBL Moved with indignation

44 k See Leviticus 14:1–32.

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◀   ◀   Mark 2   ▶   ▶

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Jesus Heals a Paralytic
(Matthew 9:1–8; Luke 5:17–26)

1A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard that He was home, 2they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them.

3Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men. 4Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.

5When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts, 7“Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked. 9“Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic, 11“I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

12And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Jesus Calls Levi
(Matthew 9:9–13; Luke 5:27–32)

13Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him, and He taught them there.

14As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.

15While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him. 16When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eata with tax collectors and sinners?”

17On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Questions about Fasting
(Matthew 9:14–15; Luke 5:33–35)

18Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?”

19Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast. 20But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

The Patches and the Wineskins
(Matthew 9:16–17; Luke 5:36–39)

21No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result.

22And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”b

The Lord of the Sabbath
(1 Samuel 21:1–7; Matthew 12:1–8; Luke 6:1–5)

23One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along. 24So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

25Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread,c which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”

27Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Footnotes:

16 a BYZ and TR include and drink; see Luke 5:30.

22 b Tischendorf does not include Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.

26 c Or the Bread of the Presence

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◀   ◀   Mark 3   ▶   ▶

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Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
(Matthew 12:9–14; Luke 6:6–11)

1Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there. 2In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.

3Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up among us.”
4And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

But they were silent.

5Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.

6At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Jesus Heals the Multitudes
(Matthew 4:23–25; Luke 6:17–19)

7So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea, 8Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.

9Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him. 10For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him. 11And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” 12But He warned them sternly not to make Him known.

The Twelve Apostles
(Matthew 10:1–4; Luke 6:12–16)

13Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him. 14He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles,a to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, 15and to have authority to drive out demons.

16These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter), 17James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”), 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,b
19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.c

A House Divided
(Matthew 12:22–30; Luke 11:14–23)

20Then Jesus went home,d and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat. 21When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”

22And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,e” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

23So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand. 25If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand. 26And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

The Unpardonable Sin
(Matthew 12:31–32)

28Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter. 29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”

30Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
(Matthew 12:46–50; Luke 8:19–21)

31Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him, 32and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothersf are outside, asking for You.”

33But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”
34Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 35For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”

Footnotes:

14 a SBL, NE, BYZ, and TR do not include whom He designated as apostles

18 b Greek Simon the Cananean

19 c Literally who also betrayed Him

20 d Literally Then He comes to a house

22 e WH Beezeboul; Vulgate Beelzebub

32 f NE and NA include and Your sisters.

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◀   ◀   Mark 4   ▶   ▶

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The Parable of the Sower
(Matthew 13:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)

1Once again Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore.

2And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said, 3“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

5Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.

8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprouted, grew up, and produced a crop—one bearing thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold.”

9Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables
(Isaiah 6:1–13; Matthew 13:10–17; Luke 8:9–10)

10As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.

11He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables, 12so that,

‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn
and be forgiven.’a”

The Parable of the Sower Explained
(Matthew 13:18–23; Luke 8:11–15)

13Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?

14The farmer sows the word. 15Some are like the seedsb along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

16Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

18Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word, 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.”

The Lesson of the Lamp
(Luke 8:16–18)

21Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand? 22For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.

23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you. 25For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

The Seed Growing Secretly

26Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. 27Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how. 28All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within. 29And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.c”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed
(Matthew 13:31–32; Luke 13:18–19)

30Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth. 32But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”

33With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand. 34He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.

Jesus Calms the Storm
(Psalm 107:1–43; Matthew 8:23–27; Luke 8:22–25)

35When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.”
36After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him.

37Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped. 38But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

39Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

40“Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”

41Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Footnotes:

12 a Isaiah 6:9–10 (see also LXX)

15 b Or the word; similarly in verses 16, 18, and 20; literally Now these are the ones

29 c See Joel 3:13, including LXX.

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◀   ◀   Mark 5   ▶   ▶

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The Demons and the Pigs
(Matthew 8:28–34; Luke 8:26–39)

1On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes.a
2As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from the tombs. 3This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains. 4Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him. 5Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones.

6When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him. 7And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!” 8For Jesus had already declared, “Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!”

9“What is your name?” Jesus asked.

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10And he begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of that region.

11There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. 12So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”

13He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.b

14Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

16Those who had seen it described what had happened to the demon-possessed man and also to the pigs. 17And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region.

18As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him. 19But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”

20So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolisc how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

The Healing Touch of Jesus
(Matthew 9:18–26; Luke 8:40–56)

21When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea. 22A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet 23and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”

24So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him. 25And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. 26She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.

27When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.” 29Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

30At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

31His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”

32But He kept looking around to see who had done this. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.

34“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

35While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”

36But Jesus overheardd their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”
37And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

38When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly. 39He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”
40And they laughed at Him.

After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child. 41Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”
42Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded. 43Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.

Footnotes:

1 a BYZ and TR Gadarenes; GOC Gergesenes

13 b Literally and were drowned in the sea

20 c That is, the Ten Cities

36 d Or ignored

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◀   ◀   Mark 6   ▶   ▶

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The Rejection at Nazareth
(Matthew 13:53–58; Luke 4:16–30)

1Jesus went on from there and came to His hometown, accompanied by His disciples. 2When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles? 3Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses,a Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him.

4Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
5So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them. 6And He was amazed at their unbelief.

And He went around from village to village, teaching the people.

The Ministry of the Twelve
(Matthew 10:5–15; Luke 9:1–6)

7Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. 8He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no moneyb in their belts— 9and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic.

10And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area. 11If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them.”c

12So they set out and preached that the people should repent. 13They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

The Beheading of John
(Matthew 14:1–12; Luke 9:7–9)

14Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying,d “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

16But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead!” 17For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married. 18For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”

19So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable, 20because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.

21On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22When the daughter of Herodiase came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”

24Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?”

And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.”

25At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.”

26The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison. 28The man brought John’s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.

29When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand
(Matthew 14:13–21; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–15)

30Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught. 31And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

32So they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary place. 33But many people saw them leaving and recognized them. They ran together on foot from all the towns and arrived before them. 34When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

35By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. 36Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

37But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.”

They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denariif to give all of them bread to eat?”

38“Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them.

And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

39Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

41Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

42They all ate and were satisfied, 43and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44And there were five thousand men who had eaten the loaves.

Jesus Walks on Water
(Matthew 14:22–33; John 6:16–21)

45Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. 46After bidding them farewell, He went up on the mountain to pray.

47When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land. 48He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night,g Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them, 49but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost— 50for they all saw Him and were terrified.

But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
51Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded, 52for they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.

Jesus Heals at Gennesaret
(Matthew 14:34–36)

53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus 55and ran through that whole region, carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was. 56And wherever He went—villages and towns and countrysides—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

Footnotes:

3 a Joses is a variant of Joseph; see Matthew 13:55.

8 b Or copper coins

11 c BYZ and TR include Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town; see Matthew 10:15.

14 d Literally they were saying; some manuscripts he was saying

22 e Some early manuscripts When his daughter Herodias

37 f A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

48 g That is, between three and six in the morning

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◀   ◀   Mark 7   ▶   ▶

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The Tradition of the Elders
(Matthew 15:1–9)

1Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, 2and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed.

3Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially.a
4And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.b

5So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus: “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.”

6Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘These people honor Me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from Me.

7They worship Me in vain;
they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’c

8You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.d”

9He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintaine your own tradition. 10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’f and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’g
11But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12he is no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother. 13Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”

What Defiles a Man
(Matthew 15:10–20)

14Once again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “All of you, listen to Me and understand: 15Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.”h

17After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable.

18“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, 19because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)i

20He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. 21For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,j
22greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. 23All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”

The Faith of the Gentile Woman
(Matthew 15:21–28)

24Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre.k Not wanting anyone to know He was there, He entered a house, but was unable to escape their notice. 25Instead, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit soon heard about Jesus, and she came and fell at His feet. 26Now she was a Greek woman of Syrophoenician origin, and she kept asking Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

27“First let the children have their fill,” He said. “For it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

28“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “even the dogsl under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

29Then Jesus told her, “Because of this answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.”
30And she went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.

The Deaf and Mute Man
(Matthew 9:27–34)

31Then Jesus left the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.m
32Some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and hardly able to speak, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him.

33So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). 35Immediately the man’s ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly.

36Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more He ordered them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 37The people were utterly astonished and said, “He has done all things well! He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”

Footnotes:

3 a Literally until they have washed their hands to the fist

4 b NE and WH cups, pitchers, and kettles.

7 c Isaiah 29:13 (see also LXX)

8 d BYZ and TR include —washings of pots and cups and many such things like these.

9 e NA establish

10 f Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16

10 g Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9

15 h BYZ and TR include 16If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.

19 i Or and then is eliminated, thereby expelling all foods.”

21 j Many texts move adultery to verse 22.

24 k WH, BYZ, and TR include and Sidon; see Matthew 15:21.

28 l Or puppies

31 m That is, the Ten Cities

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◀   ◀   Mark 8   ▶   ▶

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The Feeding of the Four Thousand
(2 Kings 4:42–44; Matthew 15:29–39)

1In those days the crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said, 2“I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.”

4His disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could anyone find enough bread to feed all these people?”

5“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied.

6And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd. 7They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.

8The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9And about four thousand mena were present.

As soon as Jesus had dismissed the crowd, 10He got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

The Demand for a Sign
(Matthew 16:1–4; Luke 12:54–56)

11Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven.

12Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
13And He left them, got back into the boat, and crossed to the other side.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod
(Matthew 16:5–12; Luke 12:1–3)

14Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15“Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

16So they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.

17Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts? 18‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’b And do you not remember? 19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?”

“Twelve,” they answered.

20“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?”

“Seven,” they said.

21Then He asked them, “Do you still not understand?”

The Blind Man at Bethsaida

22When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.

24The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.”

25Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly. 26Jesus sent him home and said, “Do not go back into the village.”c

Peter’s Confession of Christ
(Matthew 16:13–20; Luke 9:18–20; John 6:67–71)

27Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say I am?”

28They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

29“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

30And Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him.

Christ’s Passion Foretold
(Matthew 16:21–23; Luke 9:21–22)

31Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again. 32He spoke this message quite frankly, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.

33But Jesus, turning and looking at His disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Take Up Your Cross
(Matthew 16:24–28; Luke 9:23–27)

34Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.

36What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Footnotes:

9 a Men is implied here, that is, in addition to women and children; see Matthew 15:38.

18 b See Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 42:20, Jeremiah 5:21, and Ezekiel 12:2.

26 c BYZ and TR “Do not go and tell anyone in the village.”

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◀   ◀   Mark 9   ▶   ▶

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The Transfiguration
(Matthew 17:1–13; Luke 9:28–36; 2 Peter 1:16–21)

1Then Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.”

2After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them. 4And Elijah and Moses appeared before them, talking with Jesus.

5Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three sheltersa—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6For they were all so terrified that Peter did not know what else to say.

7Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!” 8Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one with them except Jesus.

9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus admonished them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10So they kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise from the dead. 11And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

12He replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected? 13But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him.”

The Boy with an Evil Spirit
(Matthew 17:14–18; Luke 9:37–42)

14When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were filled with awe and ran to greet Him.

16“What are you disputing with them?” He asked.

17Someone in the crowd replied, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a spirit that makes him mute. 18Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.b I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.”

19“O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”

20So they brought him, and seeing Jesus, the spirit immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

21Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been with him?”

“From childhood,” he said. 22“It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

23“If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!”

24Immediately the boy’s father cried out,c “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

25When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”

26After shrieking and convulsing him violently, the spirit came out. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.

28After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

29Jesus answered, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer.”d

The Second Prediction of the Passion
(Matthew 17:22–23; Luke 9:43–45)

30Going on from there, they passed through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know, 31because He was teaching His disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.”
32But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

The Greatest in the Kingdom
(Matthew 18:1–5; Luke 9:46–50)

33Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
34But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.

35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all.”

36Then He had a little child stand among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, 37“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.”

38John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone else driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”

39“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied. “For no one who performs a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me. 40For whoever is not against us is for us. 41Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

Temptations and Trespasses
(Matthew 18:6–9; Luke 17:1–4)

42But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.

43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell,e into the unquenchable fire.f
45If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.g
47And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48where ‘their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.’h

Good Salt
(Matthew 5:13–16; Luke 14:34–35)

49For everyone will be salted with fire.i

50Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Footnotes:

5 a Or three tabernacles

18 b Or and is withering away

24 c BYZ and TR cried out with tears

29 d BYZ and TR prayer and fasting

43 e Greek Gehenna; also in verses 45 and 47

43 f BYZ and TR include 44where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched; see verse 48 and Isaiah 66:24.

45 g BYZ and TR include 46where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched; see verse 48 and Isaiah 66:24.

48 h Isaiah 66:24

49 i BYZ and TR include and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.

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◀   ◀   Mark 10   ▶   ▶

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Teachings about Divorce
(Matthew 19:1–12)

1Then Jesus left that place and went into the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan. Again the crowds came to Him and He taught them, as was His custom.

2Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they inquired.

3“What did Moses command you?” He replied.

4They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.”a

5But Jesus told them, “Moses wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart. 6However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’b
7‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,c
8and the two will become one flesh.’d So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

10When they were back inside the house, the disciples asked Jesus about this matter. 11So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

Jesus Blesses the Children
(Matthew 19:13–15; Luke 18:15–17)

13Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

14But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
16And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.

The Rich Young Man
(Matthew 19:16–30; Luke 18:18–30)

17As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’e”

20“Teacher,” he replied, “all these I have kept from my youth.”

21Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.f”

22But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24And the disciples were amazed at His words.

But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enterg the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?”

27Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

28Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”

29“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

The Third Prediction of the Passion
(Matthew 20:17–19; Luke 18:31–34)

32As they were going up the road to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. Again Jesus took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him: 33“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles, 34who will mock Him and spit on Him and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days He will rise again.”

The Request of James and John
(Matthew 20:20–28)

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

36“What do you want Me to do for you?” He inquired.

37They answered, “Grant that one of us may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your glory.”

38“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?”

39“We can,” the brothers answered.

“You will drink the cup that I drink,” Jesus said, “and you will be baptized with the baptism that I undergo. 40But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whomh they have been prepared.”

41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 43But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus Heals Bartimaeus
(Matthew 20:29–34; Luke 18:35–43)

46Next, they came to Jericho. And as Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called the blind man. “Take courage!” they said. “Get up! He is calling for you.”

50Throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus.

51“What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked.

“Rabboni,” said the blind man, “let me see again.”

52“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Footnotes:

4 a See Deuteronomy 24:1.

6 b Genesis 1:27; Genesis 5:2

7 c NE and WH do not include and be united to his wife.

8 d Genesis 2:24 (see also LXX)

19 e Exodus 20:12–16; Deuteronomy 5:16–20

21 f BYZ and TR Then come, take up the cross, and follow Me.

24 g BYZ and TR how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter

40 h Literally Mine to grant, but for whom

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◀   ◀   Mark 11   ▶   ▶

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The Triumphal Entry
(Zechariah 9:9–13; Matthew 21:1–11; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19)

1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. 3If anyone asks, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it shortly.’ ”

4So they went and found the colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. They untied it, 5and some who were standing there asked, “Why are you untying the colt?”

6The disciples answered as Jesus had instructed them, and the people gave them permission. 7Then they led the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, and He sat on it.

8Many in the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut from the fields. 9The ones who went ahead and those who followed were shouting:

“Hosanna!”a

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”b

10“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest!”c

11Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts.d He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
(Matthew 21:18–22; Mark 11:20–25)

12The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any fruit on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing on it except leaves, since it was not the season for figs. 14Then He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again.” And His disciples heard this statement.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple
(Matthew 21:12–17; Luke 19:45–48; John 2:12–25)

15When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. 16And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’e? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’f”

18When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

19And when evening came, Jesus and His disciples wentg out of the city.

The Withered Fig Tree
(Matthew 21:18–22; Mark 11:12–14)

20As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots. 21Peter remembered it and said, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered.”

22“Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them. 23“Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

25And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.h”

Jesus’ Authority Challenged
(Matthew 21:23–27; Luke 20:1–8)

27After their return to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in the temple courts, and the chief priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him. 28“By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You the authority to do them?”

29“I will ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me!”

31They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32But if we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet. 33So they answered, “We do not know.”

And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Footnotes:

9 a Hosanna is a transliteration of the Hebrew Hosia-na, meaning Save, we pray or Save now, which became a shout of praise; see Psalm 118:25.

9 b Psalm 118:26

10 c Or “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” See Psalm 118:25 and Psalm 148:1.

11 d Literally the temple; also in verses 15, 16, and 27

17 e Isaiah 56:7

17 f Jeremiah 7:11

19 g Literally they went; BYZ and TR He went

25 h BYZ and TR include 26But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses; see Matthew 6:15.

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◀   ◀   Mark 12   ▶   ▶

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The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
(Matthew 21:33–46; Luke 20:9–18)

1Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

2At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. 3But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.

4Then he sent them another servant, and they struck him over the head and treated him shamefully.

5He sent still another, and this one they killed.

He sent many others; some they beat and others they killed.

6Finally, having one beloved son, he sent him to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

7But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8So they seized the son, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants, and will give the vineyard to others. 10Have you never read this Scripture:

‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.

11This is from the Lord,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’a?”

12At this, the leaders soughtb to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away.

Paying Taxes to Caesar
(Matthew 22:15–22; Luke 20:19–26)

13Later, they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to catch Jesus in His words. 14“Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”

15But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denariusc to inspect.”
16So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they answered.

17Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

And they marveled at Him.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection
(Matthew 22:23–33; Luke 20:27–40)

18Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him: 19“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.d
20Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children. 21Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise. 22In this way, none of the seven left any children. And last of all, the woman died. 23In the resurrection, then,e whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”

24Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.

26But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’f? 27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

The Greatest Commandment
(Deuteronomy 6:1–19; Matthew 22:34–40)

28Now one of the scribes had come up and heard their debate. Noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

29Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’g
31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’h No other commandment is greater than these.”

32“Right, Teacher,” the scribe replied. “You have stated correctly that God is One and there is no other but Him, 33and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, which is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

And no one dared to question Him any further.

Whose Son Is the Christ?
(Matthew 22:41–46; Luke 20:41–44)

35While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts,i He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand
until I put Your enemies
under Your feet.” ’j

37David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?”

And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.

Beware of the Scribes
(Luke 20:45–47)

38In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces, 39and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40They defraud widows of their houses,k and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering
(Luke 21:1–4)

41As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts. 42Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius.l

43Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. 44For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Footnotes:

11 a Psalm 118:22–23

12 b Literally they sought

15 c A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

19 d Deuteronomy 25:5

23 e Literally In the resurrection, when they rise,

26 f Exodus 3:6

30 g Deuteronomy 6:4–5

31 h Leviticus 19:18

35 i Literally the temple

36 j Psalm 110:1

40 k Literally They devour widows’ houses

42 l Greek put in two lepta, which is a kodrantēs; a lepton was a Jewish coin of bronze or copper worth about 1-128 of a denarius.

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◀   ◀   Mark 13   ▶   ▶

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Temple Destruction and Other Signs
(Matthew 24:1–8; Luke 21:5–9)

1As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!”

2“Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

3While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to be fulfilled?”

5Jesus began by telling them, “See to it that no one deceives you. 6Many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Witnessing to All Nations
(Matthew 24:9–14; Luke 21:10–19)

9So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations. 11But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 13You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

The Abomination of Desolation
(Matthew 24:15–25; Luke 21:20–24)

14So when you see the abomination of desolationa standing where it should not beb (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house. 16And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

17How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! 18Pray that this will not occur in the winter. 19For those will be days of tribulation unmatched from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again. 20If the Lord had not cut short those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has cut them short.

21At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 22For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. 23So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.

The Return of the Son of Man
(Matthew 24:26–31; Luke 21:25–28)

24But in those days, after that tribulation:

‘The sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;

25the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’c

26At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.d
27And He will send out the angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree
(Matthew 24:32–35; Luke 21:29–33)

28Now learn this lessone from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. 29So also, when you see these things happening, know that He is near,f right at the door. 30Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

Readiness at Any Hour
(Matthew 24:36–51; Luke 12:35–48)

32No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on your guard and stay alert!g For you do not know when the appointed time will come.

34It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. 36Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping. 37And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!”

Footnotes:

14 a See Daniel 9:27, Daniel 11:31, and Daniel 12:11; BYZ and TR include spoken of by Daniel the prophet.

14 b Or where he should not be

25 c Or and the celestial bodies will be shaken; see Isaiah 13:10, Isaiah 34:4, and Joel 2:10.

26 d See Daniel 7:13–14.

28 e Or this parable

29 f Or it is near

33 g BYZ and TR Be on your guard, stay alert, and pray!

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◀   ◀   Mark 14   ▶   ▶

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The Plot to Kill Jesus
(Matthew 26:1–5; Luke 22:1–2; John 11:45–57)

1Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Breada were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him. 2“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany
(Matthew 26:6–13; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8)

3While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper,b a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.

4Some of those present, however, expressed their indignation to one another: “Why this waste of perfume? 5It could have been sold for over three hundred denariic and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.

6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me. 7The poor you will always have with you,d and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me. 8She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial. 9And truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
(Matthew 26:14–16; Luke 22:3–6)

10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money.

So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Preparing the Passover
(Matthew 26:17–19; Luke 22:7–13)

12On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,e when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

13So He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him, 14and whichever house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ 15And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

16So the disciples left and went into the city, where they found everything as Jesus had described. And they prepared the Passover.

The Last Supper
(Matthew 26:20–30; Luke 22:14–23; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)

17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”

19They began to be grieved and to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I?”

20He answered, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping his handf into the bowl with Me. 21The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”

23Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant,g which is poured out for many. 25Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”

26And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Zechariah 13:7–9; Matthew 26:31–35; Luke 22:31–38; John 13:36–38)

27Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away,h for it is written:

‘I will strike the Shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’i

28But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

29Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I never will.”

30“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

31But Peter kept insisting, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the others said the same thing.

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane
(Matthew 26:36–46; Luke 22:39–46)

32Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus told His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

33He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed. 34Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”

35Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from Him. 36“Abba, Father,” He said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”

37Then Jesus returned and found them sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” He asked. “Were you not able to keep watch for one hour? 38Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

39Again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing. 40And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy. And they did not know what to answer Him.

41When Jesus returned the third time, He said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Rise, let us go. See, My betrayer is approaching!”

The Betrayal of Jesus
(Matthew 26:47–56; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:1–14)

43While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, scribes, and elders.

44Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him and lead Him away securely.” 45Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

46Then the men seized Jesus and arrested Him. 47And one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

48Jesus asked the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? 49Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts,j and you did not arrest Me. But this has happened that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.”

50Then everyone deserted Him and fled. 51One young man who had been following Jesus was wearing a linen cloth around his body. They caught hold of him, 52but he pulled free of the linen cloth and ran away naked.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin
(Matthew 26:57–68; Luke 22:66–71; John 18:19–24)

53They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and scribes assembled. 54Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the officers and warmed himself by the fire.

55Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrink were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any. 56For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent.

57Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him: 58“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’ ” 59But even their testimony was inconsistent.

60So the high priest stood up before them and questioned Jesus, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”

61But Jesus remained silent and made no reply.

Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62“I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Powerl and coming with the clouds of heaven.”m

63At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?”

And they all condemned Him as deserving of death.

65Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.

Peter Denies Jesus
(Matthew 26:69–75; Luke 22:54–62; John 18:15–18)

66While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the servant girls of the high priest came down 67and saw him warming himself there. She looked at Peter and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.”

68But he denied it. “I do not know or even understand what you are talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, and the rooster crowed.n

69There the servant girl saw him and again said to those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”

70But he denied it again.

After a little while, those standing nearby said once more to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you too are a Galilean.”o

71But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak!” 72And immediately the rooster crowed a second time.

Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally and the Unleavened; see Exodus 12:14–20.

3 b Aramaic Simon the Potter or Simon the Jar Maker

5 c A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

7 d See Deuteronomy 15:11.

12 e Literally On the first day of the Unleavened; see Exodus 12:14–20.

20 f Literally the one who is dipping

24 g BYZ and TR the new covenant

27 h BYZ and TR include on account of Me this night; see Matthew 26:31.

27 i Zechariah 13:7

49 j Literally the temple

55 k Or the whole Council

62 l Or the right hand of the Mighty One

62 m See Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13.

68 n NE and WH do not include and the rooster crowed.

70 o BYZ and TR include and your speech is similar.

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◀   ◀   Mark 15   ▶   ▶

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Jesus Delivered to Pilate
(Matthew 27:1–2)

1Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrina devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

2So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

3And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things.

4Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!”

5But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
(Matthew 27:15–23; Luke 23:13–25)

6Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the peopleb a prisoner of their choosing. 7And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. 8So the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to keep his custom.

9“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked. 10For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.

11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.

Pilate Delivers Up Jesus
(Matthew 27:24–26)

12So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”

13And they shouted back, “Crucify Him!”

14“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?”

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”

15And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus
(Isaiah 50:4–11; Matthew 27:27–31; Luke 22:63–65; John 19:1–15)

16Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called the whole company together. 17They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head. 18And they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”

19They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him. 20After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

The Crucifixion
(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:32–44; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–27)

21Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.

22They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull. 23There they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it.

24And they crucified Him.

They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.c

25It was the third hourd when they crucified Him. 26And the charge inscribed against Him read:

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers,e one on His right and one on His left.f

29And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30come down from the cross and save Yourself!”

31In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! 32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.

The Death of Jesus
(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:45–56; Luke 23:44–49; John 19:28–30)

33From the sixth hour until the ninth hourg darkness came over all the land. 34At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”h

35When some of those standing nearby heard this, they said, “Behold, He is calling Elijah.”

36And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine.i He put it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink,j saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”

37But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last. 38And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last,k he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

40And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses,l and Salome. 41These women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.

The Burial of Jesus
(Isaiah 53:9–12; Matthew 27:57–61; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42)

42Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.

44Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so. 45When Pilate had confirmed it with the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

46So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Josephm saw where His body was placed.

Footnotes:

1 a Or the whole Council

6 b Literally Now at the feast he would release to them

24 c See Psalm 22:18.

25 d That is, nine in the morning

27 e Or insurrectionists

27 f BYZ and TR include 28So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.” See Isaiah 53:12 and Luke 22:37.

33 g That is, from noon until three in the afternoon

34 h Psalm 22:1

36 i Or a sponge with wine vinegar

36 j See Psalm 69:21.

39 k BYZ and TR saw how, having cried out, He had breathed His last

40 l Joses is a variant of Joseph; see Matthew 27:56.

47 m Or Joses

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◀   ◀   Mark 16   ▶   ▶

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The Resurrection
(Matthew 28:1–10; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–9)

1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus. 2Very early on the first day of the week,a just after sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3They were asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?” 4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, even though it was extremely large.

5When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him. 7But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’ ”

8So the women left the tomb and ran away, trembling and bewildered. And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone.b

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
(John 20:10–18)

9Early on the first day of the week, after Jesus had risen,c He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons. 10She went and told those who had been with Him, who were mourning and weeping. 11And when they heard that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they did not believe it.

Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
(Luke 24:13–35)

12After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them as they walked along in the country.

13And they went back and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.

The Great Commission
(Matthew 28:16–20)

14Later, as they were eating, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;d
18they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

The Ascension
(Luke 24:50–53; Acts 1:6–11)

19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

20And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.

Footnotes:

2 a Literally And very early on the first of the Sabbaths,

8 b Early manuscripts end the Gospel of Mark after verse 8. Other manuscripts contain only a short ending, a version of the following: 9But they quickly reported all these instructions to Peter’s companions. Afterward, Jesus Himself, through them, sent out from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.

9 c Or After Jesus had risen early on the first day of the week

17 d WH in tongues

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24)

Dedication to Theophilus
(Acts 1:1–3)

1Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth

5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron. 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.

8One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.

11Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.

13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. 16Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their childrena and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

19“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple. 22When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless. 23And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.

24After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared, 25“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Gabriel Foretells Jesus’ Birth

26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings,b you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.c”

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

34“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be bornd will be called the Son of God. 36Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.e”

38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, 40where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”

Mary’s Song
(1 Samuel 2:1–11)

46Then Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

48For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed.

49For the Mighty One has done great things for me.

Holy is His name.

50His mercy extends to those who fear Him,
from generation to generation.

51He has performed mighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who are proud
in the thoughts of their hearts.

52He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
but has exalted the humble.

53He has filled the hungry with good things,
but has sent the rich away empty.

54He has helped His servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful,

55as He promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

59On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah. 60But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”

61They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.” 62So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.

63Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.

65All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events. 66And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

Zechariah’s Song

67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
because He has visited and redeemed His people.

69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of His servant David,

70as He spoke through His holy prophets,
those of ages past,

71salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us,

72to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember His holy covenant,

73the oath He swore to our father Abraham,
to grant us 74deliverance from hostile hands,
that we may serve Him without fear,

75in holiness and righteousness before Him
all the days of our lives.

76And you, child, will be called
a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord
to prepare the way for Him,

77to give to His people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,

78because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the Dawnf will visit us from on high,

79to shine on those who live in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet
into the path of peace.”

80And the child grew and became strong in spirit;g and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

Footnotes:

17 a Malachi 4:5–6

28 b Or Rejoice

28 c BYZ and TR include Blessed are you among women!

35 d TR born of you

37 e Or For nothing will be impossible with God.

78 f Or the Morning Light or the Sunrise

80 g Or in the Spirit

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◀   ◀   Luke 2   ▶   ▶

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The Birth of Jesus
(Matthew 1:18–25)

1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.a
2This was the first census to take place whileb Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.

6While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 9Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! 12And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:

14“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men
on whom His favor rests!”

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. 17After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. 18And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

21When the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived.

22And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”c), 24and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”d

The Prophecy of Simeon

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.e And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law, 28Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:

29“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,

You now dismiss Your servant in peace.

30For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

31which You have prepared in the sight of all people,

32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to Your people Israel.”

33The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary:

“Behold, this Child is appointed to cause
the rise and fall of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—
and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”

The Prophecy of Anna

36There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, 37and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four.f She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

38Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth
(Matthew 2:19–23)

39When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

40And the Child grew and became strong.g He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

41Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.

43When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed. 44Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.

45When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. 46Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.

48When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”

49“Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s househ?”
50But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.

51Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Footnotes:

1 a Or of the whole land or of the whole world

2 b Or This was the census before

23 c Exodus 13:2

24 d Leviticus 12:8

27 e Literally the temple; also in verse 46

37 f Or was a widow for eighty-four years

40 g BYZ and TR became strong in spirit

49 h Or I had to be about My Father’s business

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◀   ◀   Luke 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Mission of John the Baptist
(Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; John 1:19–28)

1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

3He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for Him.

5Every valley shall be filled in,
and every mountain and hill made low.

The crooked ways shall be made straight,
and the rough ways smooth.

6And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’ ”a

7Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”

11John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”

12Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13“Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.

14Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

“Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”

15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ. 16John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water,b but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.c He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.d
17His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

18With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people. 19But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done, 20Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

The Baptism of Jesus
(Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; John 1:29–34)

21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

The Genealogy of Jesus
(Ruth 4:18–22; Matthew 1:1–17)

23Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry.

He was regarded as the son of Joseph,
the son of Heli,

24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi,
the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum,
the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein,
the son of Josech, the son of Joda,

27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel,
the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,

28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam,
the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

29the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim,
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph,
the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

31the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha,
the son of Nathan, the son of David,

32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz,
the son of Sala,e the son of Nahshon,

33the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin,f the son of Arni,g
the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,
the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg,
the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem,
the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared,
the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,

38the son of Enosh,h the son of Seth, the son of Adam,
the son of God.

Footnotes:

6 a Literally And all flesh will see God’s salvation; Isaiah 40:3–5 (see also LXX)

16 b Or in water

16 c Cited in Acts 13:25

16 d Or in the Holy Spirit and in fire

32 e BYZ and TR Salmon; see Ruth 4:20–21 and Matthew 1:4–5.

33 f BYZ and TR Aram; others Ram; see Ruth 4:19 and Matthew 1:3–4.

33 g WH, BYZ, and TR do not include the son of Arni.

38 h Greek Enōs, a variant spelling of Enosh; see Genesis 5:6.

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◀   ◀   Luke 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Temptation of Jesus
(Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13)

1Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,a
2where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry.

3The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

4But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’b”

5Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6“I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,” he said. “For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. 7So if You worship me, it will all be Yours.”

8But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’c”

9Then the devil led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down from here. 10For it is written:

‘He will command His angels concerning You
to guard You carefully;

11and they will lift You up in their hands,
so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’d”

12But Jesus answered, “It also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’e”

13When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.

Jesus Begins His Ministry
(Isaiah 9:1–7; Matthew 4:12–17; Mark 1:14–15)

14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding region. 15He taught in their synagogues and was glorified by everyone.

The Rejection at Nazareth
(Isaiah 61:1–11; Matthew 13:53–58; Mark 6:1–6)

16Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, 17the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written:

18“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me,
because He has anointed Me
to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captivesf
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to release the oppressed,

19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”g

20Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, 21and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

22All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.

23Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’ ”

24Then He added, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land. 26Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon. 27And there were many lepersh in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

28On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged. 29They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff. 30But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.

Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit
(Mark 1:21–28)

31Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people. 32They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.

33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice, 34“Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

35But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him.

36All the people were overcome with amazement and asked one another, “What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37And the news about Jesus spread throughout the surrounding region.

Jesus Heals at Peter’s House
(Matthew 8:14–17; Mark 1:29–34)

38After Jesus had left the synagogue, He went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. So they appealed to Jesus on her behalf, 39and He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and began to serve them.

40At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them. 41Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.

Jesus Preaches in Judea
(Mark 1:35–39)

42At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place, and the crowds were looking for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving. 43But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.”

44And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.i

Footnotes:

1 a Or in the wilderness

4 b Deuteronomy 8:3; BYZ and TR on bread alone, but on every word of God.

8 c Deuteronomy 6:13

11 d Psalm 91:11–12

12 e Deuteronomy 6:16

18 f BYZ and TR He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives

19 g Or to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord; Isaiah 61:1–2 (see also LXX)

27 h A leper was one afflicted with a skin disease. See Leviticus 13.

44 i BYZ and TR Galilee; see Mark 1:39.

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◀   ◀   Luke 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The First Disciples
(Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; John 1:35–42)

1On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesareta with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God, 2He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.

4When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

5“Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” 6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear. 7So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.” 9For he and his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

“Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.”
11And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.

The Leper’s Prayer
(Leviticus 14:1–32; Matthew 8:1–4; Mark 1:40–45)

12While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.b When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

13Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

14“Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”c

15But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.

Jesus Heals a Paralytic
(Matthew 9:1–8; Mark 2:1–12)

17One day Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. People had come from Jerusalem and from every village of Galilee and Judea, and the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick.

18Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to bring him inside to set him before Jesus, 19but they could not find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

20When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

21But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ 24But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

25And immediately the man stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26Everyone was taken with amazement and glorified God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Jesus Calls Levi
(Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17)

27After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, 28and Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him.

29Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them. 30But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Questions about Fasting
(Matthew 9:14–15; Mark 2:18–20)

33Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking.”

34Jesus replied, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? 35But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”

The Patches and the Wineskins
(Matthew 9:16–17; Mark 2:21–22)

36He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will tear the new garment as well, and the patch from the new will not match the old.

37And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins. 39And no one after drinking old wine wants new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”

Footnotes:

1 a That is, the Sea of Galilee

12 b Leprosy was a term used for various skin diseases. See Leviticus 13.

14 c See Leviticus 14:1–32.

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◀   ◀   Luke 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Lord of the Sabbath
(1 Samuel 21:1–7; Matthew 12:1–8; Mark 2:23–28)

1One Sabbatha Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them. 2But some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

3Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God, took the consecrated breadb and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”

5Then Jesus declared, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
(Matthew 12:9–14; Mark 3:1–6)

6On another Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.

8But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and stand among us.” So he got up and stood there.

9Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
10And after looking around at all of them, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and it was restored.

11But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

The Twelve Apostles
(Matthew 10:1–4; Mark 3:13–19)

12In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God. 13When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles: 14Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot; 16Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Jesus Heals the Multitudes
(Matthew 4:23–25; Mark 3:7–12)

17Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18They had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, and those troubled by unclean spirits were healed. 19The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.

The Beatitudes
(Psalm 1:1–6; Matthew 5:3–12)

20Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.

21Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be filled.

Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.

22Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man. 23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in the same way.

Woes to the Satisfied
(Amos 6:1–7)

24But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.

25Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will hunger.

Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.

26Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way.

Love Your Enemies
(Matthew 5:38–48)

27But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others
(Matthew 7:1–6; Romans 14:1–12)

37Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

39Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

41Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? 42How can you say, ‘Brother,c let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit
(Matthew 7:15–23; Matthew 12:33–37)

43No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles. 45The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

The House on the Rock
(Matthew 7:24–27)

46Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them: 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.d

49But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell—and great was its destruction!”

Footnotes:

1 a BYZ and TR On the second Sabbath after the first

4 b Or the Bread of the Presence

42 c Literally How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother

48 d BYZ and TR because its foundation was on the rock; see Matthew 7:25.

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◀   ◀   Luke 7   ▶   ▶

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The Faith of the Centurion
(Matthew 8:5–13; John 4:43–54)

1When Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. 2There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die. 3When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant. 4They came to Jesus and pleaded with Him earnestly, “This man is worthy to have You grant this, 5for he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”

6So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. 7That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”

9When Jesus heard this, He marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”
10And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son

11Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples went with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. 12As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.

13When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”
14Then He went up and touched the coffin,a and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!”
15And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!” 17And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding region.

John’s Inquiry
(Matthew 11:1–6)

18Then John’s disciples informed him about all these things. 19So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”

20When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?’ ”

21At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepersb are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.c”

Jesus Testifies about John
(Malachi 3:1–5; Matthew 11:7–19)

24After John’s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found in palaces.

26What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27This is the one about whom it is written:

‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,
who will prepare Your way before You.’d

28I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John. 30But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.

31“To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another:

‘We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not weep.’

33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus
(Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; John 12:1–8)

36Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. 38As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.

39When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”

40But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, Teacher,” he said.

41“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,e and the other fifty. 42When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”

43“I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied.

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived. 46You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. 47Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Footnotes:

14 a Literally bier, probably a wooden plank or open coffin

22 b A leper was one afflicted with a skin disease. See Leviticus 13.

23 c Or who is not offended by Me

27 d Malachi 3:1

41 e A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

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◀   ◀   Luke 8   ▶   ▶

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Women Minister to Jesus

1Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, 2as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to thema out of their own means.

The Parable of the Sower
(Matthew 13:1–23; Mark 4:1–20)

4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told them this parable: 5“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it.

6Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the seedlings withered because they had no moisture.

7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings.

8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprang up and produced a crop—a hundredfold.”

As Jesus said this, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

9Then His disciples asked Him what this parable meant.

10He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

‘though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.’b

11Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12The seedsc along the path are those who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

13The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away.

14The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.

15But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.

The Lesson of the Lamp
(Mark 4:21–25)

16No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light. 17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.

18Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
(Matthew 12:46–50; Mark 3:31–35)

19Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were unable to reach Him because of the crowd. 20He was told, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.”

21But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.”

Jesus Calms the Storm
(Psalm 107:1–43; Matthew 8:23–27; Mark 4:35–41)

22One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So He got into a boat with them and set out.

23As they sailed, He fell asleep, and a windstorm came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. 25“Where is your faith?” He asked.

Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

The Demons and the Pigs
(Matthew 8:28–34; Mark 5:1–20)

26Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,d across the lake from Galilee. 27When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothing or lived in a house, but he stayed in the tombs.

28When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!” 29For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.

30“What is your name?” Jesus asked.

“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.

32There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.

33Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside. 35So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36Meanwhile, those who had seen it reported how the demon-possessed man had been healed.

37Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat and started back.

38The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying, 39“Return home and describe how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.

The Healing Touch of Jesus
(Matthew 9:18–26; Mark 5:21–43)

40When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him. 41Just then a synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Him to come to his house, 42because his only daughter, who was about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus went with him, the crowds pressed around Him, 43including a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on physicians,e but no one was able to heal her. 44She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

45“Who touched Me?” Jesus asked.

But they all denied it. “Master,” said Peter,f “the people are crowding and pressing against You.”

46But Jesus declared, “Someone touched Me, for I know that power has gone out from Me.”

47Then the woman, seeing that she could not escape notice, came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched Him and how she had immediately been healed.

48“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

49While He was still speaking, someone arrived from the house of the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he told Jairus. “Do not bother the Teacher anymore.”

50But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

51When He entered the house, He did not allow anyone to go in with Him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother. 52Meanwhile, everyone was weeping and mourning for her. But Jesus said, “Stop weeping; she is not dead but asleep.”
53And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead.

54But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!”
55Her spirit returned, and at once she got up. And He directed that she be given something to eat. 56Her parents were astounded, but Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Footnotes:

3 a TR to Him

10 b Isaiah 6:9 (See also LXX)

12 c Literally the ones; also in verses 13, 14, and 15

26 d BYZ and TR Gadarenes; Tischendorf Gergesenes; also in verse 37

43 e NE and WH do not include She had spent all her money on physicians.

45 f BYZ and TR include and those who were with him.

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◀   ◀   Luke 9   ▶   ▶

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The Ministry of the Twelve
(Matthew 10:5–15; Mark 6:7–13)

1Then Jesus called the Twelvea together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases. 2And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3“Take nothing for the journey,” He told them, “no staff, no bag, no bread, no money,b no second tunic. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that area. 5If anyone does not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that town, as a testimony against them.”

6So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

Herod Tries to See Jesus
(Matthew 14:1–12; Mark 6:14–29)

7When Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead, 8others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen.

9“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this man I hear such things about?” And he kept trying to see Jesus.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand
(Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; John 6:1–15)

10Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida. 11But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing.

12As the day neared its end, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and provisions. For we are in a desolate place here.”

13But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.”

“We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14(There were about five thousand men.)

He told His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
15They did so, and everyone was seated.

16Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people.

17They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Peter’s Confession of Christ
(Matthew 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30; John 6:67–71)

18One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: “Who do the crowds say I am?”

19They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that a prophet of old has arisen.”

20“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Christ’s Passion Foretold
(Matthew 16:21–23; Mark 8:31–33)

21Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22“The Son of Man must suffer many things,” He said. “He must be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Take Up Your Cross
(Matthew 16:24–28; Mark 8:34–38)

23Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

25What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27But I tell you truthfully, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

The Transfiguration
(Matthew 17:1–13; Mark 9:1–13; 2 Peter 1:16–21)

28About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. 29And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white. 30Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus. 31They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32Meanwhile Peter and his companions were overcome by sleep, but when they awoke, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with Him. 33As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three sheltersc—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

34While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen.d Listen to Him!”

36After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was present with them. The disciples kept this to themselves, and in those days they did not tell anyone what they had seen.

The Boy with an Evil Spirit
(Matthew 17:14–18; Mark 9:14–29)

37The next day, when they came down from the mountain, Jesus was met by a large crowd. 38Suddenly a man in the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39A spirit keeps seizing him, and he screams abruptly. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It keeps mauling him and rarely departs from him. 40I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.”

41“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

42Even while the boy was approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

The Second Prediction of the Passion
(Matthew 17:22–23; Mark 9:30–32)

43And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.

While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples, 44“Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”
45But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

The Greatest in the Kingdom
(Matthew 18:1–5; Mark 9:33–41)

46Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him. 48And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.”

49“Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”

50“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

The Samaritans Reject Jesus

51As the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52He sent messengers on ahead, who went into a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. 53But the people there refused to welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem.

54When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heavene to consume them?”

55But Jesus turned and rebuked them.f
56And He and His disciples went on to another village.

The Cost of Discipleship
(Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 14:25–33; John 6:59–66)

57As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.”

58Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

59Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.”

The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

60But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

61Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.”

62Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Footnotes:

1 a TR the twelve disciples

3 b Or silver coins

33 c Or three tabernacles

35 d BYZ and TR This is My beloved Son; see Matthew 17:5.

54 e BYZ and TR from heaven, just as Elijah did; see 2 Kings 1:10–12.

55 f BYZ and TR include and He said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of. 56For the Son of Man did not come to destroy the lives of men, but to save them.”

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◀   ◀   Luke 10   ▶   ▶

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Jesus Sends the Seventy-Two
(Matthew 9:35–38)

1After this, the Lord appointed seventy-twoa others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit. 2And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.

3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road.

5Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages.b Do not move around from house to house.

8If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’

10But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare, 11‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ 12I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Woe to the Unrepentant
(Matthew 11:20–24)

13Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

15And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!

16Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

The Joyful Return

17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”

18So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving
(Matthew 11:25–30)

21At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

22All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”

23Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”

27He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’c and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’d”

28“You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.”

29But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

31Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side.

33But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35The next day he took out two denariie and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’

36Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37“The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law.

Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Martha and Mary

38As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!”

41“Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things. 42But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Footnotes:

1 a NE, BYZ, and TR seventy; also in verse 17

7 b See Leviticus 19:13 and Deuteronomy 24:14–15; cited in 1 Timothy 5:18.

27 c Deuteronomy 6:5

27 d Leviticus 19:18

35 e A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

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◀   ◀   Luke 11   ▶   ▶

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The Lord’s Prayer
(Matthew 6:5–15)

1One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2So Jesus told them, “When you pray, say:

‘Father,a hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.b

3Give us each day our daily bread.

4And forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.c’ ”

Ask, Seek, Knock
(Matthew 7:7–12)

5Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’

7And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’

8I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

9So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

11What father among you, if his son asks for a fish,d will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

A House Divided
(Matthew 12:22–30; Mark 3:20–27)

14One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed, 15but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul,e the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.” 16And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.

17Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall. 18If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure. 22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder.

23He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

An Unclean Spirit Returns
(Matthew 12:43–45)

24When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”

True Blessedness

27As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!”

28But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

The Sign of Jonah
(Jonah 3:1–10; Matthew 12:38–42)

29As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.

31The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here. 32The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body
(Matthew 6:22–24)

33No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good,f your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad,g your body is full of darkness. 35Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.”

Woes to Pharisees and Experts in the Law
(Matthew 23:1–36)

37As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table. 38But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

39“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? 41But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you.

42Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

43Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces. 44Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”

45One of the experts in the law told Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us as well.”

46“Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “You weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load.

47Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them. 48So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’

50As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, 51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary.h Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.

52Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

53As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things, 54waiting to catch Him in something He might say.

Footnotes:

2 a BYZ and TR Our Father in heaven; see Matthew 6:9.

2 b BYZ and TR include Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven; see Matthew 6:10.

4 c BYZ and TR include but deliver us from the evil one; see Matthew 6:13.

11 d BYZ and TR if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone, or for a fish; see Matthew 7:9–10.

15 e WH Beezeboul; Vulgate Beelzebub; also in verses 18 and 19

34 f Literally when your eye is sound; see Proverbs 22:9.

34 g Literally when it is evil; see Proverbs 23:6 and Proverbs 28:22.

51 h Literally the house

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◀   ◀   Luke 12   ▶   ▶

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The Leaven of the Pharisees
(Matthew 16:5–12; Mark 8:14–21)

1In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. 3What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

Fear God Alone
(Matthew 10:26–31)

4I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell.a Yes, I tell you, fear Him!

6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?b Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ
(Matthew 10:32–33)

8I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God. 9But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say. 12For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”
15And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

16Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. 17So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. 19Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’

20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

21This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Do Not Worry
(Matthew 6:25–34)

22Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!

25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?c
26So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin.d Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!

29And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it. 30For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek Hise kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.

Treasures in Heaven
(Matthew 6:19–21)

32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Readiness at Any Hour
(Matthew 24:36–51; Mark 13:32–37)

35Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. 36Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them. 38Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the nightf and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.

39But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming,g he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

41“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

42And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time? 43Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 44Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

45But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

Not Peace but Division
(Micah 7:1–6; Matthew 10:34–39)

49I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

51Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.h”

Interpreting the Present Time
(Matthew 16:1–4; Mark 8:11–13)

54Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens. 55And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time?

Reconciling with an Adversary
(Matthew 5:21–26)

57And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.i”

Footnotes:

5 a Greek Gehenna

6 b Greek two assaria; an assarion was a Roman copper coin worth about 1-16 of a denarius.

25 c Or a single cubit to his height; a cubit was approximately 18 inches or 45 centimeters.

27 d NE and Tischendorf Consider the lilies: they do not spin or weave.

31 e BYZ and TR God’s; see Matthew 6:33.

38 f That is, between nine at night and three in the morning

39 g BYZ and TR include he would have stayed awake, and

53 h See Micah 7:6.

59 i Greek lepton; that is, a Jewish coin of bronze or copper worth about 1-128 of a denarius

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◀   ◀   Luke 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Call to Repentance
(Joel 1:13–20; Amos 5:4–15; Zephaniah 2:1–3)

1At that time some of those present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2To this He replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this fate? 3No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapsed on them: Do you think that they were more sinful than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
(Isaiah 5:1–7)

6Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down!a Why should it use up the soil?’

8‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine. But if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

Jesus Heals a Disabled Woman

10One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11and a woman there had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not stand up straight. 12When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your disability.”
13Then He placed His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God.

14But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.”

15“You hypocrites!” the Lord replied. “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water? 16Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?”

17When Jesus said this, all His adversaries were humiliated. And the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things He was doing.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed
(Matthew 13:31–32; Mark 4:30–34)

18Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? 19It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

The Parable of the Leaven
(Matthew 13:33)

20Again He asked, “To what can I compare the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”

The Narrow Door
(Matthew 7:13–14)

22Then Jesus traveled throughout the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way toward Jerusalem. 23“Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?”

Jesus answered, 24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’

But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’

26Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

27And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’

28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out. 29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

Lament over Jerusalem
(Matthew 23:37–39)

31At that very hour, some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him, “Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You.”

32But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’ 33Nevertheless, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is not admissible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.

34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! 35Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’b”

Footnotes:

7 a SBL, NE, WH Cut it down!

35 b Psalm 118:26

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◀   ◀   Luke 14   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jesus Heals a Man with Dropsy

1One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely. 2Right there before Him was a man with dropsy. 3So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”

4But they remained silent.

Then Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him on his way. 5And He asked them, “Which of you whose sona or ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?”

6And they were unable to answer these questions.

The Parable of the Guests

7When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable: 8“When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited. 9Then the host who invited both of you will come and tell you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ And in humiliation, you will have to take the last place.

10But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’b Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

12Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid. 13But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

The Parable of the Banquet
(Matthew 22:1–14)

15When one of those reclining with Him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feastc in the kingdom of God.”

16But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. 17When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

18But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’

19Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, so I cannot come.’

21The servant returned and reported all this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

22‘Sir,’ the servant replied, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’

23So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.’ ”

The Cost of Discipleship
(Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; John 6:59–66)

25Large crowds were now traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them, 26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. 27And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.

28Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? 29Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’

31Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

33In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.

Good Salt
(Matthew 5:13–16; Mark 9:49–50)

34Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be seasoned? 35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, and it is thrown out.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Footnotes:

5 a TR donkey

10 b See Proverbs 25:7.

15 c Literally who will eat bread

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◀   ◀   Luke 15   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
(Matthew 18:10–14)

1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus. 2So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, 6comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’ 7In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8Or what woman who has ten silver coinsa and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’ 10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son
(Deuteronomy 21:18–21)

11Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.

14After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.

17Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death! 18I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

20So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

21The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.b’

22But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

25Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.

27‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’

28The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.

29But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours. 32But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Footnotes:

8 a Greek ten drachmas, each worth about a day’s wages

21 b WH includes Make me like one of your hired servants; see verse 19.

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◀   ◀   Luke 16   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

1Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’

3The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg. 4I know what I will do, so that after my removal from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’

5And he called in each one of his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master?’ he asked the first.

6‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’a he answered.

‘Take your bill,’ said the manager. ‘Sit down quickly, and write fifty.’

7Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’

‘A hundred measures of wheat,’b he replied.

‘Take your bill and write eighty,’ he told him.

8The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light. 9I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.

10Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been faithful with the belongings of another, who will give you belongings of your own?

13No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

The Law and the Prophets

14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus. 15So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

16The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.c
17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.

18Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

The Rich Man and Lazarus
(John 5:39–47)

19Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. 20And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores 21and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.d And the rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.

24So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’

25But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’

27‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also end up in this place of torment.’

29But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’

30‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’

31Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

Footnotes:

6 a Greek ‘A hundred baths of oil’; that is, approximately 870 gallons or 3,300 liters

7 b Greek ‘A hundred cors of wheat’; that is, approximately 1,000 bushels or 35,000 liters (probably about 30 tons or 27 metric tons of wheat)

16 c Or everyone is urged to enter into it

22 d Greek into Abraham’s bosom; similarly in verse 23

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◀   ◀   Luke 17   ▶   ▶

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Temptations and Trespasses
(Matthew 18:6–9; Mark 9:42–48)

1Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.

3Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

The Power of Faith
(Matthew 17:19–20)

5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

6And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

7Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8Instead, won’t he tell him, ‘Prepare my meal and dress yourself to serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? 9Does he thank the servant because he did what he was told? 10So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”

The Ten Lepers
(2 Kings 5:1–14)

11While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers.a They stood at a distance 13and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”b And as they were on their way, they were cleansed.

15When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.

17“Were not all ten cleansed?” Jesus asked. “Where then are the other nine? 18Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?”

19Then Jesus said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well!c”

The Coming of the Kingdom
(Genesis 19:24–29)

20When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. 21Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.d”

22Then He said to the disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23People will tell you, ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ Do not go out or chase after them. 24For just as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will be the Son of Man in His day. 25But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

26Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: 27People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

28It was the same in the days of Lot: People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

30It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind. 32Remember Lot’s wife! 33Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed: one will be taken and the other left. 35Two women will be grinding grain together: one will be taken and the other left.”e

37“Where, Lord?” they asked.

Jesus answered, “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.”

Footnotes:

12 a A leper was one afflicted with a skin disease. See Leviticus 13.

14 b See Leviticus 14:1–32.

19 c Or has saved you

21 d Or within you or within your grasp

35 e TR includes 36Two men will be in the field. One will be taken and the other left; see Matthew 24:40.

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◀   ◀   Luke 18   ▶   ▶

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The Parable of the Persistent Widow

1Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: 2“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men, 5yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.’ ”

6And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge. 7Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help? 8I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed,a ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’

13But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus Blesses the Children
(Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16)

15Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them.

16But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

The Rich Young Ruler
(Matthew 19:16–30; Mark 10:17–31)

18Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. 20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’b”

21“All these I have kept from my youth,” he said.

22On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

23But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.

24Seeing the man’s sadness,c Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

27But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

28“Look,” said Peter, “we have left all we hadd to follow You.”

29“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

The Third Prediction of the Passion
(Matthew 20:17–19; Mark 10:32–34)

31Then Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.”

34But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar
(Matthew 20:29–34; Mark 10:46–52)

35As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging. 36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

37“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

38So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40Jesus stopped and directed that the man be brought to Him. When he had been brought near, Jesus asked him, 41“What do you want Me to do for you?”

“Lord,” he said, “let me see again.”

42“Receive your sight!” Jesus replied. “Your faith has healed you.”
43Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people who saw this gave praise to God.

Footnotes:

11 a Or stood and prayed to himself

20 b Exodus 20:12–16; Deuteronomy 5:16–20

24 c Literally Seeing that he had become sorrowful; SBL, NE, and WH Seeing him

28 d Literally left our own; BYZ and TR left all

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◀   ◀   Luke 19   ▶   ▶

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Jesus and Zacchaeus
(Numbers 5:5–10)

1Then Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy. 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature. 4So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, since Jesus was about to pass that way.

5When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.”

6So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully. 7And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”

8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

9Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The Parable of the Ten Minas
(Matthew 25:14–30)

11While the people were listening to this, Jesus proceeded to tell them a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought the kingdom of God would appear imminently. 12So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return. 13Beforehand, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.a ‘Conduct business with this until I return,’ he said.

14But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’

15When he returned from procuring his kingship, he summoned the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what each one had earned.

16The first servant came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has produced ten more minas.’

17His master replied, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities.’

18The second servant came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’

19And to this one he said, ‘You shall have authority over five cities.’

20Then another servant came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have laid away in a piece of cloth.b
21For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’

22His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then did you not deposit my money in the bank, and upon my return I could have collected it with interest?’

24Then he told those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

25‘Master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

26He replied, ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’ ”

The Triumphal Entry
(Zechariah 9:9–13; Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; John 12:12–19)

28After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples, 30saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”

32So those who were sent went out and found it just as Jesus had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked, “Why are you untying the colt?”

34“The Lord needs it,” they answered. 35Then they led the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it.

36As He rode along, the people spread their cloaks on the road. 37And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:

38“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”c

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”d

39But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!”

40“I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
(Isaiah 29:1–16)

41As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it 42and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. 43For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. 44They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.e”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple
(Matthew 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19; John 2:12–25)

45Then Jesus entered the temple courtsf and began to drive out those who were selling there. 46He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be a house of prayer.’g But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’h”

47Jesus was teaching at the temple every day, but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people were intent on killing Him. 48Yet they could not find a way to do so, because all the people hung on His words.

Footnotes:

13 a That is, he gave each servant one mina. A mina was most likely a silver coin worth a hundred drachmas, that is, about a hundred days’ wages.

20 b Greek soudariō

38 c Psalm 118:26

38 d See Psalm 148:1.

44 e Literally your visitation

45 f Literally the temple

46 g Isaiah 56:7

46 h Jeremiah 7:11

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◀   ◀   Luke 20   ▶   ▶

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Jesus’ Authority Challenged
(Matthew 21:23–27; Mark 11:27–33)

1One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courtsa and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him. 2“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”

3“I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me: 4John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?”

5They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

7So they answered that they did not know where it was from.

8And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
(Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12)

9Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time. 10At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.

11So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed.

12Then he sent a third, but they wounded him and threw him out.

13‘What shall I do?’ asked the owner of the vineyard. ‘I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.’

14But when the tenants saw the son, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and kill those tenants, and will give the vineyard to others.”

And when the people heard this, they said, “May such a thing never happen!”

17But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’b?

18Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

Paying Taxes to Caesar
(Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17)

19When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.

20So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor. 21“Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24“Show Me a denarius.c Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they answered.

25So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

26And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people; and amazed at His answer, they fell silent.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection
(Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27)

27Then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to question Him. 28“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.d
29Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife, but died childless. 30Then the seconde
31and the third married the widow, and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. 32And last of all, the woman died. 33So then, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”

34Jesus answered, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35But those who are considered worthy to share in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. 36In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.

37Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush. For he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’f
38He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.”

39Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, You have spoken well!” 40And they did not dare to question Him any further.

Whose Son Is the Christ?
(Matthew 22:41–46; Mark 12:35–37)

41Then Jesus declared, “How can it be said that the Christ is the Son of David? 42For David himself says in the book of Psalms:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand

43until I make Your enemies
a footstool for Your feet.” ’g

44Thus David calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?”

Beware of the Scribes
(Mark 12:38–40)

45In the hearing of all the people, Jesus said to His disciples, 46“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. 47They defraud widows of their houses,h and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

Footnotes:

1 a Literally the temple

17 b Psalm 118:22

24 c A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

28 d Deuteronomy 25:5

30 e BYZ and TR include married the widow, and he also died,

37 f Exodus 3:6

43 g Psalm 110:1

47 h Literally They devour widows’ houses

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◀   ◀   Luke 21   ▶   ▶

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The Poor Widow’s Offering
(Mark 12:41–44)

1Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.a

3“Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Temple Destruction and Other Signs
(Matthew 24:1–8; Mark 13:1–8)

5As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said, 6“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

7“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

8Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.”

Witnessing to All Nations
(Matthew 24:9–14; Mark 13:9–13)

10Then He told them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

12But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors. 13This will be your opportunity to serve as witnesses. 14So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves. 15For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. 17And you will be hated by everyone because of My name. 18Yet not even a hair of your head will perish. 19By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.

The Destruction of Jerusalem
(Matthew 24:15–25; Mark 13:14–23)

20But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. 22For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

23How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Return of the Son of Man
(Matthew 24:26–31; Mark 13:24–27)

25There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. 26Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.b
28When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree
(Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31)

29Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

Be Watchful for the Day

34But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. 35For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. 38And early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple.

Footnotes:

2 a Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish coin of bronze or copper worth about 1-128 of a denarius.

27 b See Daniel 7:13–14.

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◀   ◀   Luke 22   ▶   ▶

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The Plot to Kill Jesus
(Matthew 26:1–5; Mark 14:1–2; John 11:45–57)

1Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread,a called the Passover, was approaching, 2and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people.

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
(Matthew 26:14–16; Mark 14:10–11)

3Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. 4And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them. 5They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.

Preparing the Passover
(Matthew 26:17–19; Mark 14:12–16)

7Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover.”

9“Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked.

10He answered, “When you enter the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters, 11and say to the owner of that house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ 12And he will show you a large upper room, already furnished. Make preparations there.”

13So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them. And they prepared the Passover.

The Last Supper
(Matthew 26:20–30; Mark 14:17–26; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)

14When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles. 15And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering. 16For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

17After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. 18For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”

19And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

20In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.b

21Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table. 22Indeed, the Son of Man will go as it has been determined, but woe to that man who betrays Him.”

23Then they began to question among themselves which of them was going to do this.

Who Is the Greatest?

24A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest. 25So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors. 26But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.

28You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials. 29And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me, 30so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Matthew 26:31–35; Mark 14:27–31; John 13:36–38)

31Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33“Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.”

34But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

35Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

36“Now, however,” He told them, “the one with a purse should take it, and likewise a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. 37For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’c For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That is enough,” He answered.

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
(Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42)

39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. 40When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”

41And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

43Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.d

45When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46“Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.”

The Betrayal of Jesus
(Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; John 18:1–14)

47While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw? 53Every day I was with you in the temple courts,e and you did not lay a hand on Me. But this hour belongs to you and to the power of darkness.”

Peter Denies Jesus
(Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; John 18:15–18)

54Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance.

55When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said.

57But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said.

58A short time later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”

59About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with Him, for he too is a Galilean.”

60“Man, I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter replied.

While he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.

Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”
62And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus
(Isaiah 50:4–11; Matthew 27:27–31; Mark 15:16–20; John 19:1–15)

63The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him. 64They blindfolded Himf and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?” 65And they said many other blasphemous things against Him.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin
(Matthew 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65; John 18:19–24)

66At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their Sanhedring and said, 67“If You are the Christ, tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe. 68And if I ask you a question, you will not answer. 69But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”h

70So they all asked, “Are You then the Son of God?”

He replied, “You say that I am.”

71“Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips.”

Footnotes:

1 a Literally the feast of the Unleavened; see Exodus 12:14–20.

20 b Some manuscripts end verse 19 after This is My body and do not include verse 20.

37 c Isaiah 53:12

44 d Some manuscripts do not include verses 43 and 44.

53 e Literally the temple

64 f BYZ and TR include and were striking Him on the face.

66 g Or their Council

69 h See Psalm 110:1.

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◀   ◀   Luke 23   ▶   ▶

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Jesus before Pilate
(Matthew 27:11–14; John 18:28–40)

1Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”

3So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

5But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

Jesus before Herod

6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7And learning that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was in Jerusalem at that time.

8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle. 9Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer.

10Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him. 11And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

12That day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this time they had been enemies.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
(Matthew 27:15–23; Mark 15:6–11)

13Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death. 16Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”a

18But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19(Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, 21but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

22A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.”

23But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamorb prevailed. 24So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met. 25As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and handed Jesus over to their will.

The Crucifixion
(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:32–44; Mark 15:21–32; John 19:16–27)

26As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.

27A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him. 28But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ 30At that time

‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”

and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’c

31For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.

33When they came to the place called The Skull,d they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.

34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”e And they divided up His garments by casting lots.f

35The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him,g saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

36The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine.h
37“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!”

38Above Him was posted an inscription:i

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”

40But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? 41We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember mej when You come into Your kingdom!”

43And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The Death of Jesus
(Psalm 31:1–24; Matthew 27:45–56; Mark 15:33–41; John 19:28–30)

44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.k
45The sun was darkened,l and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

46Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.”m And when He had said this, He breathed His last.

47When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.n” 48And when all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts. 49But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus
(Isaiah 53:9–12; Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; John 19:38–42)

50Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man, 51who had not consented to their decision or action. He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning.o

55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was placed. 56Then they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.

Footnotes:

16 a BYZ and TR include 17Now Pilate was obligated to release to the people one prisoner at the feast; see Matthew 27:15 and Mark 15:6.

23 b BYZ and TR include and that of the chief priests.

30 c Hosea 10:8

33 d Greek Kranion; Vulgate Calvariae, rendered in some translations as Calvary

34 e Some manuscripts do not include Then Jesus said, “Father... what they are doing.”

34 f See Psalm 22:18.

35 g See Psalm 22:7.

36 h Or to offer Him wine vinegar

38 i BYZ and TR include written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew; see John 19:20.

42 j BYZ and TR said to Jesus, “Remember me, Lord,

44 k That is, from noon until three in the afternoon

45 l Or failed or was obscured; BYZ and TR became dark

46 m Psalm 31:5

47 n Or an innocent man

54 o Or was about to begin

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◀   ◀   Luke 24   ▶   ▶

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The Resurrection
(Matthew 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–8; John 20:1–9)

1On the first day of the week,a very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them.

5As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee: 7‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’”

8Then they remembered His words. 9And when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. And after bending down and seeing only the linen cloths, he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

The Road to Emmaus
(Mark 16:12–13)

13That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven milesb from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them. 16But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.

17He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They stood still, with sadness on their faces. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in recent days?”

19“What things?” He asked.

“The events involving Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action before God and all the people. 20Our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to the sentence of death, and they crucified Him. 21But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is the third day since these things took place.

22Furthermore, some of our women astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23but they did not find His body. They came and told us they had seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had described. But Him they did not see.”

25Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”
27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

28As they approached the village where they were headed, He seemed to be going farther. 29But they pleaded with Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.”

So He went in to stay with them. 30While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight.

32They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem.

There they found the Eleven and those with them, gathered together 34and saying, “The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!”

35Then the two told what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples
(John 20:19–23; 1 John 1:1–4)

36While they were describing these events, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
37But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.

38“Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked, “and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet.

41While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
42So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish,c
43and He took it and ate it in front of them.

44Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”
45Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

46And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things.

49And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension
(Mark 16:19–20; Acts 1:6–11)

50When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51While He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53praising God continually in the temple.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally But on the first of the Sabbaths,

13 b Greek being sixty stadia in distance; that is, approximately 6.9 miles or 11.1 kilometers

42 c BYZ and TR include and some honeycomb.

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◀   ◀   John 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21)

The Beginning
(Genesis 1:1–2; Hebrews 11:1–3)

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcomea it.

The Witness of John

6There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

9The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

The Word Became Flesh
(Psalm 84:1–12)

14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.b We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Sonc from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ ”

16From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God andd is at the Father’s side,e has made Him known.

The Mission of John the Baptist
(Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20)

19And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” 20He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”

21“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”f

24Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26“I baptize withg water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know. 27He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Jesus the Lamb of God
(Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22)

29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ 31I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”

32Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him. 33I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.h”

The First Disciples
(Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11)

35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

38Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked.

They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”

39“Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.i

40Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus. 41He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ).

42Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”
44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter.

45Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”

48“How do You know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”

49“Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

50Jesus said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”
51Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”j

Footnotes:

5 a Or comprehended

14 b Or and tabernacled among us

14 c Or the Only Begotten or the Unique One

18 d Or but the only begotten God, who; BYZ and TR but the only begotten Son, who

18 e Greek in the Father’s bosom

23 f Isaiah 40:3 (see also LXX)

26 g Or in; also in verse 31 and twice in 33

34 h SBL the Chosen One of God

39 i That is, about four in the afternoon

51 j See Genesis 28:12.

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◀   ◀   John 2   ▶   ▶

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The Wedding at Cana

1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”

4“Woman, why does this concern us?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

6Now six stone water jars had been set there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons.a
7Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.”

So they filled them to the brim.

8“Now draw some out,” He said, “and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not know where it was from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, “Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheap wine after the guests are drunk. But you have saved the fine wine until now!”

11Jesus performed this, the first of His signs, at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple
(Matthew 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19; Luke 19:45–48)

12After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.

13When the Jewish Passover was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple courtsb He found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and money changers seated at their tables. 15So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16To those selling doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!”

17His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.”c

18On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?”

19Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.”

20“This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?”

21But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body. 22After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. Then they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

23While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the signs He was doing and believed in His name. 24But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all. 25He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.

Footnotes:

6 a Greek two or three metretae; that is, approximately 20.8 to 31.2 gallons (78.8 to 118.1 liters)

14 b Literally the temple; also in verse 15

17 c Psalm 69:9

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◀   ◀   John 3   ▶   ▶

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Jesus and Nicodemus
(Genesis 22:1–10; Romans 5:6–11)

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”

3Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.a”

4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”

5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. 7Do not be amazed that I said, ‘Youb must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things? 11Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony.

12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.c
14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.d

16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and onlye Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”f

John’s Testimony about Jesus

22After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.

23Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized. 24(For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)

25Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jewg over the issue of ceremonial washing. 26So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”

27John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’ 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30He must increase; I must decrease.

31The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.h
32He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. 33Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful. 34For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

35The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”i

Footnotes:

3 a Or born from above; also in verse 7.

7 b The Greek word for you is plural; also in verse 12.

13 c BYZ and TR include who is in heaven.

15 d Or everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.

16 e Or only begotten or unique; also in verse 18

21 f Some translators close this quotation after verse 15.

25 g TR and the Jews

31 h Tischendorf The One comes from heaven.

36 i Some translators close this quotation after verse 30.

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◀   ◀   John 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

1When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware Hea was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples), 3He left Judea and returned to Galilee.

4Now He had to pass through Samaria. 5So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.b

7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”
8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9“You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)c

10Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

11“Sir,” the woman replied, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water? 12Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?”

13Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”

15The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

16Jesus told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

17“I have no husband,” the woman replied.

Jesus said to her, “You are correct to say that you have no husband. 18In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.”

19“Sir,” the woman said, “I see that You are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one must worship is in Jerusalem.”

21“Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. 24God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

25The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.”

26Jesus answered, “I who speak to you am He.”

The Disciples Return and Marvel

27Just then His disciples returned and were surprised that He was speaking with a woman. But no one asked Him, “What do You want from her?” or “Why are You talking with her?”

28Then the woman left her water jar, went back into the town, and said to the people, 29“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” 30So they left the town and made their way toward Jesus.

31Meanwhile the disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

32But He told them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

33So the disciples asked one another, “Could someone have brought Him food?”

34Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. 35Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are riped for harvest.

36Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together. 37For in this case the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the hard work, and now you have taken up their labor.”

Many Samaritans Believe

39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days.

41And many more believed because of His message. 42They said to the woman, “We now believe not only because of your words; we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world.”

Jesus Heals the Official’s Son
(Matthew 8:5–13; Luke 7:1–10)

43After two days, Jesus left for Galilee. 44Now He Himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown. 45Yet when He arrived, the Galileans welcomed Him. They had seen all the great things He had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they had gone there as well.

46So once again He came to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die.

48Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”

49“Sir,” the official said, “come down before my child dies.”

50“Go,” said Jesus. “Your son will live.”

The man took Jesus at His word and departed. 51And while he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive.

52So he inquired as to the hour when his son had recovered, and they told him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.e”

53Then the father realized that this was the very hour in which Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and all his household believed.

54This was now the second sign that Jesus performed after coming from Judea into Galilee.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally When therefore Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus; NE, WH, BYZ, and TR When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus

6 b That is, about noon

9 c Tischendorf does not include this sentence.

35 d Literally white

52 e That is, one in the afternoon

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◀   ◀   John 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Pool of Bethesda

1Some time later there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool with five covered colonnades, which in Hebrewa is called Bethesda.b
3On these walkwaysc lay a great number of the sick, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed.d

5One man there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and realized that he had spent a long time in this condition, He asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

7“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am on my way, someone else goes in before me.”

8Then Jesus told him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.”

9Immediately the man was made well, and he picked up his mat and began to walk.

Now this happened on the Sabbath day, 10so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath! It is unlawful for you to carry your mat.”

11But he answered, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”

12“Who is this man who told you to pick it up and walk?” they asked.

13But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while the crowd was there.

14Afterward, Jesus found the man at the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.”

15And the man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

The Father and the Son

16Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews began to persecute Him. 17But Jesus answered them, “To this very day My Father is at His work, and I too am working.”

18Because of this, the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him. Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

19So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. And to your amazement, He will show Him even greater works than these. 21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.

22Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, 23so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

24Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.

25Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. 27And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.

28Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice 29and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.e

30I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

Testimonies about Jesus

31If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid. 32There is another who testifies about Me, and I know that His testimony about Me is valid.

33You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34Even though I do not accept human testimony, I say these things so that you may be saved.

35John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light. 36But I have testimony more substantial than that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works I am doing—testify about Me that the Father has sent Me. 37And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form, 38nor does His word abide in you, because you do not believe the One He sent.

The Witness of Scripture
(Luke 16:19–31)

39You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me, 40yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.

41I do not accept glory from men, 42but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you. 43I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

45Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, in whom you have put your hope. 46If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. 47But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

Footnotes:

2 a Or in Aramaic

2 b NA, NE, and WH Bethzatha

3 c Literally In these

3 d NE, BYZ, and TR include awaiting the moving of the waters. 4For from time to time an angel descended into the pool and stirred the water. As soon as it was stirred, the first to enter the pool would be healed of his disease.

29 e See Daniel 12:2.

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◀   ◀   John 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Feeding of the Five Thousand
(Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17)

1After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias). 2A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick. 3Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples.

4Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover was near. 5When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”
6But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do.

7Philip answered, “Two hundred denariia would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.”

8One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9“Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?”

10“Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them.

11Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.

12And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”

13So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed,b they began to say, “Truly this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

15Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.

Jesus Walks on Water
(Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–52)

16When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them. 18A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated.

19When they had rowed about three or four miles,c they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified. 20But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.”
21Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and at once the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Jesus the Bread of Life

22The next day, the crowd that had remained on the other side of the sea realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with His disciples, but they had gone away alone. 23However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Him. 25When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”

26Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”

28Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?”

29Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”

30So they asked Him, “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’d”

32Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34“Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.”

35Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst. 36But as I stated, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.

37Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.

39And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

41At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
42They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’”

43“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied. 44“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’e Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me— 46not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.

47Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

52At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

53So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink.

56Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

Many Disciples Turn Back
(Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; Luke 14:25–33)

59Jesus said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 60On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”

61Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you? 62Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?

63The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)

65Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”

66From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.

Peter’s Confession of Faith
(Matthew 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–20)

67So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?”

68Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.f”

70Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
71He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.

Footnotes:

7 a A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

14 b SBL, NA, NE, and WH He had performed

19 c Greek about twenty-five or thirty stadia; that is, approximately 2.87 to 3.45 miles (4.62 to 5.55 kilometers)

31 d Psalm 78:24; see also Exodus 16:4.

45 e Isaiah 54:13

69 f BYZ and TR You are the Christ, the Son of the living God

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◀   ◀   John 7   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jesus Teaches at the Feast

1After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him. 2However, the Jewish Feast of Tabernaclesa was near. 3So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing. 4For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.

6Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil. 8Go up to the feast on your own. I am notb going up to this feast, because My time has not yet come.”

9Having said this, Jesus remained in Galilee. 10But after His brothers had gone up to the feast, He also went—not publicly, but in secret.

11So the Jews were looking for Him at the feast and asking, “Where is He?”

12Many in the crowds were whispering about Him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

But others replied, “No, He deceives the people.”

13Yet no one would speak publicly about Him for fear of the Jews.

14About halfway through the feast, Jesus went up to the temple courtsc and began to teach. 15The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”

16“My teaching is not My own,” Jesus replied. “It comes from Him who sent Me. 17If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own. 18He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood. 19Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill Me?”

20“You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?”

21Jesus answered them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. 22But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.) 23If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath? 24Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”

Is Jesus the Christ?

25Then some of the people of Jerusalem began to say, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26Yet here He is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying anything to Him. Have the rulers truly recognized that this is the Christ? 27But we know where this man is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where He is from.”

28Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “You know Me, and you know where I am from. I have not come of My own accord, but He who sent Me is true. You do not know Him, 29but I know Him, because I am from Him and He sent Me.”

30So they tried to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31Many in the crowd, however, believed in Him and said, “When the Christ comes, will He perform more signs than this man?”

32When the Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus, they and the chief priests sent officers to arrest Him. 33So Jesus said, “I am with you only a little while longer, and then I am going to the One who sent Me. 34You will look for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.”

35At this, the Jews said to one another, “Where does He intend to go that we will not find Him? Will He go where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks,d and teach the Greeks? 36What does He mean by saying, ‘You will look for Me, but you will not find Me,’ and, ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

Living Water

37On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’ ”
39He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given,e because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Division over Jesus

40On hearing these words, some of the people said, “This is truly the Prophet.”

41Others declared, “This is the Christ.”

But still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? 42Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?f”

43So there was division in the crowd because of Jesus. 44Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him.

The Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

45Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring Him in?”

46“Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered.

47“Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees. 48“Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him? 49But this crowd that does not know the law, they are under a curse.”

50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who himself was one of them, asked, 51“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”

52“Aren’t you also from Galilee?” they replied. “Look into it, and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.”g

53Then each went to his own home.

Footnotes:

2 a That is, Sukkot, the autumn feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; also translated as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Shelters and originally called the Feast of Ingathering (see Exodus 23:16 and Exodus 34:22).

8 b NE, WH, BYZ, and TR I am not yet

14 c Literally the temple; also in verse 28

35 d Literally Will He go to the Diaspora among the Greeks; the Jewish people living outside the land of Israel since the Babylonian exile were referred to as the Diaspora.

39 e Literally the Spirit was not yet; BYZ and TR the Holy Spirit was not yet

42 f See Micah 5:2.

52 g Early manuscripts do not include John 7:53 through John 8:11.

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◀   ◀   John 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Woman Caught in Adultery

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts.a All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them. 3The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them 4and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?”

6They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.

7When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”
8And again He bent down and wrote on the ground.

9When they heard this,b they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there. 10Then Jesus straightened upc and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers?d Has no one condemned you?”

11“No one, Lord,” she answered.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”

Jesus the Light of the World
(1 John 1:5–10)

12Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not valid.”

14Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going. 15You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16But even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone; I am with the Father who sent Me.e
17Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.f
18I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me.”

19“Where is Your Father?” they asked Him.

“You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.”

20He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts, near the treasury. Yet no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.

21Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

22So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

23Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

25“Who are You?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26“I have much to say about you and much to judge. But the One who sent Me is truthful, and what I have heard from Him, I tell the world.”

27They did not understand that He was telling them about the Father. 28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me. 29He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”

The Truth Will Set You Free
(2 John 1:4–6)

30As Jesus spoke these things, many believed in Him. 31So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”

34Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

37I know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you. 38I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

39“Abraham is our father,” they replied.

“If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham. 40But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41You are doing the works of your father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. “Our only Father is God Himself.”

42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.

43Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!

46Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Before Abraham Was Born, I Am

48The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”

49“I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50I do not seek My own glory. There is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge. 51Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”

52“Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death. 53Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?”

54Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say ‘He is ourg God.’ 55You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.”

57Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?”

58“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!h”

59At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.i

Footnotes:

2 a Literally the temple; also in verse 20

9 b NE, BYZ, and TR include and were convicted by their conscience,

10 c NE, BYZ, and TR include and saw no one but the woman.

10 d WH and NA where are they

16 e Literally but (it is) I and the Father who sent Me; NE but (it is) I and the One who sent Me

17 f See Deuteronomy 19:15.

54 g WH and TR Your

58 h Literally before Abraham was, I am!

59 i BYZ and TR include going through the midst of them, and so He passed by.

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◀   ◀   John 9   ▶   ▶

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Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind

1Now as Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth, 2and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him. 4While it is daytime, we must doa the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes. 7Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.

8At this, his neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging began to ask, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”

9Some claimed that he was, but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”

But the man kept saying, “I am the one.”

10“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

11He answered, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and anointed my eyes, and He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed and received my sight.”

12“Where is He?” they asked.

“I do not know,” he answered.

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath. 15So the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight.

The man answered, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”

16Because of this, some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others said, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?”

And there was division among them. 17So once again they asked the man who had been blind, “What do you say about Him, since it was your eyes He opened?”

“He is a prophet,” the man replied.

18The Jews still did not believe that the man had been blind and had received his sight until they summoned his parents 19and asked, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? So how is it that he can now see?”

20His parents answered, “We know he is our son, and we know he was born blind. 21But how he can now see or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.”

22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23That was why his parents said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”

24So a second time they called for the man who had been blind and said, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.”

25He answered, “Whether He is a sinner I do not know. There is one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!”

26“What did He do to you?” they asked. “How did He open your eyes?”

27He replied, “I already told you, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

28Then they heaped insults on him and said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses. 29We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man is from.”

30“That is remarkable indeed!” the man said. “You do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will. 32Never before has anyone heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33If this man were not from God, He could do no such thing.”

34They replied, “You were born in utter sin, and you are instructing us?” And they threw him out.

Spiritual Blindness

35When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He found the man and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Manb?”

36“Who is He, Sir?” he replied. “Tell me so that I may believe in Him.”

37“You have already seen Him,” Jesus answered. “He is the One speaking with you.”

38“Lord, I believe,” he said. And he worshiped Jesus.

39Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”c

40Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?”

41“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

Footnotes:

4 a BYZ and TR I must do

35 b BYZ and TR the Son of God

39 c Literally so that those not seeing may see and those seeing may become blind. Some manuscripts do not include 38“Lord, I believe.”... 39Then Jesus declared.

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◀   ◀   John 10   ▶   ▶

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Jesus the Good Shepherd
(Psalm 23:1–6; Ezekiel 34:11–24)

1“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.”

6Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them. 7So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before Mea were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.

11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. 13The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.

14I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, 15just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

17The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. 18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”

19Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message. 20Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”

21But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Jesus at the Feast of Dedication

22At that time the Feast of Dedicationb took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple courtsc in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

25“I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf. 26But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe. 27My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. 29My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”

31At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him. 32But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”

33“We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.”

34Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’d? 35If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken— 36then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?

37If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me. 38But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.”

39At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.

John’s Testimony Confirmed

40Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there. 41Many came to Him and said, “Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true.” 42And many in that place believed in Jesus.

Footnotes:

8 a BYZ All who came

22 b That is, Hanukkah, the historic celebration of the Maccabean Revolt and rededication of the temple

23 c Literally the temple

34 d Psalm 82:6

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◀   ◀   John 11   ▶   ▶

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The Death of Lazarus

1At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2(Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was to anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feeta with her hair.) 3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.”

4When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So on hearing that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was for two days, 7and then He said to the disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

8“Rabbi,” they replied, “the Jews just tried to stone You, and You are going back there?”

9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? If anyone walks in the daytime, he will not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world. 10But if anyone walks at night, he will stumble, because he has no light.”

11After He had said this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.”

12His disciples replied, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get better.” 13They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.

14So Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

16Then Thomas called Didymusb said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

Jesus Comforts Martha and Mary

17When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already spent four days in the tomb. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two milesc away, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them in the loss of their brother. 20So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him; but Mary stayed at home.

21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask of Him.”

23“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.

24Martha replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. 26And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27“Yes, Lord,” she answered, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

28After Martha had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside to tell her, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” 29And when Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him.

30Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him. 31When the Jews who were in the house consoling Mary saw how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spiritd and troubled. 34“Where have you put him?” He asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they answered.

35Jesus wept.

36Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

37But some of them asked, “Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind also have kept Lazarus from dying?”

Jesus Raises Lazarus
(Acts 9:36–43)

38Jesus, once again deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39“Take away the stone,” Jesus said.

“Lord, by now he stinks,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man. “It has already been four days.”

40Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42I knew that You always hear Me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, so they may believe that You sent Me.”

43After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

44The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth.e

“Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them.

The Plot to Kill Jesus
(Matthew 26:1–5; Mark 14:1–2; Luke 22:1–2)

45Therefore many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

47Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrinf and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. 48If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

49But one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! 50You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

51Caiaphas did not say this on his own. Instead, as high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation, 52and not only for the nation, but also for the scattered children of God, to gather them together into one.

53So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. 54As a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples.

55Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover. 56They kept looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple courts,g “What do you think? Will He come to the feast at all?” 57But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where He was must report it, so that they could arrest Him.

Footnotes:

2 a Literally was the one having anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and having wiped His feet; see John 12:3.

16 b Didymus means the twin.

18 c Greek about fifteen stadia; that is, approximately 1.72 miles or 2.78 kilometers

33 d Or He was indignant in spirit; similarly in verse 38

44 e Greek soudariō

47 f Or the Council

56 g Literally the temple

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◀   ◀   John 12   ▶   ▶

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Mary Anoints Jesus
(Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50)

1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 2So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. 3Then Mary took about a pinta of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denariib and the money given to the poor?” 6Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.

7“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial. 8The poor you will always have with you,c but you will not always have Me.”

The Plot to Kill Lazarus

9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.

The Triumphal Entry
(Zechariah 9:9–13; Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–40)

12The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting:

“Hosanna!”d

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”e

“Blessed is the King of Israel!”

14Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written:

15“Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion.

See, your King is coming,
seated on the colt of a donkey.”f

16At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.

17Meanwhile, many people continued to testify that they had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead. 18That is also why the crowd went out to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.

19Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”

Jesus Predicts His Death

20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus.

23But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

27Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify Your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.

30In response, Jesus said, “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours. 31Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”
33He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.

34The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever. So how can You say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

35Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.”

After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.

Belief and Unbelief

37Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”g

39For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says:

40“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so that they cannot see with their eyes,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn,
and I would heal them.”h

41Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him. 42Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. 43For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

44Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me. 45And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.

47As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

49I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. 50And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”

Footnotes:

3 a Greek a litra; that is, approximately 12 ounces or 340 grams

5 b A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

8 c See Deuteronomy 15:11.

13 d Hosanna is a transliteration of the Hebrew Hosia-na, meaning Save, we pray or Save now, which became a shout of praise; see Psalm 118:25.

13 e Psalm 118:26

15 f Zechariah 9:9

38 g Isaiah 53:1

40 h Isaiah 6:10

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◀   ◀   John 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

1It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.a
2The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

3Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God. 4So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. 5After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him.

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”

9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”

10Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”
11For He knew who would betray Him. That is why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. 16Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master,b nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
(Psalm 41:1–13)

18I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’c
19I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He. 20Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.”

21After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”

22The disciples looked at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant. 23One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.d
24So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus which one He was talking about. 25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”

26Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him.

Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
28But no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him. 29Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor. 30As soon as he had received the morsel, Judas went out into the night.

Love One Another
(Romans 12:9–13; 1 John 3:11–24)

31When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32If God is glorified in Him,e God will also glorify the Son in Himself—and will glorify Him at once.

33Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

34A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Matthew 26:31–35; Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–38)

36“Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked.

Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”

37“Lord,” said Peter, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.”

38“Will you lay down your life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.

Footnotes:

1 a Or He showed them the full extent of His love.

16 b Cited in John 15:20

18 c Psalm 41:9

23 d Greek was reclining in the bosom of Jesus

32 e WH does not include If God is glorified in Him.

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◀   ◀   John 14   ▶   ▶

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In My Father’s House Are Many Rooms

1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God;a believe in Me as well. 2In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?b
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.c”

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”

6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”

8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

9Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works. 11Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves.

12Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask Med for anything in My name, I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
(John 16:5–16)

15If you love Me, you will keepe My commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocatef to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.g

18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”

22Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, why are You going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”

23Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me.

25All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Peace I Leave with You

27Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. 28You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe.

30I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me. 31But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.

Get up! Let us go on from here.

Footnotes:

1 a Or Believe in God

2 b Or If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

4 c BYZ and TR And where I go you know, and the way you know.

14 d TR does not include Me.

15 e Or If you love Me, keep

16 f Or Comforter or Helper or Counselor; Greek Paraclete; also in verse 26

17 g WH and is in you

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◀   ◀   John 15   ▶   ▶

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Jesus the True Vine
(Isaiah 27:1–13)

1“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. 2He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.

5I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.

No Greater Love

9As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love. 10If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

14You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 17This is My command to you: Love one another.

The Hatred of the World

18If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. 19If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

20Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’a If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. 21But they will treat you like this because of My name, since they do not know the One who sent Me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.

23Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well. 24If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. 25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’b

26When the Advocatec comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me. 27And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Footnotes:

20 a John 13:16

25 b See Psalm 35:19, Psalm 38:19, and Psalm 69:4.

26 c Or Comforter or Helper or Counselor; Greek Paraclete

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◀   ◀   John 16   ▶   ▶

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Persecution Foretold
(Acts 23:12–22)

1“I have told you these things so that you will not fall away. 2They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me. 4But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit
(John 14:15–26)

5Now, however, I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6Instead, your hearts are filled with sorrow because I have told you these things. 7But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocatea will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

8And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned.

12I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. 13However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. 15Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you.

16In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me.b”

Grief Will Turn to Joy

17Then some of His disciples asked one another, “Why is He telling us, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”

19Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’? 20Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. 22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

Ask in My Name
(Matthew 18:19–20)

23In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

25I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. An hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26In that day you will ask in My name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.c
28I came from the Father and entered the world. In turn, I will leave the world and go to the Father.”

29His disciples said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and without figures of speech. 30Now we understand that You know all things and that You have no need for anyone to question You. Because of this, we believe that You came from God.”

31“Do you finally believe?” Jesus replied. 32“Look, an hour is coming and has already come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

Footnotes:

7 a Or Comforter or Helper or Counselor; Greek Paraclete

16 b BYZ and TR include because I go away to the Father.

27 c WH from the Father

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◀   ◀   John 17   ▶   ▶

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Prayer for the Son

1When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. 2For You granted Him authority over all people,a so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. 3Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.

Prayer for the Disciples

6I have revealed Your name to those You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You. 8For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.

9I ask on their behalf. I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me; for they are Yours. 10All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine; and in them I have been glorified. 11I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You.

Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me,b so that they may be one as We are one. 12While I was with them, I protected and preserved them by Your name, the name You gave Me. Not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

13But now I am coming to You; and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them. 14I have given them Your word and the world has hated them; for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

15I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.c
16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. 18As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.

Prayer for All Believers

20I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

22I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one— 23I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.

24Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

25Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me. 26And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Footnotes:

2 a Literally all flesh

11 b Literally Your name, which You gave Me; TR Your name. These You have given Me; similarly in verse 12

15 c Or from evil

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◀   ◀   John 18   ▶   ▶

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The Betrayal of Jesus
(Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53)

1After Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where they entered a garden. 2Now Judas His betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. 3So Judas brought a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.

4Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?”

5“Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.

Jesus said, “I am He.”

And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them. 6When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

7So He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.

8“I told you that I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.”
9This was to fulfill the word He had spoken: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.”a

10Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

11“Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”

12Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13They brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better if one man died for the people.

Peter’s First Denial
(Matthew 26:69–70; Mark 14:66–68; Luke 22:54–57)

15Now Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he also went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.

17At this, the servant girl watching the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?”

“I am not,” he answered.

18Because it was cold, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had made to keep warm. And Peter was also standing with them, warming himself.

Jesus before the High Priest
(Matthew 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:66–71)

19Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.

20“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21Why are you asking Me? Ask those who heard My message. Surely they know what I said.”

22When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?”

23Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”

24Then Annas sent Him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials
(Matthew 26:71–75; Mark 14:69–72; Luke 22:58–62)

25Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they asked him, “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?”

He denied it and said, “I am not.”

26One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”

27Peter denied it once more, and immediately a rooster crowed.

Jesus before Pilate
(Matthew 27:11–14; Luke 23:1–5)

28Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover.

29So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”

30“If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.”

31“You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them.

“We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied. 32This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.b

33Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

34“Are you saying this on your own,” Jesus asked, “or did others tell you about Me?”

35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”

36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

37“Then You are a king!” Pilate said.

“You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”

38“What is truth?” Pilate asked.

And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him. 39But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

40“Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)

Footnotes:

9 a See John 6:39 and John 17:12.

32 b See John 12:32–33.

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◀   ◀   John 19   ▶   ▶

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The Soldiers Mock Jesus
(Isaiah 50:4–11; Matthew 27:27–31; Mark 15:16–20; Luke 22:63–65)

1Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. 3And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.

4Once again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him.” 5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

6As soon as the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

“You take Him and crucify Him,” Pilate replied, “for I find no basis for a charge against Him.”

7“We have a law,” answered the Jews, “and according to that law He must die, because He declared Himself to be the Son of God.”

8When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back into the Praetorium. “Where are You from?” he asked.

But Jesus gave no answer.

10So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?”

11Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”

12From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”

13When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, which in Hebrewa is Gabbatha. 14It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour.b And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!”

15At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!”

“Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.

The Crucifixion
(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:32–44; Mark 15:21–32; Luke 23:26–43)

16Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, and the soldiers took Him away. 17Carrying His own cross, He went out to The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.

18There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.

19Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read:

JESUS OF NAZARETH,
THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. 21So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but only that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’”

22Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His garments into four parts, one for each soldier, with the tunic remaining. It was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it. Instead, let us cast lots to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill the Scripture:

“They divided My garments among them,
and cast lots for My clothing.”c

So that is what the soldiers did.

25Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.”
27Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus
(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:45–56; Mark 15:33–41; Luke 23:44–49)

28After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”d
29A jar of sour winee was sitting there. So they soaked a sponge in the wine, put it on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted it to His mouth.f
30When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced
(Zechariah 12:10–14)

31It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed. 32So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and those of the other.

33But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35The one who saw it has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.

36Now these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.”g
37And, as another Scripture says: “They will look on the One they have pierced.”h

The Burial of Jesus
(Isaiah 53:9–12; Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56)

38Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body. 39Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.i
40So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.

41Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42And because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there.

Footnotes:

13 a Or in Aramaic; also in verses 17 and 20

14 b That is, about noon

24 c Psalm 22:18

28 d See Psalm 22:15.

29 e Or A jar of wine vinegar; similarly in verse 30

29 f See Psalm 69:21.

36 g Psalm 34:20; see also Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12.

37 h Zechariah 12:10

39 i Greek about a hundred litras; that is, approximately 34 kilograms

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◀   ◀   John 20   ▶   ▶

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The Resurrection
(Matthew 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12)

1Early on the first day of the week,a while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” she said, “and we do not know where they have put Him!”

3Then Peter and the other disciple set out for the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent down and looked in at the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.

6Simon Peter arrived just after him. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7The clothb that had been around Jesus’ head was rolled up, lying separate from the linen cloths. 8Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in. And he saw and believed. 9For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
(Mark 16:9–11)

10Then the disciples returned to their homes. 11But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb, 12and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet.

13“Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked.

“Because they have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I do not know where they have put Him.”

14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize that it was Jesus.

15“Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?”

Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.”

16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned and said to Him in Hebrew,c “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

17“Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ ”

18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what He had said to her.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples
(Luke 24:36–49; 1 John 1:1–4)

19It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. 20After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

21Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”
22When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24Now Thomas called Didymus,d one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”

26Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

27Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!”

29Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of John’s Book

30Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may believee that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally Now on the first of the Sabbaths, early,

7 b Greek soudarion

16 c Or in Aramaic

24 d Didymus means the twin.

31 e Or may continue to believe

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Jesus Appears by the Sea of Tiberias

1Later, by the Sea of Tiberias,a Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples. He made Himself known in this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,b Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.”

“We will go with you,” they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night.

4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus. 5So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it) and jumped into the sea. 8The other disciples came ashore in the boat. They dragged in the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.c

9When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread.

10Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
11So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many, the net was not torn.

12“Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and He did the same with the fish.

14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.

Jesus and Peter

15When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.”

Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”

16Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.”

Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

17Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”

Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?”

“Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

18Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone elsed will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.

And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”

Jesus and the Beloved Disciple

20Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesuse at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?” 21When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

22Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
23Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”

24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.

25There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, the Sea of Galilee

2 b Didymus means the twin.

8 c Greek about two hundred cubits away; that is, approximately 300 feet or 91 meters

18 d Or others

20 e Greek reclined on His bosom

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28)

Prologue
(Luke 1:1–4)

1In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach, 2until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. 3After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

4And while they were gathered together,a He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.b”

The Ascension
(Mark 16:19–20; Luke 24:50–53)

6So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. 10They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

Matthias Replaces Judas

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away.c
13When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

15In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said, 16“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”

18(Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out. 19This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so they called that field in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20“For it is written in the book of Psalms:

‘May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,’d
and,

‘May another take his position.’e

21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen 25to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”

26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Footnotes:

4 a Or eating together

5 b Or For John baptized in water, but in a few days you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit; cited in Acts 11:16

12 c A Sabbath day’s journey is 2,000 cubits (approximately 3,000 feet or 914.4 meters)

20 d Psalm 69:25

20 e Psalm 109:8

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The Holy Spirit at Pentecost
(Genesis 11:1–9; Leviticus 23:15–22)

1When the day of Pentecosta came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5Now there were dwellingb in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.

7Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,c
10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, 11both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

12Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13But others mocked them and said, “They are drunk on new wine!”

Peter Addresses the Crowd
(Psalm 16:1–11; Joel 2:28–32)

14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day!d
16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out My Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.

18Even on My menservants and maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.

19I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.

20The sun will be turned to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.

21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.’e

22Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. 23He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. 24But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches.

25David says about Him:

‘I sawf the Lord always before me;
because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will dwell in hope,

27because You will not abandon my soul to Hades,
nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.

28You have made known to me the paths of life;

You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’g

29Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne.h
31Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.

33Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand

35until I make Your enemies
a footstool for Your feet.” ’i

36Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!”

Three Thousand Believe

37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

40With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.” 41Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.j

The Fellowship of Believers
(Acts 4:32–37)

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43A sense of awek came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.

44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.

46With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courtsl and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, Shavuot, the late spring feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is also known as the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16) or the Feast of Weeks (see Exodus 34:22).

5 b Or staying; similarly in verse 14

9 c That is, the Roman Province of Asia, located in what is now western Turkey

15 d That is, nine in the morning

21 e Joel 2:28–32 (see also LXX)

25 f Literally I foresaw; see verse 31.

28 g Psalm 16:8–11 (see also LXX)

30 h Literally on oath that He would place out of the fruit of his loins on his throne; BYZ and TR on oath out of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, to raise up Christ to sit on his throne; Psalm 132:11

35 i Psalm 110:1

41 j Literally about three thousand souls were added that day

43 k Or fear

46 l Literally the temple

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A Lame Man Walks

1One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.a
2And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts.b
3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.

4Peter looked directly at him, as did John. “Look at us!” said Peter. 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!c”

7Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. 8He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God.

9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Colonnade
(Deuteronomy 18:15–22)

11While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and ran to them in the walkway called Solomon’s Colonnade.d
12And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servante Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him. 14You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of the fact.

16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence.

17And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, 20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you.

21Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets. 22For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you.f
23Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.g’

24Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have proclaimed these days. 25And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers when He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’h
26When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Footnotes:

1 a That is, three in the afternoon

2 b Literally the temple; also in verse 8

6 c SBL, NE, and WH In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!

11 d Literally in the colonnade called Solomon’s

13 e Or His child; also in verse 26

22 f Deuteronomy 18:15

23 g See Deuteronomy 18:19.

25 h Genesis 22:18

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Peter and John before the Sanhedrin

1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

5The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed, 10then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11This Jesus is

‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’a

12Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

The Name Forbidden

13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response. 15So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrinb and then conferred together.

16“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it. 17But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”

18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. 20For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened. 22For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers’ Prayer
(Psalm 2:1–12)

23On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant,c our father David:

‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?

26The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against His Anointed One.’d

27In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. 28They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen. 29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, 30as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

31After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Sharing among Believers
(Acts 2:42–47)

32The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned. 33With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.

34There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, 35and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.

36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Footnotes:

11 a Psalm 118:22

15 b Or the Council

25 c Or child; also in verses 27 and 30

26 d Or His Christ or His Messiah; Psalm 2:1–2

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Ananias and Sapphira

1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? 4Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”

5On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened. 6Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened. 8“Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?”

“Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.”

9“How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

10At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

12The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them. 14Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.

15As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

17Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out 18and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying, 20“Go, stand in the temple courtsa and tell the people the full message of this new life.”

21At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrinb—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report: 23“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”

The Apostles before the Sanhedrin

24When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.c
25Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!”

26At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them. 27They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them. 28“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”

29But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree. 31God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

33When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolvedd to put the apostles to death. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time.

35“Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.

38So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

40At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.

41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Footnotes:

20 a Literally the temple; also in verses 21, 25, and 42

21 b Or the Council; also in verses 27, 34, and 41

24 c Literally as to what this might be

33 d ECM, BYZ, TR, and Tischendorf; or they took counsel; NA, SBL, NE, and WH they wanted

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The Choosing of the Seven
(1 Timothy 3:8–13)

1In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jewsa because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

2So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them 4and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.b
6They presented these seven to the apostles,c who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.

The Arrest of Stephen

8Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia.d They began to argue with Stephen, 10but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

11Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”

12So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,e
13where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally the Hellenists began to grumble against the Hebrews

5 b Literally and Nicolas, a convert of Antioch,

6 c Literally —whom they set before the apostles,

9 d Literally and those from Cilicia and Asia; the Roman Province of Asia was located in what is now western Turkey.

12 e Or the Council; also in verse 15

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Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham
(Genesis 12:1–9)

1Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

2And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’a
4So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living.

5He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child. 6God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 7‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.’b

8Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

Joseph Sold into Egypt
(Genesis 37:12–30)

9Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him 10and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

11Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food. 12When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit. 13On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity toc his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh. 14Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all.

Israel Oppressed in Egypt
(Exodus 1:8–22)

15So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died. 16Their bones were carried backd to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.

17As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number. 18Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt. 19He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.

The Birth and Adoption of Moses
(Exodus 2:1–10; Hebrews 11:23–29)

20At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God.e For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house. 21When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. 22So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

The Rejection and Flight of Moses
(Exodus 2:11–22)

23When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24And when he saw one of them being mistreated, Moses went to his defense and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian who was oppressing him. 25He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.

26The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other?’

27But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? 28Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’f
29At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.

The Call of Moses
(Exodus 3:1–22)

30After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him: 32‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’g Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

33Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’h

35This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’i is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angelj who appeared to him in the bush. 36He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.

37This is the same Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.’k
38He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.l

The Rebellion of Israel
(Exodus 32:1–35; Deuteronomy 9:7–29; Amos 5:16–27)

39But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. 40They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’m

41At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:

‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings
forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

43You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech
and the star of your god Rephan,
the idols you made to worship.

Therefore I will send you into exile
beyond Babylon.’n

The Tabernacle of the Testimony
(Exodus 40:1–33; Hebrews 9:1–10)

44Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. 45And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David, 46who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.o
47But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.

48However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:

49‘Heaven is My throne
and the earth is My footstool.

What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord,
or where will My place of repose be?

50Has not My hand made all these things?’p

51You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. 52Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— 53you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

54On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged,q and they gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

57At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him. 58They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Footnotes:

3 a Genesis 12:1

7 b Genesis 15:13–14; Exodus 3:12

13 c Or Joseph was made known to or Joseph was recognized by

16 d Literally And they were carried back

20 e Or he was of great status in God’s eyes or he was no ordinary child

28 f Exodus 2:13–14 (see also LXX)

32 g Exodus 3:6

34 h Exodus 3:5–10

35 i Exodus 2:14

35 j Or Angel; also in verse 38

37 k Deuteronomy 18:15

38 l NE and WH to you

40 m Exodus 32:1

43 n Amos 5:25–27 (see also LXX)

46 o SBL, WH, BYZ, and TR; see also LXX for Psalm 132:5; ECM, NA, and NE a dwelling place for the house of Jacob.

50 p Isaiah 66:1–2

54 q Literally On hearing these things, they were cut in their hearts,

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Saul Persecutes the Church

1And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death.

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. 6The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform. 7With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer
(Deuteronomy 18:9–14)

9Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, 10and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” 11They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.

12But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.

14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. 16For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. 19“Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart. 23For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”

24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

25And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.

Philip and the Ethiopian
(Isaiah 53:1–8)

26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace,a queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.

29The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”

30So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so He did not open His mouth.

33In His humiliation He was deprived of justice.

Who can recount His descendants?

For His life was removed from the earth.”b

34“Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”

35Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”c
38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Footnotes:

27 a Greek Kandakē

33 b Isaiah 53:7–8 (see also LXX)

36 c TR includes 37And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may be baptized.” The eunuch replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

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The Road to Damascus
(Acts 22:1–21; Acts 26:1–23)

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest 2and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

3As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

5“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.a
6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing.b So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Here I am, Lord,” he answered.

11“Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

13But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

15“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”

17So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

Saul Preaches at Damascus

20Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”

21All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

22But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

The Escape from Damascus

23After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. 25One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.c

Saul in Jerusalem

26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.

28So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews,d but they tried to kill him. 30When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

The Healing of Aeneas

31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

32As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up, 35and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

The Raising of Tabitha
(John 11:38–44)

36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas),e who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity. 37At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”

39So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.

42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

Footnotes:

5 a TR includes “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

8 b Literally he could see nothing or he could see no one

25 c Literally through the wall; see 2 Corinthians 11:33.

29 d Or Hellenists

36 e Tabitha in Aramaic and Dorcas in Greek both mean gazelle.

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Cornelius Sends for Peter

1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about the ninth hour,a he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?”

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.b”

7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants. 8He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision
(Leviticus 11:1–47; Deuteronomy 14:1–21)

9The next day at about the sixth hour,c as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

11He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. 13Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”

14“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impured or unclean.”

15The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

16This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.

Peter Called to Caesarea

17While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate. 18They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.

19As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.e
20So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”

21So Peter went down to the menf and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”

22“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”

23So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

Peter Visits Cornelius

24The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him. 26But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

27As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together. 28He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”

30Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour.g Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me 31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’

33So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”

Good News for the Gentiles

34Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, 35but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. 36He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

37You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

39We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, 40God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen— 41not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
(Acts 19:1–7)

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. 45All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God.

Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

Footnotes:

3 a That is, about three in the afternoon; also in verse 30

6 b TR includes He will tell you what you need to do.

9 c That is, about noon

14 d Literally common; similarly in verses 15 and 28

19 e ECM, NA, and TR; NE and WH two men are looking for you; SBL, BYZ, and Tischendorf men are looking for you

21 f TR the men sent to him by Cornelius

30 g BYZ and TR Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house.

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Peter’s Report at Jerusalem

1The apostles and brothers throughout Judea soon heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believersa took issue with him 3and said, “You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

4But Peter began and explained to them the whole sequence of events: 5“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me. 6I looked at it closely and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter, kill and eat.’

8‘No, Lord,’ I said, ‘for nothing impureb or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

9But the voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’

10This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into heaven.

11Just then three men sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s home. 13He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’

15As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He had fallen upon us at the beginning. 16Then I remembered the word of the Lord, as He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’c
17So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?”

18When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

The Church at Antioch

19Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews. 20But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeksd as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

22When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts. 24Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

27In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world.e (This happened under Claudius.) 29So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.

Footnotes:

2 a Literally those of the circumcision

8 b Literally common; similarly in verse 9

16 c Or ‘John baptized in water, but in a few days you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ Acts 1:5

20 d Or the Hellenists

28 e Or the entire Roman world

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James Killed, Peter Imprisoned

1About that time, King Heroda reached out to harmb some who belonged to the church. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

3And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.c
4He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

The Rescue of Peter

5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.

6On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8“Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

9So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him.

11Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”

12And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying. 13He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, “Peter is standing at the gate!”

15“You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded. 17Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.

18At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19After Herod had searched for him unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there.

The Death of Herod

20Now Herod was in a furious disputed with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food. 21On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people. 22And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!”

23Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

24But the word of God continued to spread and multiply.

25When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned,e bringing with them John, also called Mark.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, King Herod Agrippa

1 b Literally put forth the hands to mistreat

3 c Literally seize Peter—now these were the days of the Unleavened; see Exodus 12:14–20.

20 d Or had become furious

25 e Or had fulfilled their mission, they returned to Jerusalem; NE and TR had fulfilled their mission, they returned from Jerusalem

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Paul’s First Missionary Journey Begins
(Acts 15:36–41; Acts 18:23–28)

1Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

On Cyprus

4So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.

6They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

9Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas 10and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

In Pisidian Antioch

13After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down. 15After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”

16Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me! 17The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land. 18He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness. 19And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance. 20All this took about 450 years.

After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them forty years under Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin. 22After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’a

23From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised. 24Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25As John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not that One. But He is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’b

26Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.

29When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30But God raised Him from the dead, 31and for many days He was seen by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.

32And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:

‘You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father.’c

34In fact, God raised Him from the dead, never to see decay. As He has said:

‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’d

35So also, He says in another Psalm:

‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’e

36For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay. 37But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

38Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. 40Watch out, then, that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to you:

41‘Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish!

For I am doing a work in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’f”

A Light for the Gentiles
(Isaiah 49:1–6)

42As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath. 43After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.

46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’g”

48When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region.

50The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district. 51So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Footnotes:

22 a See 1 Samuel 13:14.

25 b Luke 3:16; see also Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:7, and John 1:27.

33 c Psalm 2:7; literally today I have begotten You

34 d Literally I will give you the holy, the trustworthy of David; Isaiah 55:3

35 e Psalm 16:10

41 f Habakkuk 1:5 (see also LXX)

47 g Isaiah 49:6

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Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

1At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.

4The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles. 5But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them, 6they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region, 7where they continued to preach the gospel.

The Visit to Lystra and Derbe

8In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. 9This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed. 10In a loud voice Paul called out, “Stand up on your feet!” And the man jumped up and began to walk.

11When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.

14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting, 15“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 16In past generations, He let all nations go their own way. 17Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”

18Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them.

19Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead. 20But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

Strengthening the Disciples

21They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.

24After passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

26From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed. 27When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28And they spent a long time there with the disciples.

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The Dispute over Circumcision

1Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

3Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. 4On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.

The Council at Jerusalem
(Amos 9:11–15; Galatians 2:1–10)

5But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” 6So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.

7After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.

10Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

12The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me! 14Simona has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own. 15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

16‘After this I will return and rebuild
the fallen tent of David.

Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,

17so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
says the Lord who does these things

18that have been known for ages.’b

19It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. 21For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers, 23and sent them with this letter:

The apostles and the elders, your brothers,

To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

24It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.c
25So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.

28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: 29You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

The Believers at Antioch Rejoice

30So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter. 31When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.

32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. 33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.d
35But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Begins
(Acts 13:1–3; Acts 18:23–28)

36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. 38But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.

39Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Footnotes:

14 a Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon

18 b Amos 9:11–12 (see also LXX); BYZ and TR says the Lord, who does all these things. 18Known unto God are all His works from the ages.

24 c BYZ and TR by saying that you must be circumcised and keep the law.

33 d TR includes 34Silas, however, decided to remain there.

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Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

1Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father. 2The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

4As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

Paul’s Vision of the Macedonian

6After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia,a they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. 7And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them. 8So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

9During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi
(Revelation 2:18–29)

11We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace, and the following day on to Neapolis. 12From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia.b And we stayed there several days.

13On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.

14Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Paul and Silas Imprisoned

16One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination,c who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”

18She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.

19When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace. 20They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil 21by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”

22The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods. 23And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. 24On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

The Conversion of the Jailer

25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

27When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”

29Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. 33At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized. 34Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.

An Official Apology

35When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”

36The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”

37But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”

38So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city. 40After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.

Footnotes:

6 a Literally in Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.

12 b Literally we went to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia—a colony

16 c Greek a spirit of Python; that is, a spirit of divination named after the mythical serpent slain by Apollo

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The Uproar in Thessalonica

1When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.

5The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people. 6But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, 7and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”

8On hearing this, the crowd and city officials were greatly disturbed. 9And they collected bond from Jason and the others, and then released them.

The Character of the Bereans

10As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.a
12As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.

13But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds. 14The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea. 15Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

Paul in Athens

16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.

18Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

19So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus,b where they asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”

21Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.

Paul’s Address in the Areopagus

22Then Paul stood up in the meetingc of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:

TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.

24The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. 25Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26From one mand He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.

27God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’e As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’f
29Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.

30Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this topic.” 33At that, Paul left the Areopagus. 34But someg joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others who were with them.

Footnotes:

11 a Literally with great eagerness, every day examining the Writings, whether these things were so.

19 b Or Ares Hill or Mars Hill; also in verse 22 and added for clarity in verse 33

22 c Literally in the middle

26 d Literally From one; BYZ and TR From one blood

28 e This is probably a quote from the Cretan philosopher Epimenides of Knossos.

28 f This is probably a quote from the poem “Phainomena” by the Cilician philosopher Aratus.

34 g Literally some men

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Paul Ministers in Corinth
(1 Corinthians 1:1–3; 2 Corinthians 1:1–2)

1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them, 3and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.

4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike. 5And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. 6But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

7So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus,a a worshiper of God. 8Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.

9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. 10For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”
11So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians.

Paul before Gallio

12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat. 13“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.

14But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint. 15But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.” 16And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

17At this, the crowdb seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio.

Paul Returns to Antioch

18Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.

19When they reached Ephesus, Paul parted ways with Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined. 21But as he left, he said, “I will come backc to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.

22When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem.d Then he went down to Antioch.

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Begins
(Acts 13:1–3; Acts 15:36–41)

23After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus,e though he knew only the baptism of John. 26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him in and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

27When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Footnotes:

7 a ECM; NA, SBL, NE, and WH Titius Justus; BYZ and TR Justus

17 b Literally they all; BYZ and TR all the Greeks

21 c BYZ and TR I must by all means keep this feast that comes in Jerusalem, but I will come back

22 d Literally he went up and greeted the church

25 e BYZ and TR about the Lord

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The Holy Spirit Received at Ephesus
(Acts 10:44–48)

1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interiora and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”

“No,” they answered, “we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked.

“The baptism of John,” they replied.

4Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.

Paul Ministers in Ephesus
(Ephesians 1:1–2; Revelation 2:1–7)

8Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9But when some of them stubbornly refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way, Paul took his disciples and left the synagogue to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10This continued for two years, so that everyone who lived in the province of Asia,b Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord.

11God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul, 12so that even handkerchiefsc and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.

Seven Sons of Sceva

13Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.” 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

15Eventually, one of the evil spirits answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.

17This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds. 19And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.d
20So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.

The Riot in Ephesus

21After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirite to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.” 22He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia.

23About that time there arose a great disturbancef about the Way. 24It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much businessg to the craftsmen.

25Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity. 26And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27There is danger not only that our business will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed—she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world.”

28When the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.

30Paul wanted to go before the assembly, but the disciples would not allow him. 31Even some of Paul’s friends who were officials of the province of Asiah sent word to him, begging him not to venture into the theatre.

32Meanwhile the assembly was in turmoil. Some were shouting one thing and some another, and most of them did not even know why they were there. 33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward to explain himself, and he motioned for silence so he could make his defense to the people. 34But when they realized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd and declared, “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36Since these things are undeniable, you ought to be calm and not do anything rash. 37For you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess.

38So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there. 39But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40For we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today’s events, and we have no justification to account for this commotion.”

41After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

Footnotes:

1 a Or the highland

10 b Literally in Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey; similarly in verses 22, 26, 27, and 31.

12 c Greek soudaria

19 d Or fifty thousand pieces of silver. A drachma was a silver coin worth about one day’s wages.

21 e Or resolved in spirit

23 f Literally there arose no little disturbance

24 g Literally bringing no little business

31 h Or friends who were Asiarchs

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Paul in Macedonia and Greece

1When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. And after encouraging them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia. 2After traveling through that area and speaking many words of encouragement, he arrived in Greece, 3where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.

4Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.a
5These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas. 6And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread,b we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Revived at Troas
(2 Kings 4:18–37)

7On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.

8Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead. 10But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!”

11Then Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. And after speaking until daybreak, he departed. 12And the people were greatly relieved to take the boy home alive.

From Troas to Miletus

13We went on ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take Paul aboard. He had arranged this because he was going there on foot. 14And when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15Sailing on from there, we arrived the next day opposite Chios. The day after that we arrived at Samos, andc on the following day we came to Miletus.

16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.d

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesians

17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.

18When they came to him, he said, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. 19I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, especially in the trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews. 20I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house, 21testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.e

22And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me. 24But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

25Now I know that none of you among whom I have preached the kingdom will see my face again. 26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.f
27For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God.

28Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,g which He purchased with His own blood.h
29I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

32And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.

33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions. 35In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37They all wept openly as they embraced Paul and kissed him. 38They were especially grieved by his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Footnotes:

4 a Literally from Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey; also in verses 16 and 18.

6 b Literally after the days of the Unleavened; see Exodus 12:14–20.

15 c BYZ and TR and, after remaining at Trogyllium,

16 d That is, Shavuot, the late spring feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is also known as the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16) or the Feast of Weeks (see Exodus 34:22).

21 e ECM, TR, and Tischendorf; NA, SBL, NE, BYZ, and WH our Lord Jesus

26 f See Ezekiel 33:8–9.

28 g Tischendorf of the Lord; BYZ and GOC of the Lord and God

28 h Or with the blood of His own Son.

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Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem

1After we had torn ourselves away from them, we sailed directly to Cos, and the next day on to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded it and set sail. 3After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.

4We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 5But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to pray with us. 6And after we had said our farewells, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

7When we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day.

Paul Visits Philip the Evangelist

8Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven.a
9He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

10After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ” 12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

13Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14When he would not be dissuaded, we fell silent and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

15After these days, we packed up and went on to Jerusalem. 16Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

17When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully. 18The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present. 19Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

20When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs. 22What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

23Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow. 24Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.

25As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

26So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date when their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.

Paul Seized at the Temple

27When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asiab saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

30The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regimentc received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil. 32Immediately he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

33The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

34Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. 35When Paul reached the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. 36For the crowd that followed him kept shouting, “Away with him!”

Paul Addresses the Crowd

37As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38“Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the ‘Assassins’ into the wilderness?”

39But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”

40Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:d

Footnotes:

8 a See Acts 6:5.

27 b Literally from Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.

31 c Literally the commander of the cohort

40 d Or in Aramaic; literally in the Hebrew language

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Paul’s Defense to the Crowd
(Acts 9:1–19; Acts 26:1–23)

1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” 2When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew,a they became even more silent.

Then Paul declared, 3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.

4I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.

6About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’

8‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked.

‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. 9My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.

10Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’

‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’

11Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus. 12There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there, 13came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him.

14Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear His voice. 15You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’

17Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18and saw the Lordb saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’

19‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You. 20And when the blood of Your witnessc Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’

21Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Paul the Roman Citizen

22The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”

23As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, 24the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him.

25But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”

26On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

27The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes,” he answered.

28“I paid a high price for my citizenship,” said the commander.

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

29Then those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.

30The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrind to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

Footnotes:

2 a Or in Aramaic; literally in the Hebrew language

18 b Literally saw Him

20 c Or martyr

30 d Or the whole Council

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Paul before the Sanhedrin

1Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrina and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

2At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

3Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”

4But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”

5“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’b”

6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

7As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

9A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”

The Plot to Kill Paul
(John 16:1–4)

12When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13More than forty of them were involved in this plot. 14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”

16But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot,c he went into the barracks and told Paul. 17Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”

18So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

19The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”

20He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him. 21Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

22So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Sent to Felix

23Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.d
24Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.” 25And he wrote the following letter:

26Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency, Governor Felix:

Greetings.

27This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen, 28and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin. 29I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.

30When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.

31So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris. 32The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him. 33When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.

34The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, 35he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.

Footnotes:

1 a Or the Council; also in verses 6, 15, 20, and 28

5 b Exodus 22:28 (see also LXX)

16 c Or the ambush

23 d That is, at nine tonight

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Tertullus Prosecutes Paul

1Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyera named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.

2When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation. 3In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude. 4But in order not to burden you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.

5We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, 6and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.b
8By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all our charges against him.”

9The Jews concurred, asserting that these charges were true.

Paul’s Defense to Felix

10When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense. 11You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city. 13Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me.

14I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.

17After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings. 18At the time they found me in the temple, I was ceremonially clean and was not inciting a crowd or an uproar. But there are some Jews from the province of Asiac
19who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,d
21unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’ ”

The Verdict Postponed

22Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.” 23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.

24After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.” 26At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.

27After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Footnotes:

1 a Or an orator

6 b BYZ and TR include and we would have judged him according to our law. 7But Lysias the commander came with great force and took him out of our hands, 8ordering his accusers to come before you.

18 c Literally from Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.

20 d Or the Council

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Paul’s Trial before Festus

1Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus 3to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

4But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

6After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in. 7When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.

8Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”

Paul Appeals to Caesar

10Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

12Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Festus Consults Agrippa

13After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison. 15While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him. 16I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.

17So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in. 18But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges. 21But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”

22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”

“Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.

Paul before Agrippa and Bernice

23The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.

24Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer. 25But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

26I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign one about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write. 27For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”

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Paul’s Testimony to Agrippa
(Acts 9:1–19; Acts 22:1–21)

1Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”

Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: 2“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews, 3especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.

4Surely all the Jews know how I have lived from the earliest days of my youth, among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion.

6And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers, 7the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to realize as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews. 8Why would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

9So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them. 11I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

12In this pursuit I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew,a ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked.

‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’

19So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance. 21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courtsb and tried to kill me.

22But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen: 23that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Festus Interrupts Paul’s Defense

24At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”

25But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety. 26For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”

29“Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”

30Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them. 31On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”

32And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Footnotes:

14 a Or in Aramaic; literally in the Hebrew language

21 b Literally the temple

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Paul Sails for Rome

1When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperiala Regiment. 2We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia,b and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.

3The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing him to visit his friends and receive their care. 4After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5And when we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. 6There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.

7After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8After we had moved along the coast with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

9By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast.c So Paul advised them, 10“Men, I can see that our voyage will be filled with disaster and great loss, not only to ship and cargo, but to our own lives as well.”

11But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship. 12Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, if somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest.

The Storm at Sea
(Jonah 1:4–10)

13When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had their opportunity. So they weighed anchor and sailed along, hugging the coast of Crete. 14But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island. 15Unable to head into the wind, the ship was caught up. So we gave way and let ourselves be driven along.

16Passing to the lee of a small island called Cauda,d we barely managed to secure the lifeboat. 17After hoisting it up, the crew used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchore and were driven along.

18We were tossed so violently that the next day the men began to jettison the cargo. 19On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the great storm continued to batter us, we abandoned all hope of being saved.

21After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss. 22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship. 23For just last night an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood beside me 24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’

25So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me. 26However, we must run aground on some island.”

The Shipwreck

27On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea.f About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28They took soundings and found that the water was twenty fathoms deep.g Going a little farther, they took another set of soundings that read fifteen fathoms.h
29Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.

30Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea. 31But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift.

33Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food. 34So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.”

35After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36They were all encouraged and took some food themselves. 37In all, there were 276i of us on board. 38After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

39When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40Cutting away the anchors, they left them in the sea as they loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.

42The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom. 43But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul’s life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.

Footnotes:

1 a Or Augustan

2 b Literally sail to the places along Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.

9 c That is, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement

16 d NE, BYZ, and TR Clauda

17 e Or the sails

27 f The Adriatic Sea referred to an area extending well south of Italy to include the central portion of the Mediterranean Sea.

28 g 20 fathoms is approximately 120 feet or 36.6 meters.

28 h 15 fathoms is approximately 90 feet or 27.4 meters.

37 i WH 76

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Ashore on Malta

1Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.

3Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. 4When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justicea has not allowed him to live.” 5But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

7Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man. 9After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.

10The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.

Paul Arrives in Italy

11After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothersb as a figurehead. 12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. 13From there we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli. 14There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.

15The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appiusc and the Three Tavernsd to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.

Paul Preaches at Rome
(Isaiah 6:1–13)

16When we arrived in Rome,e Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

17After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation. 20So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”

21The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you. 22But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”

23So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.

24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

26‘Go to this people and say,

“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

27For this people’s heart has grown callous;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn, and I would heal them.’f

28Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”g

30Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him. 31Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Footnotes:

4 a Greek Dike; that is, the Greek goddess of justice

11 b Greek Dioscuri; that is, the Greek gods Castor and Pollux

15 c The Forum of Appius was about 43 miles or 70 kilometers from Rome.

15 d The Three Taverns was about 35 miles or 57 kilometers from Rome.

16 e BYZ and TR include the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the captain of the barrack, but.

27 f Isaiah 6:9–10 (see also LXX)

28 g BYZ and TR include 29When he had said this, the Jews went away, disputing sharply among themselves.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16)

Paul Greets the Saints in Rome

1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God— 2the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

5Through Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all those among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

7To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Unashamed of the Gospel

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world. 9God, whom I serve with my spirita in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you. 11For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 12that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visitingb until now), in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. 14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks,c both to the wise and the foolish. 15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek. 17For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish,d just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”e

God’s Wrath against Sin

18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

21For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise!f Amen.

26For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. 31They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.

32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.

Footnotes:

9 a Or in my spirit

13 b Literally but have been prevented

14 c Literally to Greeks and barbarians

17 d Literally For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith

17 e Habakkuk 2:4

25 f Or forever blessed

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God’s Righteous Judgment
(Psalm 75:1–10)

1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2And we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

5But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”a
7To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.

9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek; 10but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the Greek. 11For God does not show favoritism.

12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.

14Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them 16on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus,b as proclaimed by my gospel.

The Jews and the Law

17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”c

25Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

28A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. 29No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

Footnotes:

6 a Psalm 62:12

16 b BYZ and TR through Jesus Christ

24 c Isaiah 52:5 (see also LXX)

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God Remains Faithful

1What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very wordsa of God.

3What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? 4Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written:

“So that You may be proved right when You speak
and victorious when You judge.”b

5But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms. 6Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world? 7However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner? 8Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!

There Is No One Righteous
(Psalm 14:1–7; Psalm 53:1–6; Isaiah 59:1–17)

9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. 10As it is written:

“There is no one righteous,
not even one.

11There is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.

12All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”c

13“Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”d

“The venom of vipers is on their lips.”e

14“Their mouths are full
of cursing and bitterness.”f

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16ruin and misery lie in their wake,

17and the way of peace they have not known.”g

18“There is no fear of God
before their eyes.”h

19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

Righteousness through Faith in Christ
(Philippians 3:1–11)

21But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

25God presented Him as the atoning sacrificei through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. 26He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith. 28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

29Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.

Footnotes:

2 a Or the oracles

4 b Or when You are judged; Psalm 51:4 (see also LXX)

12 c Psalm 14:1–3 and Psalm 53:1–3 (see also LXX)

13 d Psalm 5:9

13 e Psalm 140:3

14 f Psalm 10:7 (see also LXX)

17 g Isaiah 59:7–8 (see also LXX)

18 h Psalm 36:1

25 i Or as a propitiation

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Abraham Justified by Faith
(Genesis 15:1–7; Psalm 32:1–11; Hebrews 11:8–19)

1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered? 2If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”a

4Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7“Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.

8Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”b

9Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.c

11And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Abraham Receives the Promise
(Genesis 15:8–21)

13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, 15because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”d He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”e
19Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb. 20Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised. 22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”f

23Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, 24but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

Footnotes:

3 a Genesis 15:6

8 b Psalm 32:1–2 (see also LXX)

10 c Literally How then was it reckoned—being in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

17 d Genesis 17:5

18 e Genesis 15:5

22 f Genesis 15:6

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The Triumph of Faith

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we havea peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoiceb in the hope of the glory of God.

3Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

Christ’s Sacrifice for the Ungodly
(John 3:1–21)

6For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him! 10For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! 11Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ
(Genesis 3:1–7)

12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. 13For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed. He is a pattern of the One to come.

15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many! 16Again, the gift is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment that followed one sin brought condemnation, but the gift that followed many trespasses brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

18So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Footnotes:

1 a Or let us have

2 b Or exult; also in verses 3 and 11

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Dead to Sin, Alive to God
(2 Corinthians 4:7–18)

1What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? 3Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

5For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. 7For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. 9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. 10The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. 11So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. 13Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

The Wages of Sin

15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not! 16Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.

20For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness. 21What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death. 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Release from the Law
(Galatians 3:15–25)

1Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 2For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. 3So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress, even if she marries another man.

4Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death. 6But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

God’s Law Is Holy

7What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”a
8But sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead.

9Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death. 11For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death.

12So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.

Struggling with Sin

13Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Certainly not! But in order that sin might be exposed as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good. 17In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. 20And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God’s law. 23But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.b

24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Footnotes:

7 a Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21

23 b Literally captive to the law of sin being in my members.

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Walking by the Spirit
(Ezekiel 36:16–38; Galatians 5:16–26)

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.a
2For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set youb free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin.c He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the fleshd cannot please God.

9You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alivee because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the deadf will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

Heirs with Christ

12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Future Glory
(2 Corinthians 5:1–10)

18I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. 23Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. 27And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

God Works in All Things
(Ephesians 1:3–14)

28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. 29For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.

More than Conquerors
(Psalm 44:1–26)

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:

“For Your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”g

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Footnotes:

1 a BYZ and TR in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

2 b BYZ and TR me

3 c Literally in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin

8 d Literally Those being in the flesh; similarly in verse 9

10 e Or yet the Spirit is life

11 f NA, BYZ, and TR raised Christ from the dead

36 g Psalm 44:22

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◀   ◀   Romans 9   ▶   ▶

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Paul’s Concern for the Jews

1I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. 2I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood, 4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. 5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise!a Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice
(Genesis 25:19–28; Malachi 1:1–5)

6It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”b
8So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. 9For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”c

10Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac. 11Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, 12not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”d
13So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”e

14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not! 15For He says to Moses:

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”f

16So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”g
18Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

19One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?” 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”h
21Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?

22What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction? 23What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory— 24including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles? 25As He says in Hosea:

“I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people,
and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved,”i

26and,

“It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them,

‘You are not My people,’

they will be called

‘sons of the living God.’ ”j

27Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

“Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea,
only the remnant will be saved.

28For the Lord will carry out His sentence on the earth
thoroughly and decisively.”k

29It is just as Isaiah foretold:

“Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have resembled Gomorrah.”l

Israel’s Unbelief

30What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33as it is written:

“See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling
and a rock of offense;m
and the one who believes in Him
will never be put to shame.”n

Footnotes:

5 a Or forever blessed

7 b Genesis 21:12

9 c Genesis 18:14

12 d Genesis 25:23

13 e Malachi 1:2–3

15 f Exodus 33:19

17 g Exodus 9:16 (see also LXX)

20 h Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 45:9

25 i Hosea 2:23

26 j Hosea 1:10

28 k Isaiah 10:22–23 (see also LXX)

29 l Isaiah 1:9 (see also LXX)

33 m Isaiah 8:14

33 n Isaiah 28:16 (see also LXX)

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The Word Brings Salvation
(Isaiah 65:1–16)

1Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation. 2For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. 3Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.

5For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”a
6But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’b (that is, to bring Christ down) 7or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’c (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”

8But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”d that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

11It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”e
12For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”f

14How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”g

16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”h
17Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

18But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did:

“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.”i

19I ask instead, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says:

“I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation;

I will make you angry by a nation without understanding.”j

20And Isaiah boldly says:

“I was found by those who did not seek Me;

I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”k

21But as for Israel he says:

“All day long I have held out My hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people.”l

Footnotes:

5 a Leviticus 18:5; see also Ezekiel 20:11, 13, and 21.

6 b Deuteronomy 30:12

7 c See Deuteronomy 30:13.

8 d Deuteronomy 30:14

11 e Isaiah 28:16 (see also LXX)

13 f Joel 2:32

15 g Literally good news of good things; BYZ and TR How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of peace, who bring good news of good things; Isaiah 52:7

16 h Isaiah 53:1

18 i Psalm 19:4 (see also LXX)

19 j Deuteronomy 32:21 (see also LXX)

20 k Isaiah 65:1

21 l Isaiah 65:2 (see also LXX)

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◀   ◀   Romans 11   ▶   ▶

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A Remnant Chosen by Grace

1I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel: 3“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”a?

4And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”b

5In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.c

7What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, 8as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that could not see,
and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.”d

9And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

10May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.”e

The Ingrafting of the Gentiles

11I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?f Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. 12But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

13I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them. 15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, 18do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

19You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly notg spare you either.

22Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come from Zion;

He will remove godlessness from Jacob.

27And this is My covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”h

28Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. 29For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.

30Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience, 31so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you.i
32For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone.

A Hymn of Praise
(Isaiah 40:9–31)

33O, the depth of the riches
of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are His judgments,
and untraceable His ways!

34“Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been His counselor?”j

35“Who has first given to God,
that God should repay him?”k

36For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.

To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

Footnotes:

3 a 1 Kings 19:10, 14

4 b 1 Kings 19:18

6 c BYZ and TR include But if it is by works, then it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

8 d See Deuteronomy 29:4 and Isaiah 29:10.

10 e Psalm 69:22–23 (see also LXX)

11 f Or did they stumble so as to lose their share? Literally did they stumble that they might fall?

21 g Or He will perhaps not; SBL, NE, and WH He will not

27 h Isaiah 27:9 and Isaiah 59:20–21; see also LXX

31 i Literally may now receive mercy through your mercy; BYZ and TR may receive mercy through your mercy

34 j Isaiah 40:13 (see also LXX)

35 k Job 41:11

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Living Sacrifices
(1 Corinthians 3:16–23; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20)

1Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.a
2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.

6We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; 7if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love, Zeal, Hope, Hospitality
(John 13:31–35; 1 John 3:11–24)

9Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

11Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

13Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Forgiveness
(Matthew 18:21–35)

14Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”b

20On the contrary,

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him a drink.

For in so doing,
you will heap burning coals on his head.”c

21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Footnotes:

1 a Or your reasonable service

19 b Deuteronomy 32:35 (see also LXX)

20 c Proverbs 25:21–22 (see also LXX)

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Submission to Authorities
(1 Peter 2:13–20)

1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. 2Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. 4For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

5Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. 7Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Love Fulfills the Law
(Leviticus 19:9–18)

8Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,”a and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”b
10Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

The Day Is Near

11And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Instead, clothe yourselves withc the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

Footnotes:

9 a Exodus 20:13–17; Deuteronomy 5:17–21

9 b Leviticus 19:18

14 c Or put on; see verse 12.

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The Law of Liberty
(Matthew 7:1–6; Luke 6:37–42)

1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.a
2For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes a special day does so to the Lord;b he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

7For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone. 8If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

10Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11It is written:

“As surely as I live,
says the Lord,
every knee will bow before Me;
every tongue will confess to God.”c

12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

The Law of Love
(Ezekiel 14:1–11; 1 Corinthians 8:1–13)

13Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

14I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.

16Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

19So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.d

22Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God.e Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin.f

Footnotes:

1 a Or without quarreling over disputable matters

6 b BYZ and TR include he who does not regard the day, to the Lord he does not regard it;

11 c Or will give praise to God or will acknowledge God; Isaiah 45:23 (see also LXX)

21 d SBL, BYZ, and TR include or to be hindered or weakened.

22 e Literally Keep the faith that you have to yourself before God

23 f Some manuscripts place the text of Romans 16:25–27 here.

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Accept One Another

1We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”a
4For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

5Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus, 6so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ the Servant of Jews and Gentiles

7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs, 9so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles;

I will sing hymns to Your name.”b

10Again, it says:

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”c

11And again:

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and extol Him, all you peoples.”d

12And once more, Isaiah says:

“The Root of Jesse will appear,

One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles;
in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”e

13Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

14I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, brimming with knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, 19by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God.f So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

20In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about Him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand.”g

22That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

Paul’s Travel Plans
(1 Corinthians 16:5–9)

23But now that there are no further opportunities for me in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to visit you, 24I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.

25Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there. 26For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings.

28So after I have completed this service and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you. 29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessingh of Christ.

30Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, 32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.

33The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.i

Footnotes:

3 a Psalm 69:9

9 b 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49

10 c Deuteronomy 32:43

11 d Psalm 117:1

12 e Isaiah 11:10 (see also LXX)

19 f SBL the power of the Spirit; NE and WH the power of the Holy Spirit

21 g Isaiah 52:15 (see also LXX)

29 h TR and BYZ include of the gospel.

33 i Some manuscripts do not include Amen. One early manuscript places the text of Romans 16:25–27 here.

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Personal Greetings and Love

1I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servanta of the church in Cenchrea. 2Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.

3Greet Priscab and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5Greet also the church that meets at their house.

Greet my beloved Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.c

6Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.

7Greet Andronicus and Junia,d my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

8Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.

9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.

10Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ.

Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

11Greet Herodion, my fellow countryman.

Greet those from the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

12Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who have worked hard in the Lord.

Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.

13Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.

14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them.

15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.

16Greet one another with a holy kiss.

All the churches of Christ send you greetings.

Avoid Divisions
(Titus 3:9–11)

17Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. 18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

19Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.

20The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christe be with you.

Greetings from Paul’s Fellow Workers
(Colossians 4:7–14)

21Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen.

22I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23Gaius, who has hosted me and all the church, sends you greetings.

Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you greetings, as does our brother Quartus.f

Doxology
(Jude 1:24–25)

25Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past 26but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faithg — 27to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.h

Footnotes:

1 a Or deaconess

3 b Prisca is a variant of Priscilla; see Acts 18:2.

5 c Literally in Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.

7 d Some translators Junias

20 e NA, NE, and WH Lord Jesus

23 f SBL, BYZ, and TR include 24May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

26 g Literally the obedience of faith

27 h Some manuscripts place the text of verses 25–27 after Romans 14:23 or after Romans 15:33.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16)

Greetings from Paul and Sosthenes
(Acts 18:1–11; 2 Corinthians 1:1–2)

1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving
(Philippians 1:3–11; Colossians 1:3–14)

4I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus. 5For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge, 6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.

7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Unity in the Church
(Psalm 133:1–3; Ephesians 4:1–16)

10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction. 11My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,”a or “I follow Christ.”

13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember if I baptized anyone else. 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

The Message of the Cross

18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”b

20Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

22Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,c
24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom,d and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Wisdom from God

26Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast in His presence.

30It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”e

Footnotes:

12 a That is, Peter

19 b Isaiah 29:14 (see also LXX)

23 c BYZ and TR to Greeks

25 d Literally than men; twice in this verse

31 e Jeremiah 9:24

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Paul’s Message by the Spirit’s Power

1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith would not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

Spiritual Wisdom
(Ephesians 1:15–23)

6Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God,a which He destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9Rather, as it is written:

“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no heart has imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love Him.”b

10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.c

14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?”d But we have the mind of Christ.

Footnotes:

7 a Or we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery

9 b Isaiah 64:4

13 c Or to spiritual people

16 d Isaiah 40:13 (see also LXX)

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God’s Fellow Workers
(Hebrews 5:11–14)

1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready, 3for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man? 4For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?

5What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. 6I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose,a and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Christ Our Foundation
(Isaiah 28:14–22; Ephesians 2:19–22; 1 Peter 2:1–8)

10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.

God’s Temple and God’s Wisdom
(Romans 12:1–8; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20)

16Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells inb you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

18Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”c
20And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”d

21Therefore, stop boasting in men. All things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephase or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you, 23and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Footnotes:

8 a Literally are one

16 b Or among

19 c Job 5:13

20 d Psalm 94:11

22 e That is, Peter

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Servants of Christ

1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

3I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.

5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

6Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another. 7For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

8Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you! 9For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.

10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. 11To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

Paul’s Fatherly Warning

14I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. 15Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus,a which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.

18Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have. 20For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

Footnotes:

17 a BYZ and TR my way of life in Christ,

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Immorality Rebuked
(Leviticus 20:10–21; Proverbs 5:1–23)

1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. 2And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this?

3Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesusa and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus, 5hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.b

6Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough? 7Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.

Expel the Immoral Brother

9I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. 10I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

12What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”c

Footnotes:

4 a Or In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled

5 b BYZ and TR the Lord Jesus

13 c Literally Expel the evil from among you; Deuteronomy 13:5, 17:7, 19:19, 21:21, 22:21, 22:24, and 24:7

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Lawsuits among Believers

1If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints! 2Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

4So if you need to settle everyday matters, do you appoint as judges those of no standing in the church? 5I say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers? 6Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!

7The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, even against your own brothers!a

Members of Christ

9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

12“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything. 13“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also.

15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”b
17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.

The Temple of the Holy Spirit
(Romans 12:1–8; 1 Corinthians 3:16–23)

18Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.c

Footnotes:

8 a Literally do wrong, and this to brothers!

16 b Genesis 2:24 (see also LXX)

20 c BYZ and TR include and with your spirit, which belong to God.

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◀   ◀   1 Corinthians 7   ▶   ▶

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Principles of Marriage

1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.a
2But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.

5Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control. 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

8Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am. 9But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called youb to live in peace. 16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Live Your Calling

17Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches. 18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.

20Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called. 21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity. 22For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.

The Unmarried and Widowed

25Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26Because of the presentc crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing; 31and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

32I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord. 33But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.

35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.

36However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry,d let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married. 37But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin,e he will do well.

38So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.

39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.f
40In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

15 b SBL, BYZ, and TR us

26 c Or impending

36 d Literally and it ought to be so

37 e Literally in his heart to keep the virgin or in his heart to keep the betrothed

39 f Literally she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord

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◀   ◀   1 Corinthians 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Food Sacrificed to Idols
(Ezekiel 14:1–11; Romans 14:13–23)

1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But the one who loves God is known by God.

4So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), 6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

7But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

9Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? 11So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.

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◀   ◀   1 Corinthians 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Rights of an Apostle
(Deuteronomy 18:1–8)

1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord? 2Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3This is my defense to those who scrutinize me: 4Have we no right to food and to drink? 5Have we no right to take along a believing wife,a as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?b
6Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?c

7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?

8Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”d Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.

11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you? 12If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

13Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? 14In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. 15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.

16Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility. 18What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.

Paul the Servant to All

19Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law. 21To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Run Your Race to Win

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. 26Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. 27No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Footnotes:

5 a Literally take along a sister—a wife—

5 b That is, Peter

6 c Literally Or is it only Barnabas and I who do not have authority not to work?

9 d Deuteronomy 25:4

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◀   ◀   1 Corinthians 10   ▶   ▶

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Warnings from Israel’s Past
(Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)

1I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.

6These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and got up to indulge in revelry.”a
8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9We should not test Christ,b as some of them did, and were killed by snakes. 10And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.c

11Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall. 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

Flee from Idolatry
(Exodus 20:22–26)

14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

18Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar? 19Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. 22Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

All to God’s Glory
(1 Peter 4:1–11)

23“Everything is permissible,”d but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. 24No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”e

27If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience. 28But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—f
29the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. 32Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God— 33as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

Footnotes:

7 a Or to play; Exodus 32:6

9 b WH, NE, and Tischendorf test the Lord

10 c Literally the destroyer

23 d Or “All things are lawful,” twice in this verse

26 e Psalm 24:1

28 f BYZ and TR and for the sake of conscience—for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof—

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◀   ◀   1 Corinthians 11   ▶   ▶

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Roles in Worship

1You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

2Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you. 3But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved. 6If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. And if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.

7A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man. 9Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority ona her head, because of the angels.

11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For just as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.

Sharing in the Lord’s Supper
(Matthew 26:20–30; Mark 14:17–26; Luke 22:14–23)

17In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good. 18First of all, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.

20Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat. 21For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal.b While one remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? No, I will not!

23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you;c do this in remembrance of Me.”
25In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against thed body and blood of the Lord. 28Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the bodye eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

31Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment. 32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

33So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.

Footnotes:

10 a Or have authority over

21 b Literally each one takes first his own meal.

24 c BYZ and TR which is broken for you

27 d Or will be responsible for the

29 e BYZ and TR the body of the Lord

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◀   ◀   1 Corinthians 12   ▶   ▶

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Spiritual Gifts

1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.

7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.

The Body of Christ

12The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

14For the body does not consist of one part, but of many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

18But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.” 22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty, 24whereas our presentable parts have no such need.

But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

The Greater Gifts

27Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And now I will show you the most excellent way.

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◀   ◀   1 Corinthians 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Love

1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body,a but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. 6Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.

11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways. 12Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.

Footnotes:

3 a SBL, NE, BYZ, and TR surrender my body to be burned

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◀   ◀   1 Corinthians 14   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Prophecy and Tongues

1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. 4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

5I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.

6Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct? 8Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle? 9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

10Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreignera to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.

12It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church. 13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

15What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit,b how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.

18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21It is written in the Law:

“By strange tongues and foreign lips

I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to Me,
says the Lord.”c

22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all, 25and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

Orderly Worship

26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.

27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.

29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop. 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.d

34Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.e

36Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command. 38But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.f

39So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.

Footnotes:

11 a Literally a barbarian; twice in this verse

16 b Or in the Spirit

21 c Isaiah 28:11–12

33 d Or of peace. As in all the churches of the saints: Thus, some translators begin the new paragraph after peace.

35 e Some manuscripts place verses 34–35 after verse 40.

38 f BYZ and TR let him be ignorant

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◀   ◀   1 Corinthians 15   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Resurrection of Christ

1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He appeared to Cephasa and then to the Twelve. 6After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.

9For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith. 15In that case, we are also exposed as false witnesses about God. For we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead, but He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised.

16For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.

The Order of Resurrection

20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.

24Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. 25For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For “God has put everything under His feet.”b Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him. 28And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.

29If these things are not so, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30And why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31I face death every day, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.”c

33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”d
34Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.

The Resurrection Body

35But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37And what you sow is not the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something else. 38But God gives it a body as He has designed, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body.

39Not all flesh is the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another, and fish another. 40There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the splendor of the heavenly bodies is of one degree, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is of another. 41The sun has one degree of splendor, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. 43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being;”e the last Adam a life-giving spirit.

46The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48As was the earthly man, so also are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.

Where, O Death, Is Your Victory?
(Hosea 13:9–14)

50Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must be clothedf with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality,g then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”h

55“Where, O Death, is your victory?

Where, O Death, is your sting?”i

56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Footnotes:

5 a That is, Peter

27 b Psalm 8:6

32 c Isaiah 22:13

33 d Probably a quote from the Greek comedy Thais by Menander

45 e Genesis 2:7

53 f Or clothe itself

54 g WH does not include and the mortal with immortality.

54 h Isaiah 25:8

55 i Hosea 13:14 (see also LXX); BYZ and TR “Where, O Death, is your sting? Where, O Hades, is your victory?”

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◀   ◀   1 Corinthians 16   ▶   ▶

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The Collection for the Saints
(2 Corinthians 9:1–15)

1Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia: 2On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed. 3Then, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4And if it is advisable for me to go also, they can travel with me.

Paul’s Travel Plans
(Romans 15:23–33)

5After I go through Macedonia, however, I will come to you; for I will be going through Macedonia. 6Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7For I do not want to see you now only in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,a
9because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.

Timothy and Apollos
(Philippians 2:19–30)

10If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he can return to me, for I am expecting him along with the brothers.

12Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was not at all inclined to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

Concluding Exhortations

13Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong. 14Do everything in love.

15You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brothers, 16to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.

17I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation, therefore, to such men.

Signature and Final Greetings
(Colossians 4:15–18; 2 Thessalonians 3:16–18)

19The churches in the province of Asiab send you greetings.

Aquila and Priscac greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.

20All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.

22If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a curse. Come, O Lord!d

23The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

24My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.

Amen.e

Footnotes:

8 a That is, Shavuot, the late spring feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is also known as the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16) or the Feast of Weeks (see Exodus 34:22).

19 b Literally in Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.

19 c Prisca is a variant of Priscilla; see Acts 18:2.

22 d Greek Marana Tha! from a transliteration of the Aramaic, an exclamation of approaching divine judgment

24 e SBL, WH, and NA do not include Amen.

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◀   ◀   2 Corinthians 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13)

Paul Greets the Corinthians
(Acts 18:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3)

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The God of All Comfort

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

6If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience. 7And our hope for you is sure, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.

8We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia.a We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.

10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers.

Paul’s Change of Plans

12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldlyb wisdom, but in the grace of God. 13For we do not write you anything that is beyond your ability to read and understand. And I hope that you will understand us completely, 14as you have already understood us in part, so that you may boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of our Lord Jesus.c

15Confident of this, I planned to visit you first, so that you might receive a double blessing. 16I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to return to you from Macedonia, and then to have you help me on my way to Judea.

17When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” when I really mean “No, no”? 18But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanusd and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.” 20For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.

21Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us, 22placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come. 23I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm.

Footnotes:

8 a Literally in Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.

12 b Literally fleshly

14 c BYZ and TR the Lord Jesus

19 d That is, Silas

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◀   ◀   2 Corinthians 2   ▶   ▶

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Reaffirm Your Love

1So I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2For if I grieve you, who is left to cheer me but those whom I have grieved? 3I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy. 4For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you.

5Now if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me but all of you—to some degree, not to overstate it. 6The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

9My purpose in writing you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Triumph in Christ

12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord, 13I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.

14But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. 15For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life.a And who is qualified for such a task?

17For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.

Footnotes:

16 a Literally To the one, indeed, an aroma from death to death; but to the other, an aroma from life to life.

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◀   ◀   2 Corinthians 3   ▶   ▶

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Ministers of a New Covenant

1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4Such confidence before God is ours through Christ. 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God. 6And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The Glory of the New Covenant
(Exodus 34:10–35)

7Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, 8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness! 10Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it. 11For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!

12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away.

14But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. 15And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

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◀   ◀   2 Corinthians 4   ▶   ▶

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The Light of the Gospel

1Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry,a we do not lose heart. 2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”b made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.c

Treasure in Jars of Clay
(Romans 6:1–14)

7Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,”d we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak, 14knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesuse will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence. 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally Therefore, having this ministry, as we have received mercy,

6 b Genesis 1:3

6 c SBL, NE, and WH in the face of Christ

13 d Psalm 116:10 (see also LXX)

14 e SBL who raised Jesus

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◀   ◀   2 Corinthians 5   ▶   ▶

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Our Eternal Dwelling
(Romans 8:18–27)

1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4So while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.

6Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. 7For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

Ambassadors for Christ

11Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well. 12We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart.

13If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. 15And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

16So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.a The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

18All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 21God made Him who knew no sin to be sinb on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Footnotes:

17 a Or a new creature

21 b Or a sin offering

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◀   ◀   2 Corinthians 6   ▶   ▶

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Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace

1As God’s fellow workers,a then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2For He says:

“In the time of favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”b

Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!

3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.

4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; 5in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger; 6in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine; 9as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed; 10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are open wide. 12It is not our affection, but yours, that is restrained. 13As a fair exchange, I ask you as my children: Open wide your hearts also.

Do Not Be Unequally Yoked

14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?c Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be My people.”d

17“Therefore come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”e

18And:

“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be My sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”f

Footnotes:

1 a Literally Now working together

2 b Isaiah 49:8 (see also LXX)

15 c Scrivener’s TR and GOC; many Greek sources Beliar

16 d Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27

17 e Isaiah 52:11; see also Ezekiel 20:34, including LXX.

18 f See 2 Samuel 7:14.

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◀   ◀   2 Corinthians 7   ▶   ▶

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Paul’s Joy in the Corinthians

1Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you. 4Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.

5For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus, 7and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.

8Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it, I now see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time. 9And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

11Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God. 13On account of this, we are encouraged.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14Indeed, I was not embarrassed by anything I had boasted to him about you. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved to be true as well. 15And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling. 16I rejoice that I can have complete confidence in you.

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◀   ◀   2 Corinthians 8   ▶   ▶

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Generosity Commended
(Philippians 4:10–20)

1Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia. 2In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord, 4they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.

6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it. 7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in youa —see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 10And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire. 11Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means. 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

13It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality. 14At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. Then there will be equality. 15As it is written:

“He who gathered much had no excess,
and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”b

Titus Commended
(Titus 1:1–4)

16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you. 17For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.

18Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel. 19More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offeringc —the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

20We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift. 21For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.

22And we are sending along with them our brother whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you. 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengersd of the churches, to the glory of Christ. 24In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.

Footnotes:

7 a Or in your love for us

15 b Exodus 16:18

19 c See 1 Corinthians 16:3–4.

23 d Or apostles

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◀   ◀   2 Corinthians 9   ▶   ▶

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God Loves a Cheerful Giver
(1 Corinthians 16:1–4)

1Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you. 2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.

3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said. 4Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the bountiful gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.

6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.a
8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever.”b

10Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God. 12For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.

13Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others. 14And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Footnotes:

7 a See Proverbs 22:8, LXX addition.

9 b Psalm 112:9

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Paul’s Apostolic Authority

1Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away. 2I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.

3For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. 4The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.

7You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does. 8For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.

9I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you by my letters. 10For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.” 11Such people should consider that what we are in our letters when absent, we will be in our actions when present.

12We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance. 13We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you. 14We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you. Indeed, we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ.

15Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase as well, 16so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. Then we will not be boasting in the work already done in another man’s territory.

17Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”a
18For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Footnotes:

17 a Jeremiah 9:24

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Paul and the False Apostles

1I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that. 2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

3I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily.

5I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.

7Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8I robbed other churches by accepting their support in order to serve you. 9And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so. 10As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

12But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast. 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Paul’s Suffering and Service
(Colossians 1:24–29)

16I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19For you gladly tolerate fools, since you are so wise. 20In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the face. 21To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that!

Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.

26In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers, 27in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.

28Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with grief?

30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise,a knows that I am not lying. 32In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me. 33But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

Footnotes:

31 a Or forever blessed

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Paul’s Revelation

1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.

Paul’s Thorn and God’s Grace

5I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses. 6Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me, 7or because of these surpassingly great revelations.

So to keep me from becoming conceited,a I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 12The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance. 13In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

14See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?

16Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery. 17Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you? 18I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?b

19Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up. 20For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. 21I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.

Footnotes:

7 a Some translators end the previous paragraph after verse 6, and begin verse 7 with So to keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations,

18 b Literally Did we not walk in the same Spirit? Not in the same footsteps?

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Examine Yourselves

1This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”a

2I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone, 3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you.

5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test? 6And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.

7Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed. 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.

10This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

Benediction and Farewell

11Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another,b be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

12Greet one another with a holy kiss.

13All the saints send you greetings.

14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.c

Footnotes:

1 a Deuteronomy 19:15

11 b Or listen to my appeal

14 c Texts vary in verse numbering for the last three verses of this chapter. BYZ and TR end with Amen.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6)

Paul’s Greeting to the Galatians

1Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead— 2and all the brothers with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,a
4who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel

6I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.

8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!

Paul Preaches the Gospel

10Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man.b
12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

13For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased 16to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

18Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas,c and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.

21Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24And they glorified God because of me.

Footnotes:

3 a SBL, BYZ, and TR God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ

11 b Literally not according to man

18 c That is, Peter

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The Council at Jerusalem
(Acts 15:5–21)

1Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain. 3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

4This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. 5We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

6But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritisma—those leaders added nothing to me. 7On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. 8For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.

9And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas,b and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Paul Confronts Cephas

11When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

14When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”c

15We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners” 16know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

17But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker.

19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God. 20I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.

Footnotes:

6 a Literally God does not accept the face of man

9 b That is, Peter; also in verses 11 and 14

14 c Some translators close this quotation after verse 16 or 21.

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Faith and Belief
(James 2:14–26)

1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

3Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing? 5Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?

6So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”a
7Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. 8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”b
9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Christ Has Redeemed Us

10All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”c
11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”d
12The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”e

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”f
14He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abrahamg would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The Purpose of the Law
(Romans 7:1–6)

15Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended. 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,”h meaning One, who is Christ.

17What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

19Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator. 20A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.

21Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law. 22But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

23Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Sons through Faith in Christ

26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Footnotes:

6 a Genesis 15:6

8 b See Genesis 12:3, Genesis 18:18, and Genesis 22:18.

10 c Deuteronomy 27:26 (see also LXX)

11 d Habakkuk 2:4

12 e Leviticus 18:5; see also Ezekiel 20:11, 13, and 21.

13 f Deuteronomy 21:23 (see also LXX)

14 g Literally the blessing of Abraham

16 h Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15

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Sons and Heirs

1What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything. 2He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.

3So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principlesa of the world. 4But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain. 12I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.

13You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself. 15What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. 18Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.

19My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.

Hagar and Sarah
(Genesis 21:9–21)

21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.b
23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

24These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written:

“Rejoice, O barren woman,
who bears no children;
break forth and cry aloud,
you who have never travailed;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband.”c

28Now you,d brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.

30But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”e
31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Footnotes:

3 a Or elemental forces; similarly in verse 9

22 b See Genesis 16:15 and Genesis 21:2–3.

27 c Isaiah 54:1

28 d WH, BYZ, and TR we

30 e Genesis 21:10

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Freedom in Christ

1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.

2Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

5But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.

7You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth? 8Such persuasion does not come from the One who calls you. 9A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough. 10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.

11Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!

13For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”a
15But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

Walking by the Spirit
(Ezekiel 36:16–38; Romans 8:9–11)

16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.

Footnotes:

14 a Leviticus 19:18

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Carry One Another’s Burdens

1Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else. 5For each one should carry his own load. 6Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.

7Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. 8The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

9Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

Final Warnings and Blessings

11See what large letters I am using to write to you with my own hand!

12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ. 13For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

14But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whicha the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.

16Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.

17From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers.

Amen.

Footnotes:

14 a Or through whom

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6)

Paul’s Greeting to the Ephesians
(Acts 19:8–12; Revelation 2:1–7)

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints in Ephesus,a the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings
(Romans 8:28–34)

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. 4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love 5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.

7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.

11In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.

13And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.

Spiritual Wisdom
(1 Corinthians 2:6–16)

15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.

18I ask that the eyes of your heartb may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength, 20which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

22And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Footnotes:

1 a Some manuscripts do not include in Ephesus.

18 b BYZ and TR the eyes of your understanding

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Alive with Christ
(Colossians 2:6–23)

1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.a

One in Christ
(Philippians 2:1–4)

11Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)— 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

14For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace 16and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility.

17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Christ Our Cornerstone
(Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; 1 Peter 2:1–8)

19Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. 21In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.

Footnotes:

10 a Literally which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

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The Mystery of the Gospel

1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...a

2Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power. 8Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to illuminate for everyone the stewardshipb of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12In Him and through faith in Himc we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence. 13So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians

14... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,d
15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth 19of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Footnotes:

1 a This train of thought is continued in verse 14.

9 b NE and WH and to illuminate the stewardship; TR and to illuminate for everyone the fellowship

12 c Or through His faithfulness

14 d BYZ and TR before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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Unity in the Body
(Psalm 133:1–3; 1 Corinthians 1:10–17)

1As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8This is why it says:a

“When He ascended on high,

He led captives away,
and gave gifts to men.”b

9What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descendedc to the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.

11And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. 16From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.

New Life in Christ
(Colossians 3:1–17)

17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 19Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.

20But this is not the way you came to know Christ. 21Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus— 22to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. 26“Be angry, yet do not sin.”d Do not let the sun set upon your anger, 27and do not give the devil a foothold.

28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.

29Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Footnotes:

8 a Or He says

8 b Psalm 68:18

9 c BYZ and TR except that He also descended first

26 d Or “In your anger do not sin.” Psalm 4:4

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Imitators of God

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, 2and walk in love, just as Christ loved usa and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

3But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Children of Light

8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,b for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself. 14So it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wives and Husbands
(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; 1 Peter 3:1–7)

21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.c

22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.

28In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church. 30For we are members of His body.d

31“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”e
32This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Footnotes:

2 a NE and WH Christ loved you

13 b SBL begins verse 14 after visible,

21 c Or in the fear of Christ.

30 d BYZ and TR include —of His flesh and of His bones.

31 e Genesis 2:24 (see also LXX)

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Children and Parents
(Colossians 3:18–21)

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”a

4Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Serving with Honor
(Colossians 3:22–25; 1 Timothy 6:1–2)

5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

9And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

The Full Armor of God

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

13Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. 19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings
(Philippians 4:21–23; 2 Timothy 4:19–22)

21Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing. 22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.

23Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Footnotes:

3 a Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16

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(Ch. 2 3 4)

Greetings from Paul and Timothy
(Colossians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)

1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer
(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Colossians 1:3–14)

3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me. 8God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel
(James 1:2–12)

12Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guarda and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the wordb without fear.

15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.c
17The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.

18What then is the issue?d Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance. 20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

To Live Is Christ

21For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. 23I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. 24But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me.

Worthy of the Gospel

27Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending side by sidee for the faith of the gospel, 28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God. 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Footnotes:

13 a Or all the Praetorium

14 b NE and WH the word of God

16 c BYZ and TR reverse the order of verses 16 and 17.

18 d Literally What then?

27 e Or striving together with one mind

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One in Christ
(Ephesians 2:11–18)

1Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The Mind of Christ
(Isaiah 52:13–15)

5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:

6Who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,a

7but emptied Himself,
taking the form of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

8And being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled Himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross.

9Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
and gave Him the name above all names,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World
(Matthew 5:13–16)

12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation,b in which you shine as lights in the world 16as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus
(1 Corinthians 16:10–12)

19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing. 20I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs. 21For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel. 23So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me. 24And I trust in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

25But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs. 26For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious. 29Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me.

Footnotes:

6 a Or something to be exploited

15 b Deuteronomy 32:5

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Righteousness through Faith in Christ
(Romans 3:21–31)

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

2Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh! 3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4though I myself could have such confidence.

If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.

7But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ,a the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

10I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on toward the Goal

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

15All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well. 16Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.

Citizenship in Heaven

17Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you. 18For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

20But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

Footnotes:

9 a Or through the faithfulness of Christ

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Rejoice in the Lord

1Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you must stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

2I urge Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow,a to help these women who have labored with me for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near.

6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

The Generosity of the Philippians
(2 Corinthians 8:1–15)

10Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. 12I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. 13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.b

14Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction. 15And as you Philippians know, in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving. 16For even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs again and again.

17Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account. 18I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

19And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings
(Ephesians 6:21–24; 2 Timothy 4:19–22)

21Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus.

The brothers who are with me send you greetings.

22All the saints send you greetings, especially those from the household of Caesar.

23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.c

Footnotes:

3 a Or I ask you, loyal Syzygus

13 b NA, SBL, NE, and WH in the One who gives me strength. BYZ and TR in Christ who gives me strength.

23 c BYZ and TR include Amen.

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(Ch. 2 3 4)

Greetings from Paul and Timothy
(Philippians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father.a

Thanksgiving and Prayer
(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Philippians 1:3–11)

3We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints— 5the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6that has come to you.

All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God. 7You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on ourb behalf, 8and who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified youc to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

13He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption,d the forgiveness of sins.

The Supremacy of the Son
(Hebrews 1:1–14)

15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.

17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence. 19For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 20and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.

21Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. 22But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence— 23if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creaturee under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Paul’s Suffering for the Church
(2 Corinthians 11:16–33)

24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church. 25I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God, 26the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfectf in Christ. 29To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.

Footnotes:

2 a BYZ and TR God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

7 b NE, NA, BYZ, and TR your

12 c BYZ and TR us

14 d TR redemption through His blood,

23 e Or in all creation

28 f Or fully mature

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Absent in Body, Present in Spirit
(Revelation 3:14–22)

1For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face, 2that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,a
3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric. 5For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.

Alive with Christ
(Ephesians 2:1–10)

6Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, 7rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. 10And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

11In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christb and not by human hands. 12And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.

13When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, 14having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

16Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.c
18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind. 19He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.

20If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: 21“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? 22These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Footnotes:

2 a Literally the mystery of God: Christ

11 b Literally in the cutting away of the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ

17 c Literally but the body is of the Christ

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Put On the New Self
(Ephesians 4:17–32)

1Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is youra life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.b
7When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways. 8But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

9Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.

12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.

16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Christian Households
(Ephesians 6:1–4)

18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

21Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.

Serving with Honor
(Ephesians 6:5–9; 1 Timothy 6:1–2)

22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.

23Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, 24because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Footnotes:

4 a NE, WH, BYZ, and TR our

6 b NE, WH, and Tischendorf do not include on the sons of disobedience.

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Prayerful Speech and Actions

1Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful, 3as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.

5Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time. 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Greetings from Paul’s Fellow Workers
(Romans 16:21–23)

7Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. 8I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts. 9With him I am sending Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

10My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him. 11Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God. 13For I testify about him that he goes to great pains for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.

14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.

Signature and Final Instructions
(1 Corinthians 16:19–24; 2 Thessalonians 3:16–18)

15Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house.

16After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

17Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”

18This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.

Remember my chains.

Grace be with you.a

Footnotes:

18 a BYZ and TR include Amen.

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◀   ◀   1 Thessalonians 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5)

Greetings to the Thessalonians
(2 Thessalonians 1:1–4)

1Paul, Silvanus,a and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.b

2We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers 3and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

4Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you, 5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake. 6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.

7As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more. 9For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 10and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.

Footnotes:

1 a That is, Silas

1 b BYZ and TR include from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Paul’s Ministry

1You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain. 2As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.

3For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery. 4Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts. 5As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness! 6Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.a

7On the contrary, we were gentle among you,b like a nursing mother caring for her children. 8We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.

9Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed. 11For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children— 12encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

13And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe.

14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews, 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men, 16hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.c

Paul’s Longing to Visit

17Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense. 18For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us. 19After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20You are indeed our glory and our joy.

Footnotes:

6 a Or although as apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you; SBL, NE, and WH include this phrase with verse 7.

7 b WH and NA we were like young children among you

16 c Or at last the wrath (of God) has come upon them.

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Timothy’s Visit

1So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens. 2We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for Goda in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this. 4Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass. 5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in vain.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

6But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you. 7For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith. 8For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord.

9How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence? 10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith.

11Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. 12And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows, 13so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

Footnotes:

2 a Or our brother and God’s fellow worker; NE, WH, BYZ, and TR our brother and minister of God

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Living to Please God

1Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more. 2For you know the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; 4each of you must know how to control his own bodya in holiness and honor, 5not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard,b because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you. 7For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness. 8Anyone, then, who rejects this command does not reject man but God, the very One who gives you His Holy Spirit.

9Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. 10And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more 11and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you. 12Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.

The Return of the Lord

13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death,c so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Footnotes:

4 a Literally know how to possess his own vessel

6 b Or no one should ever harm or cheat his brother in this matter

13 c Literally those who have fallen asleep, as in verses 14 and 15

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The Day of the Lord
(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 2 Peter 3:8–13)

1Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you. 2For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. 5For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.

9For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. 11Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.

Christian Living

12But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction. 13In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

14And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

15Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

16Rejoice at all times. 17Pray without ceasing. 18Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20Do not treat prophecies with contempt, 21but test all things. Hold fast to what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.

Final Blessings and Instructions

23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blamelessa at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.

25Brothers, pray for us as well.

26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.b

Footnotes:

23 a Or may your spirit, soul, and body be kept entirely blameless

28 b BYZ and TR include Amen.

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(Ch. 2 3)

Greetings to the Thessalonians
(1 Thessalonians 1:1–10)

1Paul, Silvanus,a and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2Grace and peace to you from God our Fatherb and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing. 4That is why we boast among God’s churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring.

Christ’s Coming

5All this is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment. And so you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels 8in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might, 10on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.

11To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith, 12so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.c

Footnotes:

1 a That is, Silas

2 b SBL, NE, and WH God the Father

12 c Or the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

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The Man of Lawlessness

1Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. 4He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

5Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you? 6And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.

9The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, 10and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. 11For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, 12in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.

Stand Firm

13But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginninga to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth. 14To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.

16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.

Footnotes:

13 a Or God has chosen you as the firstfruits

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Request for Prayer

1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you. 2And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith. 3But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.a
4And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

A Warning against Idleness

6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you receivedb from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you, 8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”

11Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies. 12We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living. 13But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.

14Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Signature and Final Greetings
(1 Corinthians 16:19–24; Colossians 4:15–18)

16Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

17This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write.

18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.c

Footnotes:

3 a Or from evil

6 b Or they received

18 c BYZ and TR include Amen.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6)

Paul’s Greeting to Timothy
(2 Timothy 1:1–2)

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

2To Timothy, my true child in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Correcting False Teachers
(Titus 1:10–16)

3As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines 4or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith.a

5The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. 6Some have strayed from these ways and turned aside to empty talk. 7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.

8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. 9We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, 10for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave tradersb and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching 11that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

God’s Grace to Paul

12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service. 13I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. 14And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. 16But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

18Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight, 19holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith. 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Footnotes:

4 a Literally rather than the stewardship of God in faith

10 b Or for kidnappers

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◀   ◀   1 Timothy 2   ▶   ▶

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A Call to Prayer

1First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. 3This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.

7For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything. 8Therefore I want the men everywherea to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.

Instructions to Women

9Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.

11A womanb must learn in quietness and full submissiveness. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man;c she is to remain quiet. 13For Adam was formed first, and then Eve. 14And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression. 15Women, however, will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

Footnotes:

8 a Or in every place (of worship)

11 b Or wife; also in verse 12

12 c Or over her husband

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◀   ◀   1 Timothy 3   ▶   ▶

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Qualifications for Overseers
(Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)

1This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife,a temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

4An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity. 5For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. 7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons
(Acts 6:1–7)

8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money. 9They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.

11In the same way, the womenb must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.

12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household. 13For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things 15in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

16By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great:

He appearedc in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,d
was seen by angels,
was proclaimed among the nations,
was believed in throughout the world,
was taken up in glory.

Footnotes:

2 a Or faithful to his wife; also in verse 12

11 b Or their wives

16 c Literally He who appeared; BYZ and TR God appeared

16 d Or vindicated in spirit

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◀   ◀   1 Timothy 4   ▶   ▶

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A Warning against Apostasy

1Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, 2influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.

3They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, 5because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

A Good Servant of Jesus Christ

6By pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of faith and sound instruction that you have followed.

7But reject irreverent, silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness. 8For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come. 9This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance.

10To this end we labor and strive,a because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe. 11Command and teach these things.

12Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.

14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders. 15Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Footnotes:

10 a SBL, BYZ, and TR and suffer reproach

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◀   ◀   1 Timothy 5   ▶   ▶

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Reproof and Respect

1Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father.

Treat younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Honoring True Widows
(Ruth 1:1–5)

3Honor the widows who are truly widows. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

5The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers. 6But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.

7Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach. 8If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man, 10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.

11But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry, 12and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith. 13At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.

14So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander. 15For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.

16If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.

Honoring Elders

17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”a and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”b

19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 20But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.

A Charge to Timothy

21I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.

22Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

23Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

24The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later. 25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.

Footnotes:

18 a Deuteronomy 25:4

18 b Luke 10:7; see also Leviticus 19:13 and Deuteronomy 24:14–15.

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◀   ◀   1 Timothy 6   ▶   ▶

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Serving with Honor
(Ephesians 6:5–9; Colossians 3:22–25)

1All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited. 2Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.

Reject False Doctrines

3If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, 4he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.a

Godliness with Contentment

6Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, sob we cannot carry anything out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

9Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Fight the Good Fight

11But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.

13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate: 14Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time. 16He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

A Charge to the Rich
(Proverbs 23:1–5; James 5:1–6)

17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. 18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, 19treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Guard the Faith

20O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,” 21which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith.

Grace be with you all.c

Footnotes:

5 a BYZ and TR include Withdraw yourself from such.

7 b BYZ and TR so certainly

21 c BYZ and TR include Amen.

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◀   ◀   2 Timothy 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4)

Paul’s Greeting to Timothy
(1 Timothy 1:1–2)

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,

2To Timothy, my beloved child:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Faithfulness under Persecution
(Matthew 10:16–25)

3I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers. 4Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.

5I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.

6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God has not given us a spirit of fear,a but of power, love, and self-control.

8So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. 9He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.b
10And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel, 11to which I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.

12For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Himc for that day.

Holding to Sound Teaching

13Hold on to the pattern of sound teachingd you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14Guard the treasure entrusted to you,e with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

15You know that everyone in the Province of Asiaf has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains. 17Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me.

18May the Lord grant Onesiphorus His mercy on that day. You know very well how much he ministered to me in Ephesus.

Footnotes:

7 a Or timidity or cowardice

9 b Literally before times eternal

12 c Or what He has entrusted to me

13 d Literally sound words

14 e Or the good deposit entrusted to you

15 f Literally in Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.

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◀   ◀   2 Timothy 2   ▶   ▶

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Grace and Perseverance
(Hebrews 12:1–3)

1You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.

3Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him. 5Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops. 7Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all things.

8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David, as proclaimed by my gospel, 9for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained! 10For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

11This is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with Him,
we will also live with Him;

12if we endure,
we will also reign with Him;
if we deny Him,

He will also deny us;

13if we are faithless,

He remains faithful,
for He cannot deny Himself.

The Lord’s Approved Workman

14Remind the believers of these things, charging them before Goda to avoid quarreling over words, which succeeds only in leading the listeners to ruin.

15Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

16But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness, 17and the talk of such men will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some.

19Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,”b and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”

20A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. 21So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit,c he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.

22Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. 24And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing. 25He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. 26Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.

Footnotes:

14 a SBL, BYZ, and TR the Lord

19 b Numbers 16:5 (see also LXX)

21 c Literally cleanses himself of these

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◀   ◀   2 Timothy 3   ▶   ▶

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Evil in the Last Days

1But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. 2For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, 4traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!

6They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions, 7who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,a so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith. 9But they will not advance much further. For just like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be plain to everyone.

All Scripture Is God-Breathed
(Hebrews 4:12–16)

10You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance, 11my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. 15From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

Footnotes:

8 a See Jasher 79:27. The Book of Jashar or the Book of the Upright One is often cited as Jasher.

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◀   ◀   2 Timothy 4   ▶   ▶

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Preach the Word

1I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom: 2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.

3For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.

Personal Concerns

9Make every effort to come to me quickly, 10because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry. 12Tychicus, however, I have sent to Ephesus. 13When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

14Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message.

The Lord Remains Faithful

16At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them. 17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion. 18And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings
(Ephesians 6:21–24; Philippians 4:21–23)

19Greet Priscaa and Aquila, as well as the household of Onesiphorus.

20Erastus has remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick in Miletus.

21Make every effort to come to me before winter.

Eubulus sends you greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.

22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.b

Footnotes:

19 a Prisca is a variant of Priscilla; see Acts 18:2.

22 b BYZ and TR include Amen.

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◀   ◀   Titus 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3)

Paul’s Greeting to Titus
(2 Corinthians 8:16–24)

1Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, 2in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.a
3In His own time He has made His word evident in the proclamation entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.

4To Titus, my true child in our common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Appointing Elders on Crete
(1 Timothy 3:1–7; 1 Peter 5:1–4)

5The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife,b having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.

7As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. 8Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.

Correcting False Teachers
(1 Timothy 1:3–11)

10For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, 11who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not. 12As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”c

13This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith 14and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth.

15To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

Footnotes:

2 a Literally before times eternal

6 b Or faithful to his wife

12 c This quote, also known as the Epimenides paradox, has been attributed to the Cretan philosopher Epimenides of Knossos.

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◀   ◀   Titus 2   ▶   ▶

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Teaching Sound Doctrine

1But as for you, speak the things that are consistent with sound doctrine.

2Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance.

3Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good. 4In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.

6In the same way, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

7In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.

9Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10not stealing from them, but showing all good faith, so that in every respect they will adorn the teaching about God our Savior.

God’s Grace Brings Salvation

11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. 12It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 14He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

15Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

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◀   ◀   Titus 3   ▶   ▶

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Heirs of Grace

1Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work, 2to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.

3For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birtha and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 8This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.

Avoid Divisions
(Romans 16:17–20)

9But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless.

10Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, 11knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Final Remarks and Greetings

12As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13Do your best to equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they will have everything they need. 14And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.

15All who are with me send you greetings.

Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with all of you.b

Footnotes:

5 a Or of regeneration

15 b BYZ and TR include Amen.

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◀   ◀   Philemon 1   ▶   ▶

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Greetings from Paul and Timothy
(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)

1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker, 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at youra house:

3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Faith and Love

4I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers, 5because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ. 7I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

8So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper, 9I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

10I appeal to you for my child Onesimus,b whose father I became while I was in chains. 11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.

13I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will. 15For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.

17So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account. 19I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

20Yes, brother, let me have some benefitc from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Additional Greetings

23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, 24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.d

Footnotes:

2 a You and Your are singular throughout this letter, except in verses 3, 22, and 25.

10 b Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20).

20 c Greek onaimēn, a play on the name Onesimus

25 d BYZ and TR include Amen.

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13)

The Supremacy of the Son
(Colossians 1:15–23)

1On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. 2But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son,a whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.b

3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs. 5For to which of the angels did God ever say:

“You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father”c?

Or again:

“I will be His Father,
and He will be My Son”d?

6And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says:

“Let all God’s angels worship Him.”e

7Now about the angels He says:

“He makes His angels winds,

His servants flames of fire.”f

8But about the Son He says:

“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever,
and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.

9You have loved righteousness
and hated wickedness;
therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
above Your companions with the oil of joy.”g

10And:

“In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

11They will perish, but You remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.

12You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garmenth they will be changed;
but You remain the same,
and Your years will never end.”i

13Yet to which of the angels did God ever say:

“Sit at My right hand
until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”j?

14Are not the angelsk ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Footnotes:

2 a Or in His Son

2 b Or the world; literally the ages

5 c Psalm 2:7; literally today I have begotten You

5 d 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13

6 e Deuteronomy 32:43 (see DSS and LXX)

7 f Psalm 104:4 (see also LXX)

9 g Psalm 45:6–7

12 h BYZ and TR do not include like a garment.

12 i Psalm 102:25–27

13 j Psalm 110:1

14 k Literally Are they not all

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Salvation Confirmed

1We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.

Jesus like His Brothers

5For it is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6But somewhere it is testified in these words:

“What is man that You are mindful of him,
or the son of man that You care for him?

7You made him a little lowera than the angels;

You crowned him with glory and honorb

8and placed everything under his feet.”c

When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. 9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the authord of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12He says:

“I will proclaim Your name to My brothers;

I will sing Your praises in the assembly.”e

13And again:

“I will put My trust in Him.”f

And once again:

“Here am I, and the children God has given Me.”g

14Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

16For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham. 17For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonementh for the sins of the people. 18Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

Footnotes:

7 a Or a little while lower; also in verse 9

7 b WH and TR include and set him over the works of Your hands.

8 c Psalm 8:4–6 (see also LXX)

10 d Or pioneer or founder

12 e Psalm 22:22 (see also LXX)

13 f Isaiah 8:17

13 g Isaiah 8:18

17 h Or to make propitiation

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Jesus Our Apostle and High Priest

1Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.a

3For Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4And every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

5Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,b testifying to what would be spoken later. 6But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmlyc to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.

Do Not Harden Your Hearts
(Psalm 95:1–11)

7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you hear His voice,

8do not harden your hearts,
as you did in the rebellion,
in the day of testing in the wilderness,

9where your fathers tested and tried Me,
and for forty years saw My works.

10Therefore I was angry with that generation,
and I said,

‘Their hearts are always going astray,
and they have not known My ways.’

11So I swore on oath in My anger,

‘They shall never enter My rest.’ ”d

The Peril of Unbelief

12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. 13But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first. 15As it has been said:

“Today, if you hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts,
as you did in the rebellion.”e

16For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? 19So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.

Footnotes:

2 a Literally just as Moses in all His house; SBL just as Moses in His house

5 b Numbers 12:7

6 c NE, WH, BYZ, and TR include to the end.

11 d Psalm 95:7–11 (see also LXX)

15 e Psalm 95:7–8

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◀   ◀   Hebrews 4   ▶   ▶

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The Sabbath Rest
(Genesis 2:1–3; Exodus 16:22–30)

1Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. 2For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.a

3Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said:

“So I swore on oath in My anger,

‘They shall never enter My rest.’ ”b

And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world. 4For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”c
5And again, as He says in the passage above: “They shall never enter My rest.”

6Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest, and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience, 7God again designated a certain day as “Today,” when a long time later He spoke through David as was just stated: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”d

8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

The Living Word
(2 Timothy 3:10–17)

12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Footnotes:

2 a Literally not having been united in the faith of those who heard

3 b Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5

4 c Genesis 2:2

7 d Psalm 95:7–8

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The Perfect High Priest
(Psalm 110:1–7)

1Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness. 3That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

4No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him:

“You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father.”a

6And in another passage God says:

“You are a priest forever
in the order of Melchizedek.”b

7During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. 9And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him 10and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Milk and Solid Food
(1 Corinthians 3:1–9)

11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing. 12Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word.c You need milk, not solid food!

13For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

Footnotes:

5 a Psalm 2:7; literally today I have begotten You

6 b Psalm 110:4

12 c Or of the oracles of God

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◀   ◀   Hebrews 6   ▶   ▶

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A Call to Maturity

1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works,a and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms,b the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And this we will do, if God permits.

4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— 6and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.

7For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.

9Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. 10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.

11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

God’s Unchangeable Promise

13When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, 14saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.”c
15And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.

16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. 17So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath. 18Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

Footnotes:

1 a Or from acts that lead to death

2 b Or cleansing rites

14 c Genesis 22:17

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◀   ◀   Hebrews 7   ▶   ▶

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Melchizedek and Abraham
(Genesis 14:17–24)

1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High.a He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

4Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder. 5Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham. 6But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.

8In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on. 9And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham. 10For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.

A Superior Priesthood

11Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? 12For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.

15And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is testified:

“You are a priest forever
in the order of Melchizedek.”b

18So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, 21but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him:

“The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind:

‘You are a priest forever.’ ”c

22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. 24But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore He is able to save completelyd those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Footnotes:

1 a Genesis 14:18

17 b Psalm 110:4

21 c Psalm 110:4

25 d Or forever

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◀   ◀   Hebrews 8   ▶   ▶

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Christ’s Eternal Priesthood

1The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2and who ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. 3And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.

4Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”a

The New Covenant
(Jeremiah 31:26–40)

6Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises. 7For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second. 8But God found fault with the people and said:

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.

9It will not be like the covenant

I made with their fathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of the land of Egypt,
because they did not abide by My covenant,
and I disregarded them,
declares the Lord.

10For this is the covenant I will make
with the house of Israel
after those days,
declares the Lord.

I will put My laws in their minds
and inscribe them on their hearts.

And I will be their God,
and they will be My people.

11No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother,
saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know Me,
from the least of them to the greatest.

12For I will forgive their iniquities
and will remember their sins no more.”b

13By speaking of a new covenant,c He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

Footnotes:

5 a Exodus 25:40; see also Exodus 26:30.

12 b Jeremiah 31:31–34 (see also LXX)

13 c Literally In saying new; here and in Hebrews 9:1 and 18, covenant is included for clarity but is not contained in the Greek. A broader interpretation could also include priesthood or tabernacle.

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◀   ◀   Hebrews 9   ▶   ▶

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The Earthly Tabernacle
(Exodus 40:1–33; Acts 7:44–47)

1Now the first covenanta had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread.b This was called the Holy Place. 3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,c
4containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat.d But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

6When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. 7But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

8By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Placee had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper. 10They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.

Redemption through His Blood

11But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come,f He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. 12He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.

13For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify ourg consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

15Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

16In the case of a will,h it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it, 17because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.

18That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats,i along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people, 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”j

21In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship. 22According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.

25Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

27Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally the first; also in verse 18; see the footnote for Hebrews 8:13.

2 b Or the Bread of the Presence

3 c Or the Holy of Holies

5 d Or atonement cover

8 e Or the Holy Place; also in verses 12 and 25

11 f BYZ and TR that are to come

14 g BYZ and TR your

16 h Greek diathēkē is also translated as covenant throughout this chapter.

19 i SBL does not include and goats.

20 j Exodus 24:8

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◀   ◀   Hebrews 10   ▶   ▶

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Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice
(Psalm 40:1–17)

1For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt the guilt of their sins.

3Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
but a body You prepared for Me.

6In burnt offerings and sin offerings

You took no delight.

7Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll:

I have come to do Your will, O God.’ ”a

8In the passage above He says, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor did You delight in them” (although they are offered according to the law). 9Then He adds, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. 10And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. 13Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet, 14because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.

15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says:

16“This is the covenant I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord.

I will put My laws in their hearts
and inscribe them on their minds.”b

17Then He adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts

I will remember no more.”c

18And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.

A Call to Persevere
(Jude 1:17–23)

19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Placed by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,e
21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. 25Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

26If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

30For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,”f and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”g
31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32Remember the early days that you were in the light.h In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated. 34You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.

35So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward. 36You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. 37For,

“In just a little while,

He who is coming will come and will not delay.

38But My righteous one will live by faith;i
and if he shrinks back,

I will take no pleasure in him.”j

39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Footnotes:

7 a Psalm 40:6–8 (see also LXX)

16 b Jeremiah 31:33

17 c Jeremiah 31:34

19 d Or the Holy Place

20 e Literally through the veil that is His flesh

30 f Deuteronomy 32:35 (see also LXX)

30 g Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalm 135:14

32 h Or Remember when you were first enlightened.

38 i BYZ and TR But the righteous will live by faith

38 j Habakkuk 2:3–4 (see also LXX)

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◀   ◀   Hebrews 11   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Faith and Assurance
(Genesis 1:1–2; John 1:1–5)

1Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 2This is why the ancients were commended.

3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah
(Genesis 4–9)

4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

5By faith Enoch was taken upa so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”b For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

The Faith of Abraham and Sarah
(Genesis 15–22; Romans 4:1–12)

8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. 9By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,c
18even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”d
19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph
(Genesis 27–50)

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.

The Faith of Moses
(Exodus 2–15; Acts 7:20–22)

23By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.

24By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. 26He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

27By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.

29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow,e they were drowned.

The Faith of Many
(Joshua–Malachi)

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

32And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

37They were stoned, they were sawed in two,f they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. 38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

39These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. 40God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

Footnotes:

5 a Literally transferred or translated

5 b Genesis 5:24 (see also LXX)

17 c Or only begotten son or unique son

18 d Genesis 21:12

29 e Literally made an attempt

37 f NE, WH, BYZ, and TR include they were put to the test,

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◀   ◀   Hebrews 12   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Call to Endurance
(2 Timothy 2:1–13)

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the authora and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Sons

4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:

“My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord,
and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.

6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves,
and He chastises every son He receives.”b

7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?

10Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. 11No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peacec to those who have been trained by it.

12Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.d
13Make straight paths for your feet,e so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

A Call to Holiness
(1 Peter 1:13–21)

14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitternessf springs up to cause trouble and defile many. 16See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright. 17For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.

An Unshakable Kingdom
(Exodus 20:18–21; Deuteronomy 5:22–33)

18For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and thatg is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. 20For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”h
21The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”i

22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels 23in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.”j
27The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.

28Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. 29“For our God is a consuming fire.”k

Footnotes:

2 a Or pioneer or founder

6 b Literally and He flogs every son He receives; Proverbs 3:11–12 (see also LXX)

11 c Or it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness

12 d Isaiah 35:3

13 e Proverbs 4:26 (see also LXX)

15 f See Deuteronomy 29:18

18 g Literally to what can be touched and

20 h Exodus 19:12–13

21 i Deuteronomy 9:19

26 j Haggai 2:6

29 k Deuteronomy 4:24

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◀   ◀   Hebrews 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Brotherly Love

1Continue in brotherly love. 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.

4Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Christ’s Unchanging Nature

5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said:

“Never will I leave you,
never will I forsake you.”a

6So we say with confidence:

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?”b

7Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them. 10We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

11Although the high priest brings the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood. 13Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. 14For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Sacrifice, Obedience, and Prayer

15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. 16And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19And I especially urge you to pray that I may be restored to you soon.

Benediction and Farewell

20Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with every good thingc to do His will. And may He accomplish in usd what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

22I urge you, brothers, to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have only written to you briefly.

23Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.

24Greet all your leaders and all the saints.

Those from Italy send you greetings.

25Grace be with all of you.e

Footnotes:

5 a Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5

6 b Psalm 118:6 (see also LXX)

21 c BYZ and TR every good work

21 d BYZ and TR you

25 e BYZ and TR include Amen.

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◀   ◀   James 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5)

A Greeting from James
(Jude 1:1–2)

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion:a

Greetings.

Rejoicing in Trials
(Philippians 1:12–20)

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position. 10But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

Good and Perfect Gifts

13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. 14But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. 15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.b
18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.c

Hearing and Doing

19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

22Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. 23For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, 24and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally To the twelve tribes in the Diaspora. Originally referring to the Jewish people living outside the land of Israel, the Diaspora is applied here to the Jewish believers scattered abroad.

17 b Or no change or shadow of turning.

18 c Or of His creatures.

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◀   ◀   James 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Warning against Favoritism

1My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.

2Suppose a man comes into your meetinga wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,” 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?b

8If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”c you are doing well. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,”d also said, “Do not murder.”e If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. 13For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Works
(Galatians 3:1–9)

14What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? 17So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action,f is dead.

18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19You believe that God is one.g Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?h
21Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did. 23And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”i and he was called a friend of God.j
24As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.

25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spiesk and sent them off on another route? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Footnotes:

2 a Greek your synagogue

7 b Or the noble name invoked upon you or the noble name of Him to whom you belong

8 c Leviticus 19:18

11 d Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18

11 e Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17

17 f Literally if it does not have works

19 g Or that there is one God

20 h BYZ and TR dead

23 i Genesis 15:6

23 j See Isaiah 41:8.

25 k Literally messengers

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◀   ◀   James 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

Taming the Tongue
(Psalm 64:1–10)

1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal. 4Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

5In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.a

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! 11Can both fresh water and salt waterb flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt springc produce fresh water.

The Wisdom from Above

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. 15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.d

Footnotes:

6 a Greek Gehenna

11 b Literally Can both fresh and bitter

12 c Literally Neither can salt

18 d Literally But the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those making peace.

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◀   ◀   James 4   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Warning against Pride

1What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?a
2You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

4You adulteresses!b Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himselfc an enemy of God. 5Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spiritd He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy? 6But He gives us more grace. This is why it says:

“God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.”e

Drawing Near to God

7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Do Not Boast about Tomorrow
(Proverbs 27:1)

13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” 14You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

15Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” 16As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally passions warring among your members?

4 b See Hosea 3:1.

4 c Or is appointed

5 d Or the spirit

6 e Proverbs 3:34 (see also LXX)

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◀   ◀   James 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

A Warning to the Rich
(Proverbs 23:1–5; 1 Timothy 6:17–19)

1Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. 2Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. 3Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire.

You have hoarded treasure in the last days. 4Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter. 6You have condemned and murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.

Patience in Suffering
(Job 1:1–5)

7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.a
8You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!

10Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

12Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

The Prayer of Faith

13Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. 17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.

Restoring a Sinner

19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Footnotes:

7 a Literally for it until it receives the early and the late

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◀   ◀   1 Peter 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5)

A Greeting from Peter
(2 Peter 1:1–2)

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosena
2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

A Living Hope

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birthb into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials 7so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

8Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully, 11trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

A Call to Holiness
(Hebrews 12:14–17)

13Therefore prepare your minds for action.c Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance. 15But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, 16for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”d

17Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. 20He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.

21Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him; and so your faith and hope are in God.

The Enduring Word
(Isaiah 40:6–8)

22Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.e
23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,

“All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,

25but the word of the Lord stands forever.”f

And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

Footnotes:

1 a Literally To the elect sojourners of the Diaspora of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. These provinces were located in what is now Turkey.

3 b Or has caused us to be born again or has begotten us again

13 c Literally Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind

16 d Leviticus 11:44–45; Leviticus 19:2

22 e SBL, NE, and WH from the heart

25 f Isaiah 40:6–8

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◀   ◀   1 Peter 2   ▶   ▶

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The Living Stone and Chosen People
(Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22)

1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in Scripture:

“See, I lay in Zion a stone,
a chosen and precious cornerstone;
and the one who believes in Him
will never be put to shame.”a

7To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”b

8and,

“A stone of stumbling
and a rock of offense.”c

They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.d

11Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. 12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

Submission to Authorities
(Romans 13:1–7)

13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, 14or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.

16Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers,e fear God, honor the king.

18Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect,f not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable. 19For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended. 20How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

Christ’s Example of Suffering
(Isaiah 53:1–8)

21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

22“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in His mouth.”g

23When they heaped abuse on Him,

He did not retaliate;
when He suffered, He made no threats,
but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

24He Himself bore our sinsh
in His body on the tree,
so that we might die to sin
and live to righteousness.

“By His stripes you are healed.”i

25For “you were like sheep going astray,”j but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Footnotes:

6 a Isaiah 28:16 (see also LXX)

7 b Psalm 118:22

8 c Isaiah 8:14

10 d Hosea 2:23

17 e Literally Love the brotherhood

18 f Or in all fear

22 g Isaiah 53:9

24 h Isaiah 53:4 (see also LXX)

24 i Isaiah 53:5

25 j Isaiah 53:6

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◀   ◀   1 Peter 3   ▶   ▶

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Wives and Husbands
(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; Ephesians 5:22–33)

1Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives 2when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.

3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, 4but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 5For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands, 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.

7Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Turning from Evil

8Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,

“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.

11He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are inclined to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against
those who do evil.”a

13Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

Suffering for Righteousness

14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”b
15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.c Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ. 17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

18For Christ also sufferedd for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, 19in whome He also went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.

In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. 21And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge off a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.

Footnotes:

12 a Psalm 34:12–16 (see also LXX)

14 b Or “Do not fear their threats; do not be shaken.” Isaiah 8:12

15 c BYZ and TR But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. This sentence may also be included with the quotation from the previous verse; see Isaiah 8:13.

18 d NE and WH died

19 e Or in the spirit, 19in which

21 f Or appeal for

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◀   ◀   1 Peter 4   ▶   ▶

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Living for God’s Glory
(1 Corinthians 10:23–33)

1Therefore, since Christ suffereda in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.

4Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you. 5But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6That is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,b so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray. 8Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.c
9Show hospitality to one another without complaining.

10As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. 11If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as Christians

12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.

14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.d
15Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler. 16But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.e
17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 18And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”f

19So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Footnotes:

1 a BYZ and TR include for us.

6 b Or to those who are dead

8 c See Proverbs 10:12

14 d BYZ and TR include On their part He is spoken of as evil, but on your part He is glorified.

16 e Literally glorify God in that name; NA glorify God in this matter

18 f Proverbs 11:31 (see also LXX)

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◀   ◀   1 Peter 5   ▶   ▶

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Instructions to Elders
(1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9)

1As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the eldersa among you: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over themb not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will;c not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Cast Your Cares on Him

5Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.”d

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. 7Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

8Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

Benediction and Farewell

10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ,e will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you. 11To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

12Through Silvanus,f whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

13The church in Babylon,g chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does my son Mark.

14Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.h

Footnotes:

1 a SBL, NE, and WH I appeal therefore to the elders

2 b NE and WH do not include watching over them.

2 c WH, BYZ, and TR but willingly

5 d Proverbs 3:34 (see also LXX)

10 e BYZ and TR in Christ Jesus

12 f That is, Silas

13 g Literally She in Babylon

14 h BYZ and TR include Amen.

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◀   ◀   2 Peter 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3)

A Greeting from Peter
(1 Peter 1:1–2)

1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

2Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Partakers of the Divine Nature

3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His owna glory and excellence. 4Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, 11and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12Therefore I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have. 13I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body,b
14because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15And I will make every effort to ensure that after my departure, you will be able to recall these things at all times.

Eyewitnesses of His Majesty
(Matthew 17:1–13; Mark 9:1–13; Luke 9:28–36)

16For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”c
18And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

19We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. 21For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Footnotes:

3 a Or to His own

13 b Literally as long as I am in this tent

17 c Matthew 17:5; see also Mark 9:7 and Luke 9:35.

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◀   ◀   2 Peter 2   ▶   ▶

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Deliverance from False Prophets
(Jude 1:3–16)

1Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. 3In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

4For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell,a placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight; 6if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction,b reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;c
7and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

10Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.d
11Yet not even angels, though greater in strength and power, dare to bring such slanderous charges against them before the Lord.

12These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed. 13The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness.

They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you. 14Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.

15They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor,e who loved the wages of wickedness. 16But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

17These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error. 19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

20If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,f only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”g and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

Footnotes:

4 a Greek cast them into Tartarus; see the First Book of Enoch (1 Enoch 13:1–11 and 1 Enoch 20:1–4).

6 b WH does not include to destruction.

6 c Or on future generations of the ungodly

10 d Or to blaspheme angelic majesties

15 e NA, SBL, BYZ, and TR Bosor

20 f SBL and WH the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

22 g Proverbs 26:11

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◀   ◀   2 Peter 3   ▶   ▶

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The Coming Judgment
(Genesis 7:1–24; Jude 1:17–23)

1Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking 2by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

3Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.a
4“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”

5But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6through whichb the world of that time perished in the flood. 7And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

The Day of the Lord
(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11)

8Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.c
9The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyedd by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.e

11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness 12as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Final Exhortations

14Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.f

15Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. 16He writes this way in all his letters,g speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort,h as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

17Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.

Amen.i

Footnotes:

3 a See Jude 1:18.

6 b NA through whom

8 c See Psalm 90:4.

10 d Or dissolved; also in verses 11 and 12.

10 e Or will not be found. BYZ and TR will be burned up; SBL, NE, and WH will be found, i.e., will be unable to hide.

14 f Or to be found by Him in peace, without spot and without blemish.

16 g Or in all the letters

16 h NA will distort

18 i NE, WH, and NA do not include Amen.

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◀   ◀   1 John 1   ▶   ▶

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(Ch. 2 3 4 5)

The Word of Life
(Luke 24:36–49; John 20:19–23)

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life. 2And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.

3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write these things so that oura joy may be complete.

Walking in the Light
(John 8:12–29)

5And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7Butb if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.

Footnotes:

4 a BYZ and TR your

7 b NA does not include But.

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◀   ◀   1 John 2   ▶   ▶

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Jesus Our Advocate

1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He Himself is the atoning sacrificea for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

3By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. 4If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: 6Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.

A New Commandment

7Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard. 8Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in Him and also in you. For the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining.

9If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him. 11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name.

13I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.b

I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.

14I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning.

I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Do Not Love the World

15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. 17The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Beware of Antichrists

18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.

20You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.c
21I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth. 22Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. 23Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.

Remain in Christ

24As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If it does, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father. 25And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.

26I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.

28And now, little children, remain in Christ,d so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.

29If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.

Footnotes:

2 a Or the propitiation

13 b Or you have overcome evil; also in verse 14

20 c BYZ and TR and you know all things

28 d Literally remain in Him

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◀   ◀   1 John 3   ▶   ▶

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Children of God

1Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 2Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears,a we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.b

4Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.c
5But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.

7Little children,d let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.e
8The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.

9Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

Love One Another
(John 13:31–35; Romans 12:9–13)

11This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous. 13So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.

14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.

16By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

18Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. 19And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence: 20Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.

21Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, 22and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight. 23And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us. 24Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.

Footnotes:

2 a Literally when He appears or when it appears

3 b Literally just as He is pure

4 c Or is violation of the Law

7 d NA Young children in training

7 e Literally He is righteous

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◀   ◀   1 John 4   ▶   ▶

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Testing the Spirits

1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesusa is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

4You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spiritb of truth and the spirit of deception.

Love Comes from God

7Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

9This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and onlyc Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 10And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrificed for our sins.

11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.

15If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

18There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. 19We lovee because He first loved us.

20If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

Footnotes:

3 a BYZ and TR that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh

6 b Or spirit

9 c Or only begotten or unique

10 d Or as a propitiation

19 e BYZ and TR We love Him

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◀   ◀   1 John 5   ▶   ▶

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Overcoming the World

1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.a
2By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, 4because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

5Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 6This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify:b
8the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.

God’s Testimony about His Son

9Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son. 10Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.

11And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Effective Prayer

13I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.c
14And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.

16If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin. 17All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.

The True God

18We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him,d and the evil onee cannot touch him. 19We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one. 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.f

Footnotes:

1 a Literally and everyone loving the One having begotten also loves the one having been begotten from Him.

7 b TR and GOC three that testify in heaven: The Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8And there are three that testify on earth:

13 c BYZ and TR include and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God.

18 d Or the one who was born of God protects himself or God protects the one born of Him

18 e Or evil; similarly in verse 19

21 f BYZ and TR include Amen.

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◀   ◀   2 John 1   ▶   ▶

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A Greeting from the Elder
(3 John 1:1–4)

1The elder,

To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth— 2because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

3Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love.

Walking in the Truth
(John 8:30–47)

4I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us. 5And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.

Beware of Deceivers

7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for,a but that you may be fully rewarded. 9Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.

10If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him. 11Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.

Conclusion
(3 John 1:13–14)

12I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face,b so that our joy may be complete.

13The children of your elect sister send you greetings.c

Footnotes:

8 a NE and WH what you have worked for

12 b Literally mouth to mouth

13 c BYZ and TR include Amen.

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◀   ◀   3 John 1   ▶   ▶

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A Greeting from the Elder
(2 John 1:1–3)

1The elder,

To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth:

2Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers. 3For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Gaius Commended for Hospitality

5Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you. 6They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7For they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

Diotrephes and Demetrius

9I have written to the church about this,a but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction. 10So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.

11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

12Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.

Conclusion
(2 John 1:12–13)

13I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink. 14Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face.b

Peace to you.

The friends here send you greetings.

Greet each of our friends there by name.

Footnotes:

9 a Literally I have written something to the church

14 b Literally and we will speak mouth to mouth; some translators begin a new verse (15) after face to face.

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◀   ◀   Jude 1   ▶   ▶

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A Greeting from Jude
(James 1:1)

1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,

To those who are called, loved by God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ:

2Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

God’s Judgment on the Ungodly
(2 Peter 3:1–7)

3Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints. 4For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesusa had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe. 6And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day. 7In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.

8Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings. 9But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”b
10These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively. 11Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

12These men are hidden reefsc in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted. 13They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

14Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them:

“Behold, the Lord is coming
with myriads of His holy ones

15to execute judgment on everyone,
and to convict all the ungodly
of every ungodly act of wickedness
and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”d

16These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.

A Call to Persevere
(Hebrews 10:19–39; 2 Peter 3:1–7)

17But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ 18when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.”e
19These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit.

20But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.

22And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt; 23save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.

Doxology
(Romans 16:25–27)

24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy— 25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity.

Amen.

Footnotes:

5 a NE, WH, BYZ, and TR the Lord

9 b This account is attributed by Origen to the Testament of Moses, also called the Assumption of Moses.

12 c Or are blemishes

15 d See the First Book of Enoch (1 Enoch 1:9).

18 e See 2 Peter 3:3.

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◀   ◀   Revelation 1   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

(Ch. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22)

Prologue
(Daniel 12:1–13)

1This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soona come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.

John Greets the Seven Churches

4John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:b

Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven Spiritsc before His throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood, 6who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

7Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.

8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,d” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.

John’s Vision on Patmos

9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus. 10On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11saying,e “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man,f dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest. 14The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire. 15His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. 16He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.

17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 18the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.

19Therefore write down the things you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that will happen after this. 20This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Footnotes:

1 a Or suddenly or quickly

4 b Literally in Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.

4 c Or the sevenfold Spirit

8 d TR the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End

11 e TR saying, “I am Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and,

13 f Or one like a son of man; see Daniel 7:13.

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◀   ◀   Revelation 2   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

To the Church in Ephesus
(Acts 19:8–12; Ephesians 1:1–2)

1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles. 3Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name.

4But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. 5Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

6But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.

To the Church in Smyrna

8To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life.

9I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.

10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.

To the Church in Pergamum

12To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.

13I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits. Yet you have held fast to My name and have not denied your faith in Me, even in the day when My faithful witness Antipas was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

14But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. 15In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.

17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.

To the Church in Thyatira
(Acts 16:11–15)

18To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like a blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze.

19I know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latter deeds are greater than your first.

20But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.

22Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. 23Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

24But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the so-called deep things of Satan: I will place no further burden upon you. 25Nevertheless, hold fast to what you have until I come. 26And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations. 27He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like potterya —just as I have received authority from My Father. 28And I will give him the morning star.

29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Footnotes:

27 a Psalm 2:9 (see also LXX)

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◀   ◀   Revelation 3   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

To the Church in Sardis

1“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of the One who holds the seven Spiritsa of God and the seven stars.

I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead. 2Wake up and strengthen what remains, which was about to die; for I have found your deeds incomplete in the sight of My God. 3Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.

4But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white. 5Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot outb his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels.

6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Philadelphia

7To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.c

8I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. For you have only a little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name. 9Look at those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews but are liars instead. I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I love you.

10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11I am coming soon.d Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.

13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Laodicea
(Colossians 2:1–5)

14To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originatore of God’s creation.

15I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! 16So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!

17You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.

20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. 21To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Footnotes:

1 a Or the sevenfold Spirit

5 b Or scrape off

7 c See Isaiah 22:22.

11 d Or suddenly or quickly

14 e Or Beginning or Ruler

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◀   ◀   Revelation 4   ▶   ▶

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The Throne in Heaven

1After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.”

2At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. 3The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.

Worship of the Creator

5From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven Spiritsa of God. 6And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying:

“Holy, Holy, Holy,
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”

9And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11“Worthy are You, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for You created all things;
by Your will they exist and came to be.”

Footnotes:

5 a Or This is the sevenfold Spirit

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◀   ◀   Revelation 5   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

1Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it. 4And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

5Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spiritsa of God sent out into all the earth. 7And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.

8When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song:

“Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals,
because You were slain,
and by Your blood You purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10You have made them to be a kingdom
and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign uponb the earth.”

The Lamb Exalted

11Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. 12In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing!”

13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To Him who sits on the throne
and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power
forever and ever!”

14And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.c

Footnotes:

6 a Or the sevenfold Spirit

10 b Or they will reign over; WH they reign upon

14 c TR includes Him who lives for ever and ever.

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◀   ◀   Revelation 6   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The First Seal: The White Horse

1Then I watched as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a thunderous voice, “Come!”

2So I looked and saw a white horse, and its rider held a bow. And he was given a crown, and he rode out to overcome and conquer.

The Second Seal: War

3And when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”

4Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword.

The Third Seal: Famine

5And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!”

Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. 6And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius,a and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.”

The Fourth Seal: Death

7And when the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”

8Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.

The Fifth Seal: The Martyrs

9And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld. 10And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?”

11Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.

The Sixth Seal: Terror

12And when I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, 13and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind. 14The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.

15Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide usb from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17For the great day of Theirc wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

Footnotes:

6 a Greek A choenix of wheat for a denarius. A choenix was a Greek dry measure equivalent to 1.92 pints or 0.91 liters. A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

16 b See Hosea 10:8.

17 c BYZ and TR His

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◀   ◀   Revelation 7   ▶   ▶

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144,000 Sealed

1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree. 2And I saw another angel ascending from the east, with the seal of the living God. And he called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3“Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

4And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel:

5From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

6from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

7from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

8from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,
and from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

Praise from the Great Multitude

9After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb!”

11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

13Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”

14“Sir,” I answered, “you know.”

So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15For this reason,
they are before the throne of God
and serve Him day and night in His temple;
and the One seated on the throne
will spread His tabernacle over them.

16‘Never again will they hunger,
and never will they thirst;
nor will the sun beat down upon them,
nor any scorching heat.’a

17For the Lamb in the center of the throne
will be their shepherd.b

‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’c
and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’d”

Footnotes:

16 a Isaiah 49:10

17 b See Psalm 23:1.

17 c Isaiah 49:10

17 d Isaiah 25:8

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◀   ◀   Revelation 8   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Seventh Seal

1When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

3Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.

5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder, and rumblings, and flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

The First Four Trumpets

6And the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

7Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass.

8Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, 9a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10Then the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil,a and many people died from the bitter waters.

12Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck. A third of the stars were darkened, a third of the day was without light, and a third of the night as well.

13And as I observed, I heard an eagle flying overhead, calling in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the remaining three angels!”

Footnotes:

11 a Literally became wormwood

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◀   ◀   Revelation 9   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Fifth Trumpet

1Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and it was given the key to the pit of the Abyss. 2The star opened the pit of the Abyss, and smoke rose out of it like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit.

3And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth. 4They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion. 6In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them.

7And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads, and faces like the faces of men. 8They had hair like that of women, and teeth like those of lions. 9They also had thoraxes like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months. 11They were ruled by a king, the angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon,a and in Greek it is Apollyon.b

12The first woe has passed. Behold, two woes are still to follow.

The Sixth Trumpet

13Then the sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God 14saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

15So the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16And the number of mounted troops was two hundred million; I heard their number.

17Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur. 18A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths. 19For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm.

20Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. 21Furthermore, they did not repent of their murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft.

Footnotes:

11 a Abaddon means Destruction.

11 b Apollyon means Destroyer.

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◀   ◀   Revelation 10   ▶   ▶

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The Angel and the Small Scroll
(Ezekiel 3:1–15)

1Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire. 2He held in his hand a small scroll, which lay open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. 3Then he cried out in a loud voice like the roar of a lion. And when he cried out, the seven thunders sounded their voices.

4When the seven thunders had spoken, I was about to put it in writing. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”

5Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven. 6And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: “There will be no more delay! 7But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, just as He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.”

8Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the small scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on the land.”

9And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.”

“Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”a

10So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it; and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter.

11And they told me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”

Footnotes:

9 a See Numbers 5:24 and Ezekiel 3:3.

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◀   ◀   Revelation 11   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Two Witnesses

1Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there. 2But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. 3And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

4These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.a
5If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone who wants to harm them must be killed. 6These witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, and power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.

The Witnesses Killed and Raised

7When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them. 8Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified. 9For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb. 10And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them, and will celebrate and send one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.

11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them. 12And the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched them.

13And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand were killed in the quake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14The second woe has passed. Behold, the third woe is coming shortly.

The Seventh Trumpet

15Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven:

“The kingdom of the world
has become the kingdom of our Lord
and of His Christ,
and He will reign forever and ever.”

16And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17saying:

“We give thanks to You, O Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,b
because You have taken Your great power
and have begun to reign.

18The nations were enraged,c
and Your wrath has come.

The time has come to judge the deadd
and to reward Your servants the prophets,
as well as the saints and those who fear Your name,
both small and great—
and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

19Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.

Footnotes:

4 a See Zechariah 4:14.

17 b TR includes and who is to come.

18 c See Psalm 2:1.

18 d See Daniel 12:2.

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◀   ◀   Revelation 12   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Woman and the Dragon

1And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth.

3Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads. 4His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, tossing them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth.

5And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.a And her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place for her to be nourished for 1,260 days.

The War in Heaven

7Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8But the dragon was not strong enough, and no longer was any place found in heaven for him and his angels. 9And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

10And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying:

“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of His Christ.

For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down—
he who accuses them day and night before our God.

11They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony.

And they did not love their lives
so as to shy away from death.

12Therefore rejoice, O heavens,
and you who dwell in them!

But woe to the earth and the sea;
with great fury the devil has come down to you,
knowing he has only a short time.”

The Woman Persecuted

13And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.

15Then from the mouth of the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent. 16But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that had poured from the dragon’s mouth. 17And the dragon was enraged at the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.b

Footnotes:

5 a See Psalm 2:9 (see also LXX).

17 b Literally And he stood on the sand of the sea. BYZ and TR And I stood on the sand of the sea. Some texts number this sentence as verse 18; others include it with Revelation 13:1.

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◀   ◀   Revelation 13   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Beast from the Sea
(Daniel 7:1–8)

1Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

3One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast. 4They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?”

5The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. 6And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.

7Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. 8And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.a

9He who has an ear, let him hear:

10“If anyone is destined for captivity,
into captivity he will go;
if anyone is to dieb by the sword,
by the sword he must be killed.”c

Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.

The Beast from the Earth

11Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon. 12And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.

13And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. 14Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. 15The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed.

The Mark of the Beast

16And the second beast required all people small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.

18Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666.d

Footnotes:

8 a Or written in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world.

10 b NE, WH, and BYZ if anyone kills

10 c See Jeremiah 15:2.

18 d Some manuscripts 616

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◀   ◀   Revelation 14   ▶   ▶

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The Lamb and the 144,000

1Then I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of many waters and the loud rumbling of thunder. And the sound I heard was like harpists strumming their harps.

3And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5And no lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.a

The Three Angels and Babylon’s Fall

6Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. 7And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters.”

8Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great,b who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.”

9And a third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

12Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

13And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.”

The Harvest of the Earth

14And I looked and saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was One like the Son of Man,c with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.

15Then another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the One seated on the cloud, “Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come to harvest; for the crop of the earth is ripe.” 16So the One seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

17Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18Still another angel, with authority over the fire, came from the altar and called out in a loud voice to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because its grapes are ripe.”

19So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and the blood that flowed from it rose as high as the bridles of the horses for a distance of 1,600 stadia.d

Footnotes:

5 a BYZ and TR include before the throne of God.

8 b See Isaiah 21:9 and Revelation 18:2.

14 c Or one like a son of man; see Daniel 7:13.

20 d 1,600 stadia is approximately 184 miles or 296 kilometers.

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◀   ◀   Revelation 15   ▶   ▶

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The Song of Moses and the Lamb
(Deuteronomy 32:1–47)

1Then I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven final plagues, with which the wrath of God is completed.

2And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, beside which stood those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name. They were holding harps from God, 3and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:

“Great and wonderful are Your works,

O Lord God Almighty!

Just and true are Your ways,

O King of the nations!a

4Who will not fear You, O Lord,
and glorify Your name?

For You alone are holy.

All nations will come and worship before You,
for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Preparation for Judgment

5After this I looked, and the temple—the tabernacle of the Testimony—was opened in heaven. 6And out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in clean and bright linen and girded with golden sashes around their chests.

7Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Footnotes:

3 a SBL and WH King of the ages; TR King of the saints

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◀   ◀   Revelation 16   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The First Six Bowls of Wrath

1Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s wrath.”

2So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

3And the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned to blood like that of the dead, and every living thing in the sea died.

4And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned to blood. 5And I heard the angel of the waters say:

“Righteous are You, O Holy One,
who is and was,
because You have brought these judgments.

6For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets,
and You have given them blood to drink,
as they deserve.”

7And I heard the altar reply:

“Yes, Lord God Almighty,
true and just are Your judgments.”

8Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire. 9And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues; yet they did not repent and give Him glory.

10And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish 11and curse the God of heaven for their pains and sores; yet they did not repent of their deeds.

12And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East.

13And I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 14These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.

15“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”

16And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

The Seventh Bowl of Wrath

17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, “It is done!”

18And there were flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and a great earthquake the likes of which had not occurred since men were upon the earth—so mighty was the great quake. 19The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath.

20Then every island fled, and no mountain could be found. 21And great hailstones weighing almost a hundred pounds eacha rained down on them from above. And men cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so horrendous.

Footnotes:

21 a Greek great hail as of a talent; that is, hailstones weighing approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms each

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◀   ◀   Revelation 17   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The Woman on the Beast

1Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 2The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”

3And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5And on her forehead a mysterious name was written:

BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

The Mystery Explained

6I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.

7“Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.

8The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.

9This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.

11The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction. 12The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings, along with the beast. 13These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.

The Victory of the Lamb

14They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”

15Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. 16And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

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◀   ◀   Revelation 18   ▶   ▶

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Babylon Is Fallen
(Isaiah 21:1–10)

1After this I saw another angel descending from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory. 2And he cried out in a mighty voice:

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!a

She has become a lair for demons
and a haunt for every unclean spirit,
every unclean bird,
and every detestable beast.b

3All the nations have drunkc the wine
of the passion of her immorality.

The kings of the earth were immoral with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy
from the extravagance of her luxury.”

4Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“Come out of her, My people,d
so that you will not share in her sins
or contract any of her plagues.

5For her sins are piled up to heaven,
and God has remembered her iniquities.

6Give back to her as she has done to others;
pay her back double for what she has done;
mix her a double portion in her own cup.

7As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury,
give her the same measure of torment and grief.

In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen;

I am not a widow and will never see grief.’

8Therefore her plagues will come in one day—
death and grief and famine—
and she will be consumed by fire,
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”

Lament over Babylon

9Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.e
10In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out:

“Woe, woe to the great city,
the mighty city of Babylon!

For in a single hour
your judgment has come.”

11And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— 12cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots; of slaves and souls of men. 14And they will say:f

“The fruit of your soul’s desire
has departed from you;
all your luxury and splendor have vanished,
never to be seen again.”

15The merchants who sold these things and grew their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn, 16saying:

“Woe, woe to the great city,
clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet,
adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!

17For in a single hour
such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!”

Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance 18and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. “What city was ever like this great city?” they will exclaim.

19Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out:

“Woe, woe to the great city,
where all who had ships on the sea
were enriched by her wealth!

For in a single hour
she has been destroyed.”

20Rejoice over her, O heaven,

O saints and apostles and prophets,
because God has pronounced for you

His judgment against her.

The Doom of Babylon

21Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying:

“With such violence
the great city of Babylon will be cast down,
never to be seen again.

22And the sound of harpists and musicians,
of flute players and trumpeters,
will never ring out in you again.

Nor will any craftsmen of any trade
be found in you again,
nor the sound of a millstone
be heard in you again.

23The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again,
and the voices of a bride and bridegroom
will never call out in you again.

For your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.”

24And there was found in her the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who had been slain on the earth.

Footnotes:

2 a See Isaiah 21:9 and Revelation 14:8.

2 b NE, WH, BYZ, and TR a haunt for every unclean spirit and every unclean and detestable bird.

3 c SBL and WH have fallen by

4 d See Jeremiah 51:45.

9 e Literally when they see the smoke of her burning; also in verse 18

14 f Literally And:

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◀   ◀   Revelation 19   ▶   ▶

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Rejoicing in Heaven

1After this I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude in heaven, shouting:

“Hallelujah!a

Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!

2For His judgments are true and just.

He has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality.

He has avenged the blood of His servants
that was poured out by her hand.”

3And a second time they called out:

“Hallelujah!

Her smoke rises forever and ever.”

4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying:

“Amen, Hallelujah!”

5Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God,
all you who serve Him,
and those who fear Him,
small and great alike!”

The Marriage of the Lamb

6And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out:

“Hallelujah!

For the Lord our Godb the Almighty reigns.

7Let us rejoice and be glad
and give Him the glory.

For the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and His bride has made herself ready.

8She was given clothing of fine linen,
bright and pure.”

For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.

9Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

10So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

The Rider on the White Horse

11Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. 12He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,c and His name is The Word of God.

14The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses. 15And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter.d He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Defeat of the Beast and False Prophet

17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great.”

19Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army. 20But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse.

And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Footnotes:

1 a Hallelujah is a transliteration of the Hebrew Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD; also in verses 3, 4, and 6.

6 b SBL, BYZ, and TR the Lord God

13 c WH sprinkled with blood

15 d See Psalm 2:9 (see also LXX).

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◀   ◀   Revelation 20   ▶   ▶

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Satan Bound

1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain. 2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.

4Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

5The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Satan Cast into the Lake of Fire

7When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison, 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.

9And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heavena and consumed them. 10And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Judgment before the Great White Throne

11Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne.

And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.

14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Footnotes:

9 a BYZ and TR came down from God out of heaven

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◀   ◀   Revelation 21   ▶   ▶

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A New Heaven and a New Earth
(Isaiah 65:17–25)

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,a for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man,
and He will dwell with them.

They will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them as their God.b

4‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’c
and there will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain,
for the former things have passed away.”

5And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” 6And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. 7The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.

8But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

The New Jerusalem

9Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal. 12The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates. 13There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. 14The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadiad in length and width and height. 17And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits,e by the human measure the angel was using.

18The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone:

The first foundation was jasper,
the second sapphire,
the third chalcedony,
the fourth emerald,

20the fifth sardonyx,
the sixth carnelian,
the seventh chrysolite,
the eighth beryl,
the ninth topaz,
the tenth chrysoprase,
the eleventh jacinth,
and the twelfth amethyst.

21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate consisting of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.

22But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.f
25Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there.

26And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations. 27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Footnotes:

1 a See Isaiah 65:17 and Isaiah 66:22 (see also LXX).

3 b SBL, NE, WH, and BYZ God Himself will be with them.

4 c Isaiah 25:8.

16 d 12,000 stadia is approximately 1,380 miles or 2,220 kilometers.

17 e 144 cubits is approximately 216 feet or 65.8 meters. The measure could indicate either height or thickness.

24 f BYZ and TR include and honor.

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◀   ◀   Revelation 22   ▶   ▶

BSB  [Online]

The River of Life

1Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him. 4They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.

Jesus Is Coming

6Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soona take place.”

7“Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.b”

8And I am John, who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. 9But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

10Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near. 11Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”

12“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

14Blessed are those who wash their robes,c so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. 15But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”

17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.

Nothing May Be Added or Removed

18I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.

20He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

21The grace of the Lord Jesusd be with all the saints.e

Amen.f

Footnotes:

6 a Or suddenly or quickly; similarly in verses 7, 12, and 20

7 b Or scroll; also in verses 9, 10, 18, 19

14 c BYZ and TR Blessed are those who do His commandments

21 d WH and BYZ the Lord Jesus Christ; TR our Lord Jesus Christ

21 e SBL, WH, NE, and TR do not include the saints.

21 f SBL, WH, NE, and NA do not include Amen.

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Table of Contents

- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 Samuel
- 2 Samuel
- 1 Kings
- 2 Kings
- 1 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Esther
- Job
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Solomon
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- John
- Acts
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- 1 Thessalonians
- 2 Thessalonians
- 1 Timothy
- 2 Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon
- Hebrews
- James
- 1 Peter
- 2 Peter
- 1 John
- 2 John
- 3 John
- Jude
- Revelation