Esau said to his father, "Do you have only that one blessing, my father? Bless me too!" Then Esau wept loudly.

When you searched through all my goods, did you find anything that belonged to you? Set it here before my relatives and yours, and let them settle the dispute between the two of us!

After they stopped speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me.

Then the voice I had heard from heaven began to speak to me again, "Go and take the open scroll in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."

I struck all the products of your labor with blight, disease, and hail, and yet you brought nothing to me,' says the Lord.

Then I will gather all the nations, and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. I will enter into judgment against them there concerning my people Israel who are my inheritance, whom they scattered among the nations. They partitioned my land,

Then they told what had happened on the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.

He will give us peace. Should the Assyrians try to invade our land and attempt to set foot in our fortresses, we will send against them seven shepherd-rulers, make that eight commanders.

Those who are champions at drinking wine are as good as dead, who display great courage when mixing strong drinks.

I said, "There is no one like you, Lord. You are great. And you are renowned for your power.

Do not lust in your heart for her beauty, and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes;

Look, the sovereign Lord is watching the sinful nation, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth. But I will not completely destroy the family of Jacob," says the Lord.

The cherubim rose up; these were the living beings I saw at the Kebar River.

Therefore the land will mourn, and all its inhabitants will perish. The wild animals, the birds of the sky, and even the fish in the sea will perish.

earrings, bracelets, veils,

And you will say, "How I hated discipline! My heart spurned reproof!

But the Lord rules forever; he reigns in a just manner.

O Israel, you have sinned since the time of Gibeah, and there you have remained. Did not war overtake the evildoers in Gibeah?

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the faithless will be captured by their own desires.

The one who winks his eye causes trouble, and the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

Indeed, who is God besides the Lord? Who is a protector besides our God?

Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod (or the language of one of the other peoples mentioned) and were unable to speak the language of Judah.

The king had a fleet of large merchant ships manned by Huram's men that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet came into port with cargoes of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

A copy of this edict was to be presented as law throughout every province; it was to be made known to all the inhabitants, so that they would be prepared for this day.

Because they were unfaithful to the Lord, in King Rehoboam's fifth year, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem.

I got up during the night, along with a few men who were with me. But I did not tell anyone what my God was putting on my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no animals with me, except for the one I was riding.

We will not buy on the Sabbath or on a holy day from the neighboring peoples who bring their wares and all kinds of grain to sell on the Sabbath day. We will let the fields lie fallow every seventh year, and we will cancel every loan.

He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right side and the other on the left. He named the one on the right Jachin, and the one on the left Boaz.

From Ephraim there were 20,800 warriors, who had brought fame to their families.

Now an archer shot an arrow at random, and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king ordered his charioteer, "Turn around and take me from the battle line, because I'm wounded."

Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, "Israel will be your new name."

The Philistines stayed right on the heels of Saul and his sons. They struck down Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua.

The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Jibsam, and Samuel. They were leaders of their families. In the time of David there were 22,600 warriors listed in Tola's genealogical records.

Because God fought for them, they killed many of the enemy. They dispossessed the Hagrites and lived in their land until the exile.

If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the Lord's temple in Jerusalem, their loyalty could shift to their former master, King Rehoboam of Judah. They might kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah."

Though Judah was the strongest among his brothers and a leader descended from him, the right of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.)

When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, "O Lord, open their eyes, so they can see." The Lord opened their eyes and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria.

(His Judahite wife gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.) These were the sons of Pharaoh's daughter Bithiah, whom Mered married.

the third was Absalom whose mother was Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; the fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith;

Now King Solomon and all the Israelites who had assembled with him went on ahead of the ark and sacrificed more sheep and cattle than could be counted or numbered.

The Lord was angry with Solomon because he had shifted his allegiance away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him on two occasions

Then Absalom said, "If you will not go, then let my brother Amnon go with us." The king replied to him, "Why should he go with you?"

Shimei son of Ela was in charge of Benjamin.

Then Joshua built an altar for the Lord God of Israel on Mount Ebal,

These were his officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.

the great judgments you saw, the signs and wonders, the strength and power by which he brought you out -- thus the Lord your God will do to all the people you fear.

When her master got up in the morning, opened the doors of the house, and went outside to start on his journey, there was the woman, his concubine, sprawled out on the doorstep of the house with her hands on the threshold.

So the five Amorite kings (the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon) and all their troops gathered together and advanced. They deployed their troops and fought against Gibeon.

His second son was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur.

Hazar Shual, Beer Sheba, Biziothiah,

Joshua and all Israel marched from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against it.

The king of Jericho received this report: "Note well! Israelite men have come here tonight to spy on the land."

Then they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all people, will you be angry with the whole community when only one man sins?"

And the whole community of the Israelites and the resident foreigner who lives among them will be forgiven, since all the people were involved in the unintentional offense.

Even from a foreigner you must not present the food of your God from such animals as these, for they are ruined and flawed; they will not be acceptable for your benefit.'"

Now the length of time it took for us to go from Kadesh Barnea to the crossing of Wadi Zered was thirty-eight years, time for all the military men of that generation to die, just as the Lord had vowed to them.

Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord had commanded. Moses raised the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile right before the eyes of Pharaoh and his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood.

Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and to the whole community.

From all your gifts you must offer up every raised offering due the Lord, from all the best of it, and the holiest part of it.'

But on that day I will mark off the land of Goshen, where my people are staying, so that no swarms of flies will be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of this land.

that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from doing these things, you will do well. Farewell.

-- just as it is taken from the ox of the peace offering sacrifice -- and the priest must offer them up in smoke on the altar of burnt offering.

Now the passage of scripture the man was reading was this: "He was led like a sheep to slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

From Gershon came the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimeites; these were the families of the Gershonites.

So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and told him, "Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: 'How long do you refuse to humble yourself before me? Release my people so that they may serve me!

A third of humanity was killed by these three plagues, that is, by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came out of their mouths.

Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.

Now the seven angels holding the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.

And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham.

no bag for the journey, or an extra tunic, or sandals or staff, for the worker deserves his provisions.

And this is what we intend to do, if God permits.

Then after fourteen years I went up to Jerusalem again with Barnabas, taking Titus along too.

We were encouraged not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement you gave him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your deep concern for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever.

For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her.

Yet it was I who led Ephraim, I took them by the arm; but they did not acknowledge that I had healed them.

"For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his house become deserted, and let there be no one to live in it,' and 'Let another take his position of responsibility.'

I do not say this to condemn you, for I told you before that you are in our hearts so that we die together and live together with you.

John's disciples informed him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples

Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!"

Flocks and herds will lie down in the middle of it, as well as every kind of wild animal. Owls will sleep in the tops of its support pillars; they will hoot through the windows. Rubble will cover the thresholds; even the cedar work will be exposed to the elements.

On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like an igniter among sticks and a burning torch among sheaves, and they will burn up all the surrounding nations right and left. Then the people of Jerusalem will settle once more in their place, the city of Jerusalem.

O LORD, we have been humiliated -- our kings, our leaders, and our ancestors -- because we have sinned against you.

Where now is the den of the lions, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion, lioness, and lion cub once prowled and no one disturbed them?

Even if Babylon climbs high into the sky and fortifies her elevated stronghold, I will send destroyers against her," says the Lord.

"I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again as in the days of old.

I am delighted to tell you about the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me.

But those whose hearts are devoted to detestable things and abominations, I hereby repay them for what they have done, says the sovereign Lord."

You are like a wild female donkey brought up in the wilderness. In her lust she sniffs the wind to get the scent of a male. No one can hold her back when she is in heat. None of the males need wear themselves out chasing after her. At mating time she is easy to find.

Just as a thief has to suffer dishonor when he is caught, so the people of Israel will suffer dishonor for what they have done. So will their kings and officials, their priests and their prophets.

The Lord said to Jeremiah:

The sovereign master decreed judgment on Jacob, and it fell on Israel.

Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.

Madmenah flees, the residents of Gebim have hidden.

They attacked Aiath, moved through Migron, depositing their supplies at Micmash.

It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.

No one can be established through wickedness, but a righteous root cannot be moved.

For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble.

Do not plot evil against your neighbor when he dwells by you unsuspectingly.

But the tents of robbers are peaceful, and those who provoke God are confident -- who carry their god in their hands.

But if only God would speak, if only he would open his lips against you,

But the former governors who preceded me had burdened the people and had taken food and wine from them, in addition to forty shekels of silver. Their associates were also domineering over the people. But I did not behave in this way, due to my fear of God.

He will not grow rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.

I recognized the fact that God had not sent him, for he had spoken the prophecy against me as a hired agent of Tobiah and Sanballat.

All the men of Judah and Benjamin were gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. (It was in the ninth month, on the twentieth day of that month.) All the people sat in the square at the temple of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the rains.

Will you never look away from me, will you not let me alone long enough to swallow my spittle?

People were unable to tell the difference between the sound of joyous shouting and the sound of the people's weeping, for the people were shouting so loudly that the sound was heard a long way off.

So they took a bull, as he had suggested, and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "Baal, answer us." But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped around on the altar they had made.

Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,

The priests were unable to enter the Lord's temple because the Lord's splendor filled the Lord's temple.

the descendants of Adin: 454;

the descendants of Bigvai: 2,056;

He even killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian had a spear as big as the crossbeam of a weaver's loom; Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.

I saw among the goods we seized a nice robe from Babylon, two hundred silver pieces, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. I wanted them, so I took them. They are hidden in the ground right in the middle of my tent with the silver underneath."

When he came and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" He answered, "Your servant hasn't been anywhere."

listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants' claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve.

Sibbekai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the chief adviser, "Speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don't speak with us in the Judahite dialect in the hearing of the people who are on the wall."

Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days and his brothers came to console him.

When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him.

The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered's wife Bithiah gave birth to Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoa.

When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the leaders of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were afraid of the Philistines.

Gideon said to him, "If you really are pleased with me, then give me a sign as proof that it is really you speaking with me.

The rest of the events of Zimri's reign, including the details of his revolt, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

Asa passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king.

Absalom said to Joab, "Look, I sent a message to you saying, 'Come here so that I can send you to the king with this message: "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there."' Let me now see the face of the king. If I am at fault, let him put me to death!"

Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of Matri was chosen by lot. At last Saul son of Kish was chosen by lot. But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found.

So the cook picked up the leg and brought it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, "What was kept is now set before you! Eat, for it has been kept for you for this meeting time, from the time I said, 'I have invited the people.'" So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

Even Saul went to his home in Gibeah. With him went some brave men whose hearts God had touched.

the Philistines called the priests and the omen readers, saying, "What should we do with the ark of the Lord? Advise us as to how we should send it back to its place."

The Israelites attacked the Benjaminites the next day; they took their positions against Gibeah just as they had done before.

They said, "Come, be our commander, so we can fight with the Ammonites."

When we invade the land, tie this red rope in the window through which you let us down, and gather together in your house your father, mother, brothers, and all who live in your father's house.

So Aaron said to Moses, "O my lord, please do not hold this sin against us, in which we have acted foolishly and have sinned!

And the people went about and gathered it, and ground it with mills or pounded it in mortars; they baked it in pans and made cakes of it. It tasted like fresh olive oil.

He, the God who leads you, will expel the nations little by little. You will not be allowed to destroy them all at once lest the wild animals overrun you.

Please forgive the iniquity of this people according to your great loyal love, just as you have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now."

The rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to half the tribe of Manasseh. (All the region of Argob, that is, all Bashan, is called the land of Rephaim.

But the Lord became angry with me because of you and vowed that I would never cross the Jordan nor enter the good land that he is about to give you.

"When a person commits a trespass and sins by straying unintentionally from the regulations about the Lord's holy things, then he must bring his penalty for guilt to the Lord, a flawless ram from the flock, convertible into silver shekels according to the standard of the sanctuary shekel, for a guilt offering.

and you eat some of the food of the land, you must offer up a raised offering to the Lord.

The waters kept receding steadily from the earth, so that they had gone down by the end of the 150 days.

Over the company of the tribe of the Asherites was Pagiel son of Ocran,

From the descendants of Manasseh: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.

The entire lifetime of Lamech was 777 years, and then he died.

Laban replied to Jacob, "These women are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, and these flocks are my flocks. All that you see belongs to me. But how can I harm these daughters of mine today or the children to whom they have given birth?

For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything.

"I (says the Lord) will strengthen the kingdom of Judah and deliver the people of Joseph and will bring them back because of my compassion for them. They will be as though I had never rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and therefore I will hear them.

Consider this: When I spoke to your ancestors after I brought them out of Egypt, I did not merely give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven

from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand,

He asked me, "What do you see?" I replied, "I see a menorah of pure gold with a receptacle at the top and seven lamps, with fourteen pipes going to the lamps.

Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more except Jesus.

In this vision I saw myself in Susa the citadel, which is located in the province of Elam. In the vision I saw myself at the Ulai Canal.

At that time a man will keep alive a young cow from the herd and a couple of goats.

You who are naive, discern wisdom! And you fools, understand discernment!

So I entered a complaint with them. I called down a curse on them, and I struck some of the men and pulled out their hair. I had them swear by God saying, "You will not marry off your daughters to their sons, and you will not take any of their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!

Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up a matter before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth! Therefore, let your words be few.

Because he covered his face with fat, and made his hips bulge with fat,

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with gladness.

What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?

I also have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?

So David sent someone to inquire about the woman. The messenger said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

From the day that I was appointed governor in the land of Judah, that is, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes -- twelve years in all -- neither I nor my relatives ate the food allotted to the governor.

Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

When Solomon had finished constructing the Lord's temple, he put the holy items that belonged to his father David (the silver, gold, and all the other articles) in the treasuries of God's temple.

In front of the temple he made two pillars which had a combined length of 52? feet, with each having a plated capital seven and one-half feet high.

Now let my lord send to his servants the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he has promised;

The following is a record of the armed warriors who came with their leaders and joined David in Hebron in order to make David king in Saul's place, in accordance with the Lord's decree:

Respond to the request of your servant and your people Israel for this place. Hear from inside your heavenly dwelling place and respond favorably.

The sons of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth,

The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

Now King Hazael of Syria oppressed Israel throughout Jehoahaz's reign.

Solomon was wiser than all the men of the east and all the sages of Egypt.

But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!"

But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and worshiped instead the gods of the native peoples whom God had destroyed before them.

One of the members of the prophetic guild, speaking with divine authority, ordered his companion, "Wound me!" But the man refused to wound him.

Then the people went out and looted the Syrian camp. A seah of finely milled flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, just as the Lord had said they would.

Elisha said to her, "What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" She answered, "Your servant has nothing in the house except a small jar of olive oil."

Now, O God of Israel, may the promise you made to your servant, my father David, be realized.

The one true God is my mighty refuge; he removes the obstacles in my way.

Geber son of Uri was in charge of the land of Gilead (the territory which had once belonged to King Sihon of the Amorites and to King Og of Bashan). He was sole governor of the area.

But the king said to Absalom, "No, my son. We shouldn't all go. We shouldn't burden you in that way." Though Absalom pressed him, the king was not willing to go. Instead, David blessed him.

They replied, "If you are going to send the ark of the God of Israel back, don't send it away empty. Be sure to return it with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why his hand is not removed from you."

Their wine is snakes' poison, the deadly venom of cobras.

So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the Lord.

The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The Lord will judge any grievance you have against us, if we do not do as you say."

The priest was happy. He took the ephod, the personal idols, and the carved image and joined the group.

The men of Gibeon sent this message to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, "Do not abandon your subjects! Rescue us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings living in the hill country are attacking us."

You must not bring any abhorrent thing into your house and thereby become an object of divine wrath along with it. You must absolutely detest and abhor it, for it is an object of divine wrath.

You said, "The Lord our God has shown us his great glory and we have heard him speak from the middle of the fire. It is now clear to us that God can speak to human beings and they can keep on living.

The Arabah and the Jordan River were also a border, from the sea of Chinnereth to the sea of the Arabah (that is, the Salt Sea), beneath the watershed of Pisgah to the east.

You are to have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and then offer them as a wave offering to the Lord.

These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he consecrated to minister as priests.

Ephraim boasts, "I am very rich! I have become wealthy! In all that I have done to gain my wealth, no one can accuse me of any offense that is actually sinful."

These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.

And they were as follows: The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name individually.

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but not finding any. Then it says, 'I will return to the home I left.'

The priest will then pour some of the olive oil into his own left hand,

Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand,

And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

They utter empty words, taking false oaths and making empty agreements. Therefore legal disputes sprout up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a plowed field.

Such idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field. They cannot talk. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them because they cannot hurt you. And they do not have any power to help you."

the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

For the Lord will restore the majesty of Jacob, as well as the majesty of Israel, though their enemies have plundered them and have destroyed their fields.

He builds the upper rooms of his palace in heaven and sets its foundation supports on the earth. He summons the water of the sea and pours it out on the earth's surface. The Lord is his name.

Due to the greatness that he bestowed on him, all peoples, nations, and language groups were trembling with fear before him. He killed whom he wished, he spared whom he wished, he exalted whom he wished, and he brought low whom he wished.

As I watched, I saw on the platform above the top of the cherubim something like a sapphire, resembling the shape of a throne, appearing above them.

The Lord answered, "This will happen because my people are foolish. They do not know me. They are like children who have no sense. They have no understanding. They are skilled at doing evil. They do not know how to do good."

Hammered-out silver is brought from Tarshish and gold is brought from Uphaz to cover those idols. They are the handiwork of carpenters and goldsmiths. They are clothed in blue and purple clothes. They are all made by skillful workers.

I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up and again carried out the king's business. But I was astonished at the vision, and there was no one to explain it.

"Yet you say, 'The Lord's conduct is unjust!' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my conduct unjust? Is it not your conduct that is unjust?

As for the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is the name by which he is remembered!

It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord.

Yes, but the time will certainly come," says the Lord, "when I will punish her idols. Throughout her land the mortally wounded will groan.

And you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, and like one who lies down on the top of the rigging.

You have enlarged the nation; you give them great joy. They rejoice in your presence as harvesters rejoice; as warriors celebrate when they divide up the plunder.

For I did not obey my teachers and I did not heed my instructors.

But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them save you when you are in trouble. The sad fact is that you have as many gods as you have towns, Judah.

The Lover to His Beloved: Turn, turn, O Perfect One! Turn, turn, that I may stare at you! The Beloved to Her Lover: Why do you gaze upon the Perfect One like the dance of the Mahanaim?

I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

I proceeded through the Valley Gate by night, in the direction of the Well of the Dragons and the Dung Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem that had been breached and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.

They conceive trouble and bring forth evil; their belly prepares deception."

A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God's wrath.

The couriers who were riding the royal horses went forth with the king's edict without delay. And the law was presented in Susa the citadel as well.

in Anathoth, Nob, and Ananiah,

From the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.

From the Israelites: from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.

From the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also known as Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

Later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who did evil.

Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Elat on the coast in the land of Edom.

All those selected to be gatekeepers at the entrances numbered 212. Their names were recorded in the genealogical records of their settlements. David and Samuel the prophet had appointed them to their positions.

Don't listen to Hezekiah!' For this is what the king of Assyria says, 'Send me a token of your submission and surrender to me. Then each of you may eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern,

Those who remain in Judah will take root in the ground and bear fruit.

David went on to say, "The Lord who delivered me from the lion and the bear will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine!" Then Saul said to David, "Go! The Lord will be with you."

They seized the Hagrites' animals, including 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took captive 100,000 people.

his son Micah, his son Reaiah, his son Baal,

Jokim, the men of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph, both of whom ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. (This information is from ancient records.)

Elisha told Gehazi, "Tuck your robes into your belt, take my staff, and go! Don't stop to exchange greetings with anyone! Place my staff on the child's face."

"But if you or your sons ever turn away from me, fail to obey the regulations and rules I instructed you to keep, and decide to serve and worship other gods,

Reaiah the son of Shobal was the father of Jahath, and Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites.

He did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin.

Now, O Lord, God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, 'You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel, provided that your descendants watch their step and serve me as you have done.'

You must not offer false testimony against another.

He was Israel's enemy throughout Solomon's reign and, like Hadad, caused trouble. He loathed Israel and ruled over Syria.

David defeated King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah when he came to reestablish his authority over the Euphrates River.

The next day Saul placed the people in three groups. They went to the Ammonite camp during the morning watch and struck them down until the hottest part of the day. The survivors scattered; no two of them remained together.

Solomon then sent this message to Hiram:

O Lord, when you departed from Seir, when you marched from Edom's plains, the earth shook, the heavens poured down, the clouds poured down rain.

Bathsheba replied, "That's fine, I'll speak to the king on your behalf."

Abner said to David, "Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire." So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.

As she was dying, the women who were there with her said, "Don't be afraid! You have given birth to a son!" But she did not reply or pay any attention.

"When the leaders took the lead in Israel, When the people answered the call to war -- Praise the Lord!

When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

The Reubenites and Gadites named the altar, "Surely it is a Reminder to us that the Lord is God."

They annihilated everyone who lived there with the sword -- no one who breathed remained -- and burned Hazor.

The Lord told Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them, for about this time tomorrow I will cause all of them to lie dead before Israel. You must hamstring their horses and burn their chariots."

The Lord told Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them, for I am handing them over to you. Not one of them can resist you."

So I have said to you: You yourselves will possess their land and I myself will give it to you for a possession, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the Lord your God who has set you apart from the other peoples.

I gave Gilead to Machir.

and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,

He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people.

The descendants of Bela were Ard and Naaman. From Ard, the family of the Ardites; from Naaman, the family of the Naamanites.

Now, get up and cross the Wadi Zered." So we did so.

one gold pan weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;

The sons of Merari by their families were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their clans.

You will perish among the nations; the land of your enemies will consume you.

But if you refuse to release my people, I am going to bring locusts into your territory tomorrow.

And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies.

These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

But if you refuse to release them, then I am going to plague all your territory with frogs.

You will live by your sword but you will serve your brother. When you grow restless, you will tear off his yoke from your neck."

When morning came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:

The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of Levi, according to their records.

If you had known what this means: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.

Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.

What am I going to do with you, O Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, O Judah? For your faithfulness is as fleeting as the morning mist; it disappears as quickly as dawn's dew!

Amos replied to Amaziah, "I was not a prophet by profession. No, I was a herdsman who also took care of sycamore fig trees.

They say to the people: "Journey over to Calneh and look at it! Then go from there to Hamath-Rabbah! Then go down to Gath of the Philistines! Are they superior to our two kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours?"

There is still medicinal ointment available in Gilead! There is still a physician there! Why then have my dear people not been restored to health?

It will spill into Judah, flooding and engulfing, as it reaches to the necks of its victims. He will spread his wings out over your entire land, O Immanuel."

(Alef) Alas! The Lord has covered Daughter Zion with his anger. He has thrown down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he did not protect his temple when he displayed his anger.

The Lord affirms, "The descendants of Israel will not cease forever to be a nation in my sight. That could only happen if the fixed ordering of the heavenly lights were to cease to operate before me."

But I am not really the one being troubled!" says the Lord. "Rather they are bringing trouble on themselves to their own shame!

So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand what they heard. (This happened on the first day of the seventh month.)

Sow your seed in the morning, and do not stop working until the evening; for you do not know which activity will succeed -- whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally.

to those who wait for death that does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures,

So you will walk in the way of good people, and will keep on the paths of the righteous.

I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:

And another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted anything good.

Then Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus at his royal residence in the tenth month (that is, the month of Tebeth) in the seventh year of his reign.

He does not allow me to recover my breath, for he fills me with bitterness.

Nehemiah son of Azbuk, head of a half-district of Beth Zur, worked after him as far as the tombs of David and the artificial pool and the House of the Warriors.

King Solomon sacrificed 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep. Then the king and all the people dedicated God's temple.

hereby participate with their colleagues the town leaders and enter into a curse and an oath to adhere to the law of God which was given through Moses the servant of God, and to obey carefully all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, along with his ordinances and his statutes.

The rest of the events of Solomon's reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Nathan the Prophet, the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and the Vision of Iddo the Seer pertaining to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

The priests stood in their assigned spots, along with the Levites who had the musical instruments used for praising the Lord. (These were the ones King David made for giving thanks to the Lord and which were used by David when he offered praise, saying, "Certainly his loyal love endures.") Opposite the Levites, the priests were blowing the trumpets, while all Israel stood there.

As the ark of the Lord's covenant entered the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David jumping and celebrating, she despised him.

David and the whole Israelite army advanced to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). (The Jebusites, the land's original inhabitants, lived there.)

David said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become commanding general!" So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first and became commander.

David seized from him 1,700 charioteers and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

He had sexual relations with his wife; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Ephraim named him Beriah because tragedy had come to his family.

You went back and ate and drank in this place, even though he said to you, "Do not eat or drink there." Therefore your corpse will not be buried in your ancestral tomb.'"

The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.

Jehoahaz's son Jehoash took back from Ben Hadad son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from his father Jehoahaz in war. Joash defeated him three times and recovered the Israelite cities.

But when she reached the prophet on the mountain, she grabbed hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to push her away, but the prophet said, "Leave her alone, for she is very upset. The Lord has kept the matter hidden from me; he didn't tell me about it."

She called to her husband, "Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so I can go see the prophet quickly and then return."

Now Saul's son Jonathan had a son who was crippled in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan arrived from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but in her haste to get away, he fell and was injured. Mephibosheth was his name.

These men were also in charge of Solomon's work projects; there were a total of 550 men who supervised the workers.

Solomon did not assign Israelites to these work crews; the Israelites served as his soldiers, attendants, officers, charioteers, and commanders of his chariot forces.

Then the Cushite arrived and said, "May my lord the king now receive the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today and delivered you from the hand of all who have rebelled against you!"

the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, in the same way he had appeared to him at Gibeon.

The poles were so long their ends were visible from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from beyond that point. They have remained there to this very day.

The district governors acquired supplies for King Solomon and all who ate in his royal palace. Each was responsible for one month in the year; they made sure nothing was lacking.

You must not steal.

but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.' But you have disobeyed me. Why would you do such a thing?

The Lord said to him, "You are safe! Do not be afraid! You are not going to die!"

"The priest who is anointed and ordained to act as high priest in place of his father is to make atonement. He is to put on the linen garments, the holy garments,

Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, was serving the Lord in those days), "Should we once more march out to fight the Benjaminites our brothers, or should we quit?" The Lord said, "Attack, for tomorrow I will hand them over to you."

Your clothing did not wear out nor did your feet swell all these forty years.

The Benjaminites formed their ranks behind Abner and were like a single army, standing at the top of a certain hill.

Then the men of the garrison said to Jonathan and his armor bearer, "Come on up to us so we can teach you a thing or two!" Then Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up behind me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel!"

"'If the high priest sins so that the people are guilty, on account of the sin he has committed he must present a flawless young bull to the Lord for a sin offering.

Then the Lord will scatter you among the peoples and there will be very few of you among the nations where the Lord will drive you.

After him Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel.

But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness,

The border of Amorite territory ran from the Scorpion Ascent to Sela and on up.

The Lord spoke immediately to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam: "The three of you come to the tent of meeting." So the three of them went.

and sprinkle some of the olive oil that is in his left hand with his right forefinger seven times before the Lord.

He prayed to the Lord and said, "Oh, Lord, this is just what I thought would happen when I was in my own country. This is what I tried to prevent by attempting to escape to Tarshish! -- because I knew that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and one who relents concerning threatened judgment.

and over the company of the tribe of the Naphtalites was Ahira son of Enan.

Moses then called to Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel, Aaron's uncle, and said to them, "Come near, carry your brothers away from the front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp."

For in seven days I will cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the ground every living thing that I have made."

But the one united with the Lord is one spirit with him.

For David says about him, 'I saw the Lord always in front of me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.

the two kidneys with the fat on their sinews, and the protruding lobe on the liver (which he is to remove along with the kidneys).

After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,

Here I am, standing by the spring. When the young woman goes out to draw water, I'll say, "Give me a little water to drink from your jug."

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.

So also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near, right at the door.

for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but God's message is not imprisoned!

But when the Pharisees saw this they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is against the law to do on the Sabbath."

Peter continued talking with him as he went in, and he found many people gathered together.

I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters,

In that day," says the Lord, "I will strike every horse with confusion and its rider with madness. I will pay close attention to the house of Judah, but will strike all the horses of the nations with blindness.

Children, I am still with you for a little while. You will look for me, and just as I said to the Jewish religious leaders, 'Where I am going you cannot come,' now I tell you the same.

When they had completely consumed the earth's vegetation, I said, "Sovereign Lord, forgive Israel! How can Jacob survive? He is too weak!"

Then a wind lifted me up and carried me to the exiles in Babylonia, in the vision given to me by the Spirit of God. Then the vision I had seen went up from me.

I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear them to pieces, then I will carry them off, and no one will be able to rescue them!

The vision of the evenings and mornings that was told to you is correct. But you should seal up the vision, for it refers to a time many days from now."

There were hooks three inches long, fastened in the house all around, and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

so that they may follow my statutes and observe my regulations and carry them out. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.

But those in Jerusalem will view it as a false omen. They have sworn solemn oaths, but the king of Babylon will accuse them of violations in order to seize them.

So now, residents of Jerusalem, people of Judah, you decide between me and my vineyard!

For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her seductive words are smoother than olive oil,

These were the living creatures which I saw at the Kebar River underneath the God of Israel; I knew that they were cherubim.

Then say to the people of the land, 'This is what the sovereign Lord says about the inhabitants of Jerusalem and of the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in fright, for their land will be stripped bare of all it contains because of the violence of all who live in it.

They pronounce the guilty innocent for a payoff, they ignore the just cause of the innocent.

rings, nose rings,

All of its soldiers are strong and mighty. Their arrows will send you to your grave.

Is not Calneh like Carchemish? Hamath like Arpad? Samaria like Damascus?

by keeping you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the loose woman.

So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

A person is praised in accordance with his wisdom, but the one who has a twisted mind is despised.

he taught me, and he said to me: "Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live.

For you deliver oppressed people, but you bring down those who have a proud look.

Certainly the Lord is just; he rewards godly deeds; the upright will experience his favor.

David sent some messengers to get her. She came to him and he had sexual relations with her. (Now at that time she was in the process of purifying herself from her menstrual uncleanness.) Then she returned to her home.

because I was terrified of the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I remained silent and would not go outdoors --

For calamity, there is derision (according to the ideas of the fortunate) -- a fate for those whose feet slip!

And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval more than all the other young women. So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen in place of Vashti.

who rejoice even to jubilation, and are exultant when they find the grave?

Then I said to them, "You see the problem that we have: Jerusalem is desolate and its gates are burned. Come on! Let's rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that this reproach will not continue."

Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more."

Everything that the God of heaven has required should be precisely done for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath against the empire of the king and his sons?

When the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

They were in charge of the meeting tent and the holy place, and helped their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, in the service of the Lord's temple.

Now, O Lord, you are the true God; you have made this good promise to your servant.

Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,

Yet the Lord's great anger against Judah did not subside; he was still infuriated by all the things Manasseh had done.

As one of them was felling a log, the ax head dropped into the water. He shouted, "Oh no, my master! It was borrowed!"

Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, and Phinehas was the father of Abishua.

On the top of each pillar, right above the bulge beside the latticework, there were two hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments arranged in rows all the way around.

The descendants of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul,

The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben Zoheth.

Amon his son, Josiah his son.

When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what happened, he took off up the road to Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him and ordered, "Shoot him too." They shot him while he was driving his chariot up the ascent of Gur near Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo and died there.

Each of the first cherub's wings was seven and a half feet long; its entire wingspan was 15 feet.

The prophet told the king, "Two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel, and a seah of finely milled flour for a shekel; this will happen about this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria."

In the meantime Absalom fled. When the servant who was the watchman looked up, he saw many people coming from the west on a road beside the hill.

Ahimaaz the son of Zadok again spoke to Joab, "Whatever happens, let me go after the Cushite." But Joab said, "Why is it that you want to go, my son? You have no good news that will bring you a reward."

Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. Everything you hear in the king's palace you must tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

Now be willing to bless your servant's dynasty so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O sovereign Lord, have spoken. By your blessing may your servant's dynasty be blessed on into the future!"

On that day the army struck down the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon, and they became very tired.

But the servant said to him, "Look, there is a man of God in this town. He is highly respected. Everything that he says really happens. Now let's go there. Perhaps he will tell us where we should go from here."

His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phineas, was pregnant and close to giving birth. When she heard that the ark of God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she doubled over and gave birth. But her labor pains were too much for her.

The men examined some of their provisions, but they failed to ask the Lord's advice.

The donkeys of Saul's father Kish wandered off, so Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys."

Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and drove it into Eglon's belly.

So Jephthah went with the leaders of Gilead. The people made him their leader and commander. Jephthah repeated the terms of the agreement before the Lord in Mizpah.

Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, "All right! If you take me back to fight with the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me, I will be your leader."

If she bears a female child, she will be impure fourteen days as during her menstrual flow, and she will remain sixty-six days in blood purity.

He also tore down the tower of Penuel and executed the city's men.

Hazar Gaddah, Heshbon, Beth Pelet,

The Lord then wrote on the tablets the same words, the ten commandments, which he had spoken to you at the mountain from the middle of the fire at the time of that assembly, and he gave them to me.

Now pay attention to all the commandments I am giving you today, so that you may be strong enough to enter and possess the land where you are headed,

These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the Israelites defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Lebanon Valley to Mount Halak on up to Seir. Joshua assigned this territory to the Israelite tribes,

The priest will then take holy water in a pottery jar, and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle, and put it into the water.

I will write on the tablets the same words that were on the first tablets you broke, and you must put them into the ark."

But you who remained faithful to the Lord your God are still alive to this very day, every one of you.

The fountains of the deep and the floodgates of heaven were closed, and the rain stopped falling from the sky.

"He will then make one of the turtledoves or young pigeons, which are within his means,

They said to the woman, "No longer do we believe because of your words, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this one really is the Savior of the world."

He went into all the region around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:

Then the Lord spoke to Moses:

They will fill your houses, the houses of your servants, and all the houses of Egypt, such as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen since they have been in the land until this day!'" Then Moses turned and went out from Pharaoh.

The waters prevailed over the earth for 150 days.

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it.

Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'

The Lord said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt."

Abraham took his son Ishmael and every male in his household (whether born in his house or bought with money) and circumcised them on that very same day, just as God had told him to do.

When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and when he approached to investigate, there came the voice of the Lord,

On that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the dry stream beds of Judah will flow with water. A spring will flow out from the temple of the Lord, watering the Valley of Acacia Trees.

Your warriors will be like women in your midst; the gates of your land will be wide open to your enemies; fire will consume the bars of your gates.

Multiply yourself like the young locust; multiply yourself like the flying locust!

My people, recall how King Balak of Moab planned to harm you, how Balaam son of Beor responded to him. Recall how you journeyed from Shittim to Gilgal, so you might acknowledge that the Lord has treated you fairly."

The sovereign Lord showed me this: I saw the sovereign Lord summoning a shower of fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the fields.

I will be like a moth to Ephraim, like wood rot to the house of Judah.

"When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I set an obstacle before him, he will die. If you have not warned him, he will die for his sin. The righteous deeds he performed will not be considered, but I will hold you accountable for his death.

"But you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, although you knew all this.

and the sound of the living beings' wings brushing against each other, and the sound of the wheels alongside them, a great rumbling sound.

(Nun) Your prophets saw visions for you that were worthless lies. They failed to expose your sin so as to restore your fortunes. They saw oracles for you that were worthless lies.

He will also take their gods into captivity to Egypt, along with their cast images and prized utensils of silver and gold. Then he will withdraw for some years from the king of the north.

the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea and everything that moves through the currents of the seas.

whose foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful, and from which there was food available for all, under whose branches wild animals used to live, and in whose branches birds of the sky used to nest --

I came to the exiles at Tel Abib, who lived by the Kebar River. I sat dumbfounded among them there, where they were living, for seven days.

"If you, Israel, want to come back," says the Lord, "if you want to come back to me you must get those disgusting idols out of my sight and must no longer go astray.

"Look up at the hilltops and consider this. You have had sex with other gods on every one of them. You waited for those gods like a thief lying in wait in the desert. You defiled the land by your wicked prostitution to other gods.

I sent him against a godless nation, I ordered him to attack the people with whom I was angry, to take plunder and to carry away loot, to trample them down like dirt in the streets.

"Because of the violence done to the oppressed, because of the painful cries of the needy, I will spring into action," says the Lord. "I will provide the safety they so desperately desire."

We know our noisy worship of false gods on the hills and mountains did not help us. We know that the Lord our God is the only one who can deliver Israel.

At that time every place where there had been a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels will be overrun with thorns and briers.

From the abundance of milk they produce, he will have sour milk for his meals. Indeed, everyone left in the heart of the land will eat sour milk and honey.

I almost came to complete ruin in the midst of the whole congregation!"

For very soon my fury will subside, and my anger will be directed toward their destruction."

The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the righteous household will stand.

Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

I also shook out my garment, and I said, "In this way may God shake out from his house and his property every person who does not carry out this matter. In this way may he be shaken out and emptied!" All the assembly replied, "So be it!" and they praised the LORD. Then the people did as they had promised.

Is it good for you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands, while you smile on the schemes of the wicked?

In time of famine he will redeem you from death, and in time of war from the power of the sword.

In the troubling thoughts of the dreams in the night when a deep sleep falls on men,

With this money you should be sure to purchase bulls, rams, and lambs, along with the appropriate meal offerings and libations. You should bring them to the altar of the temple of your God which is in Jerusalem.

so that he may initiate a search of the records of his predecessors and discover in those records that this city is rebellious and injurious to both kings and provinces, producing internal revolts from long ago. It is for this very reason that this city was destroyed.

Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, "Because you made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will shatter what you have made." The ships were wrecked and unable to go to sea.

"We will not give our daughters in marriage to the neighboring peoples, and we will not take their daughters in marriage for our sons.

From Zebulun there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle, equipped with all kinds of weapons, and ready to give their undivided loyalty.

They agreed to make large seagoing merchant ships; they built the ships in Ezion Geber.

The king and all the people were presenting sacrifices to the Lord.

Wherever I moved among all the Israelites, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?"'

Jakim, Zikri, Zabdi,

They were the potters who lived in Netaim and Gederah; they lived there and worked for the king.

Ahab also made an Asherah pole; he did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

The five others were Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed.

Omri did more evil in the sight of the Lord than all who were before him.

As the prophet from Judah was traveling, a lion attacked him on the road and killed him. His corpse was lying on the road, and the donkey and the lion just stood there beside it.

They paid 600 silver pieces for each chariot from Egypt and 150 silver pieces for each horse. They also sold chariots and horses to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.

As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed his inmost person. All these signs happened on that very day.

Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the room and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited. There were about thirty people present.

for you are still influenced by the flesh. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people?

Then Abner called out to Joab, "Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you tell the people to turn aside from pursuing their brothers?"

She said, "The glory has departed from Israel, because the ark of God has been captured."

The man said to Eli, "I am the one who came from the battle lines! Just today I fled from the battle lines!" Eli asked, "How did things go, my son?"

Gilead stayed put beyond the Jordan River. As for Dan -- why did he seek temporary employment in the shipyards? Asher remained on the seacoast, he stayed by his harbors.

Call judgment down on Meroz,' says the Lord's angelic messenger; 'Be sure to call judgment down on those who live there, because they did not come to help in the Lord's battle, to help in the Lord's battle against the warriors.'

Are you really better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he dare to quarrel with Israel? Did he dare to fight with them?

He led Israel for twenty-three years, then died and was buried in Shamir.

The men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us -- you, your son, and your grandson. For you have delivered us from Midian's power."

Canaanites came from the east and west; Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites from the hill country; and Hivites from below Hermon in the area of Mizpah.

Then Joshua and all Israel took Achan, son of Zerah, along with the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, ox, donkey, sheep, tent, and all that belonged to him and brought them up to the Valley of Disaster.

Cain had marital relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was building a city, and he named the city after his son Enoch.

If you should report what we've been up to, we are not bound by this oath you made us swear."

"You are to take the ram of the consecration and cook its meat in a holy place.

During the seven years of abundance the land produced large, bountiful harvests.

Then the priest must offer it up in smoke on the altar as a food gift to the Lord.

Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the Israelites solemnly swear, "God will surely attend to you, and you will carry my bones up from this place with you."

"I have been with you for the past twenty years. Your ewes and female goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks.

For this reason a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

At that time a great disturbance took place concerning the Way.

and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

They were told not to damage the grass of the earth, or any green plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their forehead.

Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him,

Watch out! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come.

Now there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man.

Then when Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. He said to them,

All your fortifications will be like fig trees with first-ripe fruit: If they are shaken, their figs will fall into the mouth of the eater!

yet you hate what is good, and love what is evil. You flay my people's skin and rip the flesh from their bones.

So these men concluded, "We won't find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is in connection with the law of his God."

They will return to Egypt! Assyria will rule over them because they refuse to repent!

Over them would be three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountable to them, so that the king's interests might not incur damage.

and I will drive you into exile beyond Damascus," says the Lord. He is called the God who commands armies!

Then the king of the north will advance against the empire of the king of the south, but will withdraw to his own land.

I hereby decree that any people, nation, or language group that blasphemes the god of Shadrach, Meshach, or Abednego will be dismembered and his home reduced to rubble! For there exists no other god who can deliver in this way."

So Darius the Mede took control of the kingdom when he was about sixty-two years old.

this is the interpretation, O king! It is the decision of the Most High that this has happened to my lord the king.

Then Nebuchadnezzar promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

All prostitutes receive payment, but instead you give gifts to every one of your lovers. You bribe them to come to you from all around for your sexual favors!

So I, the Lord, say this: 'I will soon bring disaster on them which they will not be able to escape! When they cry out to me for help, I will not listen to them.

Their arrows will cut young men to ribbons; they have no compassion on a person's offspring, they will not look with pity on children.

(Kaf) For the Lord will not reject us forever.

They say to a wooden idol, 'You are my father.' They say to a stone image, 'You gave birth to me.' Yes, they have turned away from me instead of turning to me. Yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!'

Remove perverse speech from your mouth; keep devious talk far from your lips.

May the Lord rain down burning coals and brimstone on the wicked! A whirlwind is what they deserve!

For my mouth speaks truth, and my lips hate wickedness.

Divide your merchandise among seven or even eight investments, for you do not know what calamity may happen on earth.

If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.

"Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, nor does he grasp the hand of the evildoers.

A musical composition by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning a Benjaminite named Cush. O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter. Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!

Then I related to them how the good hand of my God was on me and what the king had said to me. Then they replied, "Let's begin rebuilding right away!" So they readied themselves for this good project.

Then let this clothing and this horse be given to one of the king's noble officials. Let him then clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him lead him about through the plaza of the city on the horse, calling before him, 'So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!'"

Jedaiah son of Harumaph worked on the section adjacent to them opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah worked on the section adjacent to him.

The combined wing span of the cherubs was 30 feet. One of the first cherub's wings was seven and one-half feet long and touched one wall of the temple; its other wing was also seven and one-half feet long and touched one of the second cherub's wings.

Ahiezer, the leader, and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Berachah, Jehu the Anathothite,

Uriah replied to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah reside in temporary shelters, and my lord Joab and my lord's soldiers are camping in the open field. Should I go to my house to eat and drink and have marital relations with my wife? As surely as you are alive, I will not do this thing!"

Abdon, Zikri, Hanan,

His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon, as well as Uzzen Sheerah),

The cherubs' wings extended over the place where the ark sat; the cherubs overshadowed the ark and its poles.

The son of Uzzi: Izrachiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All five were leaders.

He took away the treasures of the Lord's temple and of the royal palace; he took everything, including all the golden shields that Solomon had made.

Now, O sovereign Lord, you are the true God! May your words prove to be true! You have made this good promise to your servant!

Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and the father of Bethlehem.

The descendants of Hananiah: Pelatiah, Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah, and of Shecaniah.

Joshua made a peace treaty with them and agreed to let them live. The leaders of the community sealed it with an oath.

The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; he took notice of my blameless behavior.

They brought it with the ark of God up from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Ahio was walking in front of the ark,

Then the woman said, "Please permit your servant to speak to my lord the king about another matter." He replied, "Tell me."

He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites.

The Lord told Joshua, "Don't be afraid and don't panic! Take the whole army with you and march against Ai! See, I am handing over to you the king of Ai, along with his people, city, and land.

Achan told Joshua, "It is true. I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel in this way:

It was some time after this when the Ammonites fought with Israel.

Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath -- a total of fourteen cities and their towns. This was the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans.

The Lord routed Sisera, all his chariotry, and all his army with the edge of the sword. Sisera jumped out of his chariot and ran away on foot.

King Sihon of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) -- including the city in the middle of the valley and half of Gilead -- all the way to the Jabbok Valley bordering Ammonite territory.

About forty thousand battle-ready troops marched past the Lord to fight on the plains of Jericho.

She said, "I agree to these conditions." She sent them on their way and then tied the red rope in the window.

You must pursue justice alone so that you may live and inherit the land the Lord your God is giving you.

He must present this grain offering in addition to ring-shaped loaves of leavened bread which regularly accompany the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offering.

and that you may enjoy long life in the land the Lord promised to give to your ancestors and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.

If a man has sexual intercourse with his aunt, he has exposed his uncle's nakedness; they must bear responsibility for their sin, they will die childless.

as well as to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean,

At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the Lord's covenant, to stand before the Lord to serve him, and to formulate blessings in his name, as they do to this very day.

"'This is the law of the grain offering. The sons of Aaron are to present it before the Lord in front of the altar,

all the rest of the bull -- he must bring outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place, to the fatty ash pile, and he must burn it on a wood fire; it must be burned on the fatty ash pile.

Thus you are to offer up a raised offering to the Lord of all your tithes which you receive from the Israelites; and you must give the Lord's raised offering from it to Aaron the priest.

The Lord spoke to Moses:

God saw the Israelites, and God understood.

The Lord did so; a thick swarm of flies came into Pharaoh's house and into the houses of his servants, and throughout the whole land of Egypt the land was ruined because of the swarms of flies.

Then he began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time.

I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

(Now the Lord granted the people favor with the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh's servants and by the Egyptian people.)

Instruct the people that each man and each woman is to request from his or her neighbor items of silver and gold."

(Now it was Mary who anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and wiped his feet dry with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

Then I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right path to find the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son.

When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.

I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus.

After looking around at them in anger, grieved by the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

After the reading from the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, "Brothers, if you have any message of exhortation for the people, speak it."

The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you.

until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."'

A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher.

The sunlight will be turned to darkness and the moon to the color of blood, before the day of the Lord comes -- that great and terrible day!

After twelve months, he happened to be walking around on the battlements of the royal palace of Babylon.

while others were saying that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen.

Howl, fir tree, because the cedar has fallen; the majestic trees have been destroyed. Howl, oaks of Bashan, because the impenetrable forest has fallen.

Therefore, as flaming fire devours straw, and dry grass disintegrates in the flames, so their root will rot, and their flower will blow away like dust. For they have rejected the law of the Lord who commands armies, they have spurned the commands of the Holy One of Israel.

Yes, the wicked man boasts because he gets what he wants; the one who robs others curses and rejects the Lord.

Next I eradicated the three shepherds in one month, for I ran out of patience with them and, indeed, they detested me as well.

So I began to shepherd the flock destined for slaughter, the most afflicted of all the flock. Then I took two staffs, calling one "Pleasantness" and the other "Binders," and I tended the flock.

"And you, son of man, take a brick and set it in front of you. Inscribe a city on it -- Jerusalem.

The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; they do not know what causes them to stumble.

As they wail they will lament over you, chanting: "Who was like Tyre, like a tower in the midst of the sea?"

I brought them to the land which I swore to give them, but whenever they saw any high hill or leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices there and presented the offerings that provoke me to anger. They offered their soothing aroma there and poured out their drink offerings.

It was reported to the family of David, "Syria has allied with Ephraim." They and their people were emotionally shaken, just as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.

The wicked will be captured by his own iniquities, and he will be held by the cords of his own sin.

Because I give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching.

On the twenty-fourth day of this same month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting and wearing sackcloth, their heads covered with dust.

But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard all this, they derided us and expressed contempt toward us. They said, "What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"

although you know that I am not guilty, and that there is no one who can deliver out of your hand?

"Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God?

The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had been doing, for up to this point I had not told any of the Jews or the priests or the nobles or the officials or the rest of the workers.

He made the two pillars, the two bowl-shaped tops of the pillars, the latticework for the bowl-shaped tops of the two pillars,

From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.

He made the curtain out of violet, purple, crimson, and white fabrics, and embroidered on it decorative cherubim.

They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the Lord.

I sent them to Iddo, who was the leader in the place called Casiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his relatives, who were the temple servants in Casiphia, so they would bring us attendants for the temple of our God.

From the time Amaziah turned from following the Lord, conspirators plotted against him in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lachish. But they sent assassins after him and they killed him there.

In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites left Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, during the month Ziv (the second month), he began building the Lord's temple.

When they got up early the next morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites, who were some distance away, the water looked red like blood.

Hiram sent his fleet and some of his sailors, who were well acquainted with the sea, to serve with Solomon's men.

The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second oldest.

Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

The Lord said to him, "I have answered your prayer and your request for help that you made to me. I have consecrated this temple you built by making it my permanent home; I will be constantly present there.

the fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital; the sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah.

Ozem sixth, David seventh.

So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and went on his way. He went home and stayed in Nineveh.

The king responded, "Give the first woman the living child; don't kill him. She is the mother."

In the fifty-second year of King Azariah's reign over Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for twenty years.

Why are you scorning my sacrifice and my offering that I commanded for my dwelling place? You have honored your sons more than you have me by having made yourselves fat from the best parts of all the offerings of my people Israel.'

When their fathers or brothers come and protest to us, we'll say to them, "Do us a favor and let them be, for we could not get each one a wife through battle. Don't worry about breaking your oath! You would only be guilty if you had voluntarily given them wives.'"

She would sit under the Date Palm Tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the Ephraimite hill country. The Israelites would come up to her to have their disputes settled.