what if there are five less than the fifty godly people? Will you destroy the whole city because five are lacking?" He replied, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there."

When Pharaoh released the people, God did not lead them by the way to the land of the Philistines, although that was nearby, for God said, "Lest the people change their minds and return to Egypt when they experience war."

The Israelites did so, and they gathered -- some more, some less.

The Lord said to Moses, "Go down and solemnly warn the people, lest they force their way through to the Lord to look, and many of them perish.

Let the priests also, who approach the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break through against them."

The Lord said to him, "Go, get down, and come up, and Aaron with you, but do not let the priests and the people force their way through to come up to the Lord, lest he break through against them."

They said to Moses, "You speak to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak with us, lest we die."

I will not drive them out before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild animals multiply against you.

They must not live in your land, lest they make you sin against me, for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you."

The rich are not to increase it, and the poor are not to pay less than the half shekel when giving the offering of the Lord, to make atonement for your lives.

Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it become a snare among you.

but you must not go out from the entrance of the Meeting Tent lest you die, for the Lord's anointing oil is on you." So they acted according to the word of Moses.

The more years there are, the more you may make its purchase price, and the fewer years there are, the less you must make its purchase price, because he is only selling to you a number of years of produce.

And he said to the community, "Move away from the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything they have, lest you be destroyed because of all their sins."

Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the commandment of the Lord my God to do less or more.

Again, however, pay very careful attention, lest you forget the things you have seen and disregard them for the rest of your life; instead teach them to your children and grandchildren.

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.

Be careful lest you entertain the wicked thought that the seventh year, the year of cancellation of debts, has almost arrived, and your attitude be wrong toward your impoverished fellow Israelite and you do not lend him anything; he will cry out to the Lord against you and you will be regarded as having sinned.

Furthermore, he must not marry many wives lest his affections turn aside, and he must not accumulate much silver and gold.

This accords with what happened at Horeb in the day of the assembly. You asked the Lord your God: "Please do not make us hear the voice of the Lord our God any more or see this great fire any more lest we die."

Moreover, the officers are to say to the troops, "Who among you has built a new house and not dedicated it? He may go home, lest he die in battle and someone else dedicate it.

Or who among you has planted a vineyard and not benefited from it? He may go home, lest he die in battle and someone else benefit from it.

Or who among you has become engaged to a woman but has not married her? He may go home, lest he die in battle and someone else marry her."

Suppose a man has two wives, one whom he loves more than the other, and they both bear him sons, with the firstborn being the child of the less loved wife.

Rather, he must acknowledge the son of the less loved wife as firstborn and give him the double portion of all he has, for that son is the beginning of his father's procreative power -- to him should go the right of the firstborn.

"God does not really live on the earth! Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built!

"God does not really live with humankind on the earth! Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built!

"How much less, then, can I answer him and choose my words to argue with him!

how much less man, who is abominable and corrupt, who drinks in evil like water!

how much less a mortal man, who is but a maggot -- a son of man, who is only a worm!"

How much less, then, when you say that you do not perceive him, that the case is before him and you are waiting for him!

and make them a little less than the heavenly beings? You grant mankind honor and majesty;

Lest she should make level the path leading to life, her paths are unstable but she does not know it.

lest you give your vigor to others and your years to a cruel person,

lest strangers devour your strength, and your labor benefit another man's house.

Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!

Luxury is not appropriate for a fool; how much less for a servant to rule over princes!

Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished; open your eyes so that you might be satisfied with food.

lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

lest the Lord see it, and be displeased, and turn his wrath away from him.

lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away.

When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up.

Don't set foot too frequently in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own estimation.

Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and prove you to be a liar.

lest I become satisfied and act deceptively and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God.

Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you are found guilty.

lest they drink and forget what is decreed, and remove from all the poor their legal rights.

The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

The Beloved to Her Lover: Tell me, O you whom my heart loves, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest your sheep during the midday heat? Tell me lest I wander around beside the flocks of your companions!

Indeed, a large vineyard will produce just a few gallons, and enough seed to yield several bushels will produce less than a bushel."

Then the Lord said to me, "Under the circumstances, wayward Israel could even be considered less guilty than unfaithful Judah.

Yes, the Lord has this to say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: "Like a farmer breaking up hard unplowed ground, you must break your rebellious will and make a new beginning; just as a farmer must clear away thorns lest the seed is wasted, you must get rid of the sin that is ruining your lives.

Indeed! If it was not made into anything useful when it was whole, how much less can it be made into anything when the fire has burned it up and it is charred?

You say, "When will the new moon festival be over, so we can sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, so we can open up the grain bins? We're eager to sell less for a higher price, and to cheat the buyer with rigged scales!