Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Belly » Used figuratively for the seat of the affections
With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure.
One of their prophets has said, The men of Crete are ever false, evil beasts, lovers of food, hating work.
Will a wise man make answer with knowledge of no value, or will he give birth to the east wind?
Evil has made them with child, and they give birth to trouble; and the fruit of their body is shame for themselves.
There is no peace for him in his wealth, and no salvation for him in those things in which he took delight.
For our souls are crushed down to the dust: our bodies are stretched out on the earth.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
Hearing it, my inner parts were moved, and my lips were shaking at the sound; my bones became feeble, and my steps were uncertain under me: I gave sounds of grief in the day of trouble, when his forces came up against the people in bands.
He who has faith in me, out of his body, as the Writings have said, will come rivers of living water.
Creditor » Oppressions of
For you have taken your brother's goods when he was not in your debt, and have taken away the clothing of those who have need of it.
They send away the ass of him who has no father, they take the widow's ox for debt.
Now a certain woman, the wife of one of the sons of the prophets, came crying to Elisha and said, Your servant my husband is dead; and to your knowledge he was a worshipper of the Lord; but now, the creditor has come to take my two children as servants in payment of his debt.
The child without a father is forced from its mother's breast, and they take the young children of the poor for debt.
Come to an agreement quickly with him who has a cause against you at law, while you are with him on the way, for fear that he may give you up to the judge and the judge may give you to the police and you may be put into prison. Truly I say to you, You will not come out from there till you have made payment of the very last farthing.
For if anyone has a cause at law against you, and you are going with him before the ruler, make an attempt, on the way, to come to an agreement with him, for if you do not, he may take you before the judge and the judge will give you up to the police, and they will put you in prison. I say to you, You will not come out of it till you have made payment to the very last farthing.
Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their countrymen the Jews. For there were some who said, We, our sons and our daughters, are a great number: let us get grain, so that we may have food for our needs. And there were some who said, We are giving our fields and our vine-gardens and our houses for debt: let us get grain because we are in need. read more.
And there were others who said, We have given up our fields and our vine-gardens to get money for the king's taxes. But our flesh is the same as the flesh of our countrymen, and our children as their children: and now we are giving our sons and daughters into the hands of others, to be their servants, and some of our daughters are servants even now: and we have no power to put a stop to it; for other men have our fields and our vine-gardens. And on hearing their outcry and what they said I was very angry. And after turning it over in my mind, I made a protest to the chiefs and the rulers, and said to them, Every one of you is taking interest from his countryman. And I got together a great meeting of protest. And I said to them, We have given whatever we were able to give, to make our brothers the Jews free, who were servants and prisoners of the nations: and would you now give up your brothers for a price, and are they to become our property? Then they said nothing, answering not a word. And I said, What you are doing is not good: is it not the more necessary for you to go in the fear of our God, because of the shame which the nations may put on us? Even I and my servants have been taking interest for the money and the grain we have let them have. So now, let us give up this thing. Give back to them this very day their fields, their vine-gardens, their olive-gardens, and their houses, as well as a hundredth part of the money and the grain and the wine and the oil which you have taken from them. Then they said, We will give them back, and take nothing for them; we will do as you say. Then I sent for the priests and made them take an oath that they would keep this agreement. And shaking out the folds of my robe, I said, So may God send out from his house and his work every man who does not keep this agreement; even so let him be sent out and made as nothing. And all the meeting of the people said, So be it, and gave praise to the Lord. And the people did as they had said.
And there were others who said, We have given up our fields and our vine-gardens to get money for the king's taxes. But our flesh is the same as the flesh of our countrymen, and our children as their children: and now we are giving our sons and daughters into the hands of others, to be their servants, and some of our daughters are servants even now: and we have no power to put a stop to it; for other men have our fields and our vine-gardens. And on hearing their outcry and what they said I was very angry. And after turning it over in my mind, I made a protest to the chiefs and the rulers, and said to them, Every one of you is taking interest from his countryman. And I got together a great meeting of protest. And I said to them, We have given whatever we were able to give, to make our brothers the Jews free, who were servants and prisoners of the nations: and would you now give up your brothers for a price, and are they to become our property? Then they said nothing, answering not a word. And I said, What you are doing is not good: is it not the more necessary for you to go in the fear of our God, because of the shame which the nations may put on us? Even I and my servants have been taking interest for the money and the grain we have let them have. So now, let us give up this thing. Give back to them this very day their fields, their vine-gardens, their olive-gardens, and their houses, as well as a hundredth part of the money and the grain and the wine and the oil which you have taken from them. Then they said, We will give them back, and take nothing for them; we will do as you say. Then I sent for the priests and made them take an oath that they would keep this agreement. And shaking out the folds of my robe, I said, So may God send out from his house and his work every man who does not keep this agreement; even so let him be sent out and made as nothing. And all the meeting of the people said, So be it, and gave praise to the Lord. And the people did as they had said.
He is forced to give back the fruit of his work, and may not take it for food; he has no joy in the profit of his trading. Because he has been cruel to the poor, turning away from them in their trouble; because he has taken a house by force which he did not put up; There is no peace for him in his wealth, and no salvation for him in those things in which he took delight.
Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts: If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
But that servant went out, and meeting one of the other servants, who was in debt to him for one hundred pence, he took him by the throat, saying, Make payment of your debt. So that servant went down on his face, requesting him and saying, Give me time and I will make payment to you. And he would not: but went and put him into prison till he had made payment of the debt. read more.
So when the other servants saw what was done they were very sad, and came and gave word to their lord of what had been done. Then his lord sent for him and said, You evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me: Was it not right for you to have mercy on the other servant, even as I had mercy on you? And his lord was very angry, and put him in the hands of those who would give him punishment till he made payment of all the debt. So will my Father in heaven do to you, if you do not everyone, from your hearts, give forgiveness to his brother.
So when the other servants saw what was done they were very sad, and came and gave word to their lord of what had been done. Then his lord sent for him and said, You evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me: Was it not right for you to have mercy on the other servant, even as I had mercy on you? And his lord was very angry, and put him in the hands of those who would give him punishment till he made payment of all the debt. So will my Father in heaven do to you, if you do not everyone, from your hearts, give forgiveness to his brother.
Wicked people » Temporal punishment of
For the light of the sinner is put out, and the flame of his fire is not shining. The light is dark in his tent, and the light shining over him is put out. The steps of his strength become short, and by his design destruction overtakes him. read more.
His feet take him into the net, and he goes walking into the cords. His foot is taken in the net; he comes into its grip. The twisted cord is put secretly in the earth to take him, and the cord is placed in his way. He is overcome by fears on every side, they go after him at every step. His strength is made feeble for need of food, and destruction is waiting for his falling footstep. His skin is wasted by disease, and his body is food for the worst of diseases. He is pulled out of his tent where he was safe, and he is taken away to the king of fears. In his tent will be seen that which is not his, burning stone is dropped on his house. Under the earth his roots are dry, and over it his branch is cut off. His memory is gone from the earth, and in the open country there is no knowledge of his name. He is sent away from the light into the dark; he is forced out of the world. He has no offspring or family among his people, and in his living-place there is no one of his name. At his fate those of the west are shocked, and those of the east are overcome with fear. Truly, these are the houses of the sinner, and this is the place of him who has no knowledge of God.
His feet take him into the net, and he goes walking into the cords. His foot is taken in the net; he comes into its grip. The twisted cord is put secretly in the earth to take him, and the cord is placed in his way. He is overcome by fears on every side, they go after him at every step. His strength is made feeble for need of food, and destruction is waiting for his falling footstep. His skin is wasted by disease, and his body is food for the worst of diseases. He is pulled out of his tent where he was safe, and he is taken away to the king of fears. In his tent will be seen that which is not his, burning stone is dropped on his house. Under the earth his roots are dry, and over it his branch is cut off. His memory is gone from the earth, and in the open country there is no knowledge of his name. He is sent away from the light into the dark; he is forced out of the world. He has no offspring or family among his people, and in his living-place there is no one of his name. At his fate those of the west are shocked, and those of the east are overcome with fear. Truly, these are the houses of the sinner, and this is the place of him who has no knowledge of God.
Through your evil-doing these things have been turned away, and your sins have kept back good from you.
This is the punishment of the evil-doer from God, and the heritage given to the cruel by the Ruler of all. If his children are increased, it is for the sword; and his offspring have not enough bread. When those of his house who are still living come to their end by disease, they are not put into the earth, and their widows are not weeping for them. read more.
Though he may get silver together like dust, and make ready great stores of clothing; He may get them ready, but the upright will put them on, and he who is free from sin will take the silver for a heritage. His house has no more strength than a spider's thread, or a watchman's tent. He goes to rest full of wealth, but does so for the last time: on opening his eyes, he sees it there no longer. Fears overtake him like rushing waters; in the night the storm-wind takes him away. The east wind takes him up and he is gone; he is forced violently out of his place. God sends his arrows against him without mercy; he goes in flight before his hand. Men make signs of joy because of him, driving him from his place with sounds of hissing.
Though he may get silver together like dust, and make ready great stores of clothing; He may get them ready, but the upright will put them on, and he who is free from sin will take the silver for a heritage. His house has no more strength than a spider's thread, or a watchman's tent. He goes to rest full of wealth, but does so for the last time: on opening his eyes, he sees it there no longer. Fears overtake him like rushing waters; in the night the storm-wind takes him away. The east wind takes him up and he is gone; he is forced violently out of his place. God sends his arrows against him without mercy; he goes in flight before his hand. Men make signs of joy because of him, driving him from his place with sounds of hissing.
The evil man is in pain all his days, and the number of the years stored up for the cruel is small. A sound of fear is in his ears; in time of peace destruction will come on him: He has no hope of coming safe out of the dark, and his fate will be the sword; read more.
He is wandering about in search of bread, saying, Where is it? and he is certain that the day of trouble is ready for him: He is greatly in fear of the dark day, trouble and pain overcome him: Because his hand is stretched out against God, and his heart is lifted up against the Ruler of all, Running against him like a man of war, covered by his thick breastplate; even like a king ready for the fight, Because his face is covered with fat, and his body has become thick; And he has made his resting-place in the towns which have been pulled down, in houses where no man had a right to be, whose fate was to become masses of broken walls. He does not get wealth for himself, and is unable to keep what he has got; the heads of his grain are not bent down to the earth. He does not come out of the dark; his branches are burned by the flame, and the wind takes away his bud. Let him not put his hope in what is false, falling into error: for he will get deceit as his reward. His branch is cut off before its time, and his leaf is no longer green. He is like a vine whose grapes do not come to full growth, or an olive-tree dropping its flowers. For the band of the evil-doers gives no fruit, and the tents of those who give wrong decisions for reward are burned with fire. Evil has made them with child, and they give birth to trouble; and the fruit of their body is shame for themselves.
He is wandering about in search of bread, saying, Where is it? and he is certain that the day of trouble is ready for him: He is greatly in fear of the dark day, trouble and pain overcome him: Because his hand is stretched out against God, and his heart is lifted up against the Ruler of all, Running against him like a man of war, covered by his thick breastplate; even like a king ready for the fight, Because his face is covered with fat, and his body has become thick; And he has made his resting-place in the towns which have been pulled down, in houses where no man had a right to be, whose fate was to become masses of broken walls. He does not get wealth for himself, and is unable to keep what he has got; the heads of his grain are not bent down to the earth. He does not come out of the dark; his branches are burned by the flame, and the wind takes away his bud. Let him not put his hope in what is false, falling into error: for he will get deceit as his reward. His branch is cut off before its time, and his leaf is no longer green. He is like a vine whose grapes do not come to full growth, or an olive-tree dropping its flowers. For the band of the evil-doers gives no fruit, and the tents of those who give wrong decisions for reward are burned with fire. Evil has made them with child, and they give birth to trouble; and the fruit of their body is shame for themselves.
That the pride of the sinner is short, and the joy of the evil-doer but for a minute? Though he is lifted up to the heavens, and his head goes up to the clouds; Like the waste from his body he comes to an end for ever: those who have seen him say, Where is he? read more.
He is gone like a dream, and is not seen again; he goes in flight like a vision of the night. The eye which saw him sees him no longer; and his place has no more knowledge of him. His children are hoping that the poor will be kind to them, and his hands give back his wealth. His bones are full of young strength, but it will go down with him into the dust. Though evil-doing is sweet in his mouth, and he keeps it secretly under his tongue; Though he takes care of it, and does not let it go, but keeps it still in his mouth; His food becomes bitter in his stomach; the poison of snakes is inside him. He takes down wealth as food, and sends it up again; it is forced out of his stomach by God. He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death. Let him not see the rivers of oil, the streams of honey and milk. He is forced to give back the fruit of his work, and may not take it for food; he has no joy in the profit of his trading. Because he has been cruel to the poor, turning away from them in their trouble; because he has taken a house by force which he did not put up; There is no peace for him in his wealth, and no salvation for him in those things in which he took delight. He had never enough for his desire; for this cause his well-being will quickly come to an end. Even when his wealth is great, he is full of care, for the hand of everyone who is in trouble is turned against him. God gives him his desire, and sends the heat of his wrath on him, making it come down on him like rain. He may go in flight from the iron spear, but the arrow from the bow of brass will go through him; He is pulling it out, and it comes out of his back; and its shining point comes out of his side; he is overcome by fears. All his wealth is stored up for the dark: a fire not made by man sends destruction on him, and on everything in his tent. The heavens make clear his sin, and the earth gives witness against him. The produce of his house is taken away into another country, like things given into the hands of others in the day of wrath. This is the reward of the evil man, and the heritage given to him by God.
He is gone like a dream, and is not seen again; he goes in flight like a vision of the night. The eye which saw him sees him no longer; and his place has no more knowledge of him. His children are hoping that the poor will be kind to them, and his hands give back his wealth. His bones are full of young strength, but it will go down with him into the dust. Though evil-doing is sweet in his mouth, and he keeps it secretly under his tongue; Though he takes care of it, and does not let it go, but keeps it still in his mouth; His food becomes bitter in his stomach; the poison of snakes is inside him. He takes down wealth as food, and sends it up again; it is forced out of his stomach by God. He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death. Let him not see the rivers of oil, the streams of honey and milk. He is forced to give back the fruit of his work, and may not take it for food; he has no joy in the profit of his trading. Because he has been cruel to the poor, turning away from them in their trouble; because he has taken a house by force which he did not put up; There is no peace for him in his wealth, and no salvation for him in those things in which he took delight. He had never enough for his desire; for this cause his well-being will quickly come to an end. Even when his wealth is great, he is full of care, for the hand of everyone who is in trouble is turned against him. God gives him his desire, and sends the heat of his wrath on him, making it come down on him like rain. He may go in flight from the iron spear, but the arrow from the bow of brass will go through him; He is pulling it out, and it comes out of his back; and its shining point comes out of his side; he is overcome by fears. All his wealth is stored up for the dark: a fire not made by man sends destruction on him, and on everything in his tent. The heavens make clear his sin, and the earth gives witness against him. The produce of his house is taken away into another country, like things given into the hands of others in the day of wrath. This is the reward of the evil man, and the heritage given to him by God.
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power? Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them. read more.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young. They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance, They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe. Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways. What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him? Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.) How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords? How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind? You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it! Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all! For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended? Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high. One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet: His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones. And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good. Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm. See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me; For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer? Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience? How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath? Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it? He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it. The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young. They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance, They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe. Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways. What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him? Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.) How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords? How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind? You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it! Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all! For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended? Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high. One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet: His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones. And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good. Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm. See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me; For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer? Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience? How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath? Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it? He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it. The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
The landmarks are changed by evil men, they violently take away flocks, together with their keepers. They send away the ass of him who has no father, they take the widow's ox for debt. The crushed are turned out of the way; all the poor of the earth go into a secret place together. read more.
Like asses in the waste land they go out to their work, looking for food with care; from the waste land they get bread for their children. They get mixed grain from the field, and they take away the late fruit from the vines of those who have wealth. They take their rest at night without clothing, and have no cover in the cold. They are wet with the rain of the mountains, and get into the cracks of the rock for cover. The child without a father is forced from its mother's breast, and they take the young children of the poor for debt. Others go about without clothing, and though they have no food, they get in the grain from the fields. Between the lines of olive-trees they make oil; though they have no drink, they are crushing out the grapes. From the town come sounds of pain from those who are near death, and the soul of the wounded is crying out for help; but God does not take note of their prayer. Then there are those who are haters of the light, who have no knowledge of its ways, and do not go in them. He who is purposing death gets up before day, so that he may put to death the poor and those in need. And the man whose desire is for the wife of another is waiting for the evening, saying, No eye will see me; and he puts a cover on his face. And in the night the thief goes about; In the dark he makes holes in the walls of houses: in the daytime they are shutting themselves up, they have no knowledge of the light. For the middle of the night is as morning to them, they are not troubled by the fear of the dark. They go quickly on the face of the waters; their heritage is cursed in the earth; the steps of the crusher of grapes are not turned to their vine-garden. Snow waters become dry with the heat: so do sinners go down into the underworld. The public place of his town has no more knowledge of him, and his name has gone from the memory of men: he is rooted up like a dead tree. He is not kind to the widow, and he has no pity for her child. But God by his power gives long life to the strong; he gets up again, though he has no hope of life. He takes away his fear of danger and gives him support; and his eyes are on his ways. For a short time they are lifted up; then they are gone; they are made low, they are pulled off like fruit, and like the heads of grain they are cut off.
Like asses in the waste land they go out to their work, looking for food with care; from the waste land they get bread for their children. They get mixed grain from the field, and they take away the late fruit from the vines of those who have wealth. They take their rest at night without clothing, and have no cover in the cold. They are wet with the rain of the mountains, and get into the cracks of the rock for cover. The child without a father is forced from its mother's breast, and they take the young children of the poor for debt. Others go about without clothing, and though they have no food, they get in the grain from the fields. Between the lines of olive-trees they make oil; though they have no drink, they are crushing out the grapes. From the town come sounds of pain from those who are near death, and the soul of the wounded is crying out for help; but God does not take note of their prayer. Then there are those who are haters of the light, who have no knowledge of its ways, and do not go in them. He who is purposing death gets up before day, so that he may put to death the poor and those in need. And the man whose desire is for the wife of another is waiting for the evening, saying, No eye will see me; and he puts a cover on his face. And in the night the thief goes about; In the dark he makes holes in the walls of houses: in the daytime they are shutting themselves up, they have no knowledge of the light. For the middle of the night is as morning to them, they are not troubled by the fear of the dark. They go quickly on the face of the waters; their heritage is cursed in the earth; the steps of the crusher of grapes are not turned to their vine-garden. Snow waters become dry with the heat: so do sinners go down into the underworld. The public place of his town has no more knowledge of him, and his name has gone from the memory of men: he is rooted up like a dead tree. He is not kind to the widow, and he has no pity for her child. But God by his power gives long life to the strong; he gets up again, though he has no hope of life. He takes away his fear of danger and gives him support; and his eyes are on his ways. For a short time they are lifted up; then they are gone; they are made low, they are pulled off like fruit, and like the heads of grain they are cut off.
You will come to your death by the sword; and I will be your judge in the land of Israel; and you will be certain that I am the Lord.
And say to the people of the land, This is what the Lord has said about the people of Jerusalem and the land of Israel: They will take their food with care and their drink with wonder, so that all the wealth of their land may be taken from it because of the violent ways of the people living in it. And the peopled towns will be made waste, and the land will become a wonder; and you will be certain that I am the Lord.
And it will be that if any one of all the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to give worship to the King, the Lord of armies, on them there will be no rain. And if the family of Egypt does not go up or come there, they will be attacked by the disease which the Lord will send on the nations: This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to keep the feast of tents.