Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



Nathan responded to David, "There's one other thing: the LORD has forgiven your sin. You won't die. Nevertheless, because you have despised the LORD's enemies with utter contempt, the son born to you will most certainly die."

"But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes.

Because of his wicked greed I was angry, so I punished him; and I hid my face, and was angry but he kept turning back to his stubborn will.

and said, "You're full of every form of deception and trickery, you son of the Devil, you enemy of all that is right! You'll never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord, will you? The Lord is against you now, and you'll be blind and unable to see the sun for a while!" At that moment a dark mist came over him, and he went around looking for someone to lead him by the hand.


I have eaten ashes as food and mixed my drink with tears because of your indignation and wrath, when you lifted and threw me away.

"But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes.

Indeed, we are consumed by your anger and terrified by your wrath. You have set our iniquities before you, what we have concealed in the light of your presence. All our days pass away in your wrath; our years fade away and end like a sigh.

LORD our God, you answered them; you were their God who forgave them, but also avenged their evil deeds.


A whip is for the horses, a bridle is for the donkey, a rod is for the back of fools.



Wisdom characterizes the speech of the discerning, but the rod is for the backs of those lacking discernment.


then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes.


I am a man familiar with affliction under the rod of God's anger.


Some time later, the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim and announced to Israel, "I brought you up from Egypt and led you into the land that I promised to your ancestors. I had told them, "I'll never breach my covenant with you.

God also said, "Here's the symbol that represents the covenant that I'm making between me and you and every living being with you, for all future generations: I've set my rainbow in the sky to symbolize the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow becomes visible in the clouds, read more.
I'll remember my covenant between me and you and every living creature, so that water will never again become a flood to destroy all living beings. When the rainbow is in the clouds, I will observe it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living beings on the earth."

For God is compassionate. The LORD your God won't fail you. He won't destroy you or forget the covenant that he confirmed with your ancestors."

because you are a holy people to the LORD your God. The LORD your God chose you to be his people, his treasured possession from all the nations on the face of the earth." "It wasn't because you were more numerous than other people of the earth that the LORD committed himself to you and chose you. In fact, you were the least numerous of all the nations. But the LORD loved you and kept his oath that he made to your ancestors. The LORD brought you out with great power from slavery, from the control of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

He will announce to me "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.' "Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. I will show my gracious love toward him forever, since my covenant is securely established with him. read more.
I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures. "But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes. But I will not cut off my gracious love from him, and I will not stop being faithful. I will not dishonor my covenant, because I will not change what I have spoken.

He is the LORD our God; his judgments extend to the entire earth. He remembers his eternal covenant every promise he made for a thousand generations,

Great are the acts of the LORD; they are within reach of all who desire them. Splendid and glorious are his awesome deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He is remembered for his awesome deeds; the LORD is gracious and compassionate. read more.
He prepares food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. He revealed his mighty deeds to his people by giving them a country of their own. Whatever he does is reliable and just, and all his precepts are trustworthy, sustained through all eternity, and fashioned in both truth and righteousness. He sent deliverance to his people; he ordained his covenant to last forever; his name is holy and awesome.


Is not my dynasty like this with God? Has he not made an eternal covenant with me, preparing every detail of it? And he has made it secure, including my complete salvation, has he not? He has been of continual help, has he not, even with respect to all of my desires?

I have found my servant David; I have anointed him with my sacred oil, with whom my power will be firmly established; for my arm will strengthen him. No enemy will deceive him; no wicked person will afflict him. read more.
I will crush his enemies before him and strike those who hate him. My faithfulness and gracious love will be with him, and in my name his power will be exalted. I will place his hand over the sea, and his right hand over the rivers. He will announce to me "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.' "Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. I will show my gracious love toward him forever, since my covenant is securely established with him. I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures. "But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes. But I will not cut off my gracious love from him, and I will not stop being faithful. I will not dishonor my covenant, because I will not change what I have spoken. I have sworn by my holiness once for all: I will not lie to David. His dynasty will last forever and his throne will be like the sun before me. It will be established forever like the moon, a faithful witness in the sky." Interlude

then my covenant with my servant David might also be broken so that he wouldn't have a son sitting on his throne, and so also with my servants the Levitical priests.


For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.


I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures. "But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, read more.
then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes. But I will not cut off my gracious love from him, and I will not stop being faithful. I will not dishonor my covenant, because I will not change what I have spoken. I have sworn by my holiness once for all: I will not lie to David. His dynasty will last forever and his throne will be like the sun before me. It will be established forever like the moon, a faithful witness in the sky." Interlude


"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I'll raise up a righteous branch for David. He will be a king who rules wisely, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

I can see him, but not right now. I observe him, but from a distance. A star streams forth from Jacob; a scepter arises from Israel. He will crush Moab's forehead, along with all of Seth's descendants.

Of the growth of his government and peace there will be no end. He will rule over his kingdom, sitting on the throne of David, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies will accomplish this.

"Listen to me, Jeroboam and Israel! Don't you know that the LORD God of Israel assigned the kingship over Israel to David and his descendants forever by a salt covenant?

He will rule over Jacob, annihilating those who survive in the city."

when I had commanded judges to administer my people Israel. I'll also grant you relief from all your enemies."' ""The LORD also announces to you: "The LORD will himself build a house for you. When your life is complete and you go to join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come forth from your body, and I will fortify his kingdom. He will build a Temple dedicated to my Name, and I will make the throne of his kingdom last forever. read more.
I will be a father to him, and he will be to me a son who, when he commits iniquity, I will discipline with the rod wielded by armies and with wounds inflicted by human beings. But I'll never remove my gracious love from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed from your presence. Your dynasty and your kingdom will remain forever in my presence your throne will be secure forever."'"

I will establish a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure location where they will never be disturbed anymore. Wicked people will not oppress them as happened in the past, during the time I had commanded judges to administer my people Israel. I'll also grant you deliverance from all your enemies. """I'm also announcing to you that the LORD also will himself build a house for you. It will come about that when your life is complete and you go to join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who is related to one of your sons, and I will fortify his kingdom. read more.
He will build a temple dedicated to me, and I will make his throne last forever. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to me. I will never remove my gracious love from him as I did from the one who preceded you. I will confirm him in my Temple and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will remain secure forever."'"

"From the day I brought out my people from the land of Egypt I never chose a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple where my name might reside. And I never chose any man to become Commander-in-Chief over my people Israel. But I have chosen Jerusalem, where my name will reside. And I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.' "My father David wanted to build a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. read more.
The LORD told my father David: "Therefore, since you determined to build a temple for my name, you acted well, because it was your choice to do so. Nevertheless, you are not to build the Temple, but your son who will be born to you is to build a temple for my name.' "The LORD has brought to fulfillment what he promised, and now here I stand, having succeeded my father David to sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built the Temple for the name of the Lord GOD of Israel. I have placed in it the ark in which the covenant that the LORD made with the Israelis is stored." Then Solomon took his place in front of the LORD's altar in the presence of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands. Solomon had a bronze platform constructed five cubits square and three cubits high. He had it erected in the middle of the courtyard, and stood on it. Then he knelt down on his knees in front of the entire congregation of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, and said: "LORD God of Israel, there is no one like you, God of heaven and earth, who watches over his covenant, showing gracious love to your servants who live their lives in your presence with all their hearts. It is you, LORD God, who has kept your promise to my father, your servant David, that you made to him. Indeed, you made a commitment to my father David and then personally fulfilled what you had promised today. "Now therefore, LORD God of Israel, keep your promise that you made to my father, your servant David, when you said, "You are to not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants will watch their lives, to live according to my Law, just as you have lived in my presence.' "Now therefore, LORD God of Israel, may your promise that you made to your servant David be fulfilled"

Nevertheless, the Lord was unwilling to destroy David's dynasty because of the covenant that he had made with David, especially since he had promised to give him and to his sons the reigning presence of an heir forever.

You spoke to your faithful ones through a vision: "I will set a helper over a warrior. I will raise up a chosen one from the people. I have found my servant David; I have anointed him with my sacred oil, with whom my power will be firmly established; for my arm will strengthen him. read more.
No enemy will deceive him; no wicked person will afflict him. I will crush his enemies before him and strike those who hate him. My faithfulness and gracious love will be with him, and in my name his power will be exalted. I will place his hand over the sea, and his right hand over the rivers. He will announce to me "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.' "Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. I will show my gracious love toward him forever, since my covenant is securely established with him. I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures. "But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes. But I will not cut off my gracious love from him, and I will not stop being faithful. I will not dishonor my covenant, because I will not change what I have spoken. I have sworn by my holiness once for all: I will not lie to David. His dynasty will last forever and his throne will be like the sun before me. It will be established forever like the moon, a faithful witness in the sky." Interlude

then a throne will be established in gracious love, and there will sit in faithfulness in the Tent of David one who judges, seeks justice, and is swift to do what is right."

"At that time, I'll call for my servant, Hilkiah's son Eliakim, and I'll clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him. I'll transfer your authority to him, and he'll be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. "I'll place on his shoulder the key to the house of David what he opens, no one will shut, and what he shuts, no one will open. read more.
I'll set him like a peg into a secure place; he will become a throne of honor to his father's house. The entire reputation of his father's house will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots all its smaller vessels, from the cups to all the jars. At that time," declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, "the peg that was driven into a secure place will give way; it will be sheared and will fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut down." The LORD has spoken.

In those days and at that time I'll cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he will uphold justice and righteousness in the land. At that time Judah will be delivered and Jerusalem will dwell in safety. And this is the name people will call it, "The LORD is Our Righteousness."' For this is what the LORD says: "David will never be without a man sitting on the throne of the house of Israel, read more.
nor will the Levitical priests be without a man offering up burnt offerings, bringing in grain offerings, and offering sacrifices continuously before me.'" This message from the LORD came to Jeremiah: "This is what the LORD says: "If you could break my covenant with the day and night so that day and night wouldn't occur at the proper time, then my covenant with my servant David might also be broken so that he wouldn't have a son sitting on his throne, and so also with my servants the Levitical priests. As the heavenly bodies cannot be counted, and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I'll multiply the descendants of my servant David and the descendants of Levi who serve me.'" This message from the LORD came to Jeremiah: "Haven't you noticed what these people have been saying? "The LORD rejected the two families that he had chosen!' They have contempt for my people and no longer consider them a nation. This is what the LORD says: "If I had not established my covenant for day and night and the laws that govern the heavens and earth, then I might reject the descendants of Jacob and my servant David by not taking some of his descendants as rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Indeed, I'll restore their fortunes, and I'll have compassion on them.'"

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end."


Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD came on David from that day forward. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.

The LORD told Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I've rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I'm sending you to Jesse from Bethlehem because I've chosen for myself one of his sons as king."

You spoke to your faithful ones through a vision: "I will set a helper over a warrior. I will raise up a chosen one from the people. I have found my servant David; I have anointed him with my sacred oil, with whom my power will be firmly established; for my arm will strengthen him. read more.
No enemy will deceive him; no wicked person will afflict him. I will crush his enemies before him and strike those who hate him. My faithfulness and gracious love will be with him, and in my name his power will be exalted. I will place his hand over the sea, and his right hand over the rivers. He will announce to me "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.' "Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. I will show my gracious love toward him forever, since my covenant is securely established with him. I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures. "But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes. But I will not cut off my gracious love from him, and I will not stop being faithful. I will not dishonor my covenant, because I will not change what I have spoken. I have sworn by my holiness once for all: I will not lie to David. His dynasty will last forever and his throne will be like the sun before me. It will be established forever like the moon, a faithful witness in the sky." Interlude


And, "In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will come to an end, but you will remain forever. They will all wear out like clothes. You will roll them up like a robe, and they will be changed like clothes. But you remain the same, and your life will never end."

Be strong and courageous. Don't fear or tremble before them, because the LORD your God will be the one who keeps on walking with you he won't leave you or abandon you." Then Moses called on Joshua and told him in the presence of everyone in Israel, "Be strong and courageous, because you'll bring this people to the land that the LORD your God had promised to give your ancestors. You will be the one who causes them to possess it. Indeed, the LORD is the one who will keep on walking in front of you. He'll be with you and won't leave you or abandon you, so never be afraid and never be dismayed."

He will announce to me "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.' "Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. I will show my gracious love toward him forever, since my covenant is securely established with him. read more.
I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures. "But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes. But I will not cut off my gracious love from him, and I will not stop being faithful.

"Here is my servant, whom I support, my chosen one, in whom I delight. I've placed my Spirit upon him; and he'll deliver his justice throughout the world. He won't shout, or raise his voice, or make it heard in the street. A crushed reed he will not break, and a fading candle he won't snuff out. He'll bring forth justice for the truth. read more.
And he won't grow faint or be crushed until he establishes justice on the mainland, and the coastlands take ownership of his Law."


The righteous LORD who lives within her will do no wrong; he will bring justice to light morning by morning. He never fails, but the unjust are shameless.


Because of the LORD's gracious love we are not consumed, since his compassions never end. They are new every morning great is your faithfulness!

He will announce to me "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.' "Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. I will show my gracious love toward him forever, since my covenant is securely established with him. read more.
I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures. "But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes. But I will not cut off my gracious love from him, and I will not stop being faithful.

Your word is forever, LORD; it is firmly established in heaven. Your faithfulness continues from generation to generation. You established the earth, and it stands firm.


He will announce to me "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.' "Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. I will show my gracious love toward him forever, since my covenant is securely established with him. read more.
I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures. "But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes.

The LORD said, "It is because they have forsaken my Law that I gave them. They didn't obey me and didn't live according to it. Instead, they followed their rebellious hearts and the Baals, as their ancestors taught them." Therefore, this is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: "Look, I'll make these people eat wormwood and drink poisoned water. read more.
I'll scatter them among nations that neither they nor their ancestors have known, and I'll pursue them with the sword until I've finished them off."


When a king faithfully administers justice to the poor, his throne will be established forever.

You spoke to your faithful ones through a vision: "I will set a helper over a warrior. I will raise up a chosen one from the people. I have found my servant David; I have anointed him with my sacred oil, with whom my power will be firmly established; for my arm will strengthen him. read more.
No enemy will deceive him; no wicked person will afflict him. I will crush his enemies before him and strike those who hate him. My faithfulness and gracious love will be with him, and in my name his power will be exalted. I will place his hand over the sea, and his right hand over the rivers. He will announce to me "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.' "Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. I will show my gracious love toward him forever, since my covenant is securely established with him. I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures. "But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes. But I will not cut off my gracious love from him, and I will not stop being faithful. I will not dishonor my covenant, because I will not change what I have spoken. I have sworn by my holiness once for all: I will not lie to David. His dynasty will last forever and his throne will be like the sun before me. It will be established forever like the moon, a faithful witness in the sky." Interlude

"""Now therefore this is what you are to tell my servant David: "This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "I took you from the pasture myself from tending sheep to become Commander-in-Chief over my people, that is, over Israel. """Furthermore, I have remained with you everywhere you have gone, annihilating all your enemies right in front of you. I will make a great reputation for you, like the reputation of great ones who have lived on earth. I will establish a homeland for my people for Israel planting them so they may live in a secure location where they will never be disturbed anymore. Wicked people will no longer afflict them, as happened in the past read more.
when I had commanded judges to administer my people Israel. I'll also grant you relief from all your enemies."' ""The LORD also announces to you: "The LORD will himself build a house for you. When your life is complete and you go to join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come forth from your body, and I will fortify his kingdom. He will build a Temple dedicated to my Name, and I will make the throne of his kingdom last forever. I will be a father to him, and he will be to me a son who, when he commits iniquity, I will discipline with the rod wielded by armies and with wounds inflicted by human beings. But I'll never remove my gracious love from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed from your presence. Your dynasty and your kingdom will remain forever in my presence your throne will be secure forever."'"

King David rose to his feet and said, "My fellow citizens, may I have your attention. I intended to build a house of rest for the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, for a footstool of our God, so I began preparations for its construction. But then God told me, "You will not build a temple to my name, because you are a man of war, and you have committed bloodshed.' Nevertheless, the LORD God of Israel chose me from my entire ancestral household to be king over Israel forever, since he had chosen Judah as Commander-in-Chief. In my ancestor Judah's household, from my father's household, and from among my father's sons it pleased him to make me king over all of Israel. read more.
"Now out of all of my sons (since the LORD has given me many of them), he has selected my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD, ruling over Israel. He told me, "I chose your son Solomon to be the one who will construct my Temple and my courts, because I have chosen him to be a son to me, and I will be a father to him. I will establish his kingdom forever, assuming he remains strongly committed to carry out my commandments and ordinances, as he is doing today.'

"Indeed God is mighty and he doesn't show disrespect; he is mighty and strong of heart. He doesn't let the wicked live; he grants justice to the afflicted. He won't stop looking at righteous people; he seats them on thrones with kings forever, and they are exalted.

Purge the dross from the silver, and material for a vessel comes forth for the silversmith. Purge the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.


Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD came on David from that day forward. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.


The LORD told Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I've rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I'm sending you to Jesse from Bethlehem because I've chosen for myself one of his sons as king."

You spoke to your faithful ones through a vision: "I will set a helper over a warrior. I will raise up a chosen one from the people. I have found my servant David; I have anointed him with my sacred oil, with whom my power will be firmly established; for my arm will strengthen him. read more.
No enemy will deceive him; no wicked person will afflict him. I will crush his enemies before him and strike those who hate him. My faithfulness and gracious love will be with him, and in my name his power will be exalted. I will place his hand over the sea, and his right hand over the rivers. He will announce to me "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.' "Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. I will show my gracious love toward him forever, since my covenant is securely established with him. I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures. "But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes. But I will not cut off my gracious love from him, and I will not stop being faithful. I will not dishonor my covenant, because I will not change what I have spoken. I have sworn by my holiness once for all: I will not lie to David. His dynasty will last forever and his throne will be like the sun before me. It will be established forever like the moon, a faithful witness in the sky." Interlude

He will build a Temple dedicated to my Name, and I will make the throne of his kingdom last forever. I will be a father to him, and he will be to me a son who, when he commits iniquity, I will discipline with the rod wielded by armies and with wounds inflicted by human beings. But I'll never remove my gracious love from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed from your presence. read more.
Your dynasty and your kingdom will remain forever in my presence your throne will be secure forever."'"

Then God removed Saul and made David their king, about whom he testified, "I have found that David, the son of Jesse, is a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my wishes.'


For the mountains may collapse and the hills may reel, but my gracious love will not depart from you, neither will my covenant of peace totter," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

He will announce to me "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.' "Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. I will show my gracious love toward him forever, since my covenant is securely established with him. read more.
I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures. "But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes. But I will not cut off my gracious love from him, and I will not stop being faithful.

I will recount the gracious deeds of the LORD, the praiseworthy acts of the LORD, according to all the LORD has done for us yes, the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his gracious love.


God, you are my God! I will fervently seek you. My soul thirsts for you; my flesh longs for you in a dry, weary, and parched land. So I have looked for you in the sanctuary, to behold your power and glory. Because your gracious love is better than life itself, my lips will praise you.

After all, we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and misled. We were slaves to many kinds of lusts and pleasures, spending our days in malice and jealousy. We were despised, and we hated one another. In grace our Savior God appeared, to make his love for mankind clear. "Twas not for deeds that we had done, but by his steadfast love alone, he saved us through a second birth, renewed us by the Spirit's work,


A whip is for the horses, a bridle is for the donkey, a rod is for the back of fools.



Wisdom characterizes the speech of the discerning, but the rod is for the backs of those lacking discernment.


then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes.


I am a man familiar with affliction under the rod of God's anger.


When a king faithfully administers justice to the poor, his throne will be established forever.

You spoke to your faithful ones through a vision: "I will set a helper over a warrior. I will raise up a chosen one from the people. I have found my servant David; I have anointed him with my sacred oil, with whom my power will be firmly established; for my arm will strengthen him. read more.
No enemy will deceive him; no wicked person will afflict him. I will crush his enemies before him and strike those who hate him. My faithfulness and gracious love will be with him, and in my name his power will be exalted. I will place his hand over the sea, and his right hand over the rivers. He will announce to me "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.' "Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. I will show my gracious love toward him forever, since my covenant is securely established with him. I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures. "But if his sons abandon my laws and do not follow my ordinances, if they profane my statutes; and do not keep my commands, then I will punish their disobedience with a rod and their iniquity with lashes. But I will not cut off my gracious love from him, and I will not stop being faithful. I will not dishonor my covenant, because I will not change what I have spoken. I have sworn by my holiness once for all: I will not lie to David. His dynasty will last forever and his throne will be like the sun before me. It will be established forever like the moon, a faithful witness in the sky." Interlude

"""Now therefore this is what you are to tell my servant David: "This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "I took you from the pasture myself from tending sheep to become Commander-in-Chief over my people, that is, over Israel. """Furthermore, I have remained with you everywhere you have gone, annihilating all your enemies right in front of you. I will make a great reputation for you, like the reputation of great ones who have lived on earth. I will establish a homeland for my people for Israel planting them so they may live in a secure location where they will never be disturbed anymore. Wicked people will no longer afflict them, as happened in the past read more.
when I had commanded judges to administer my people Israel. I'll also grant you relief from all your enemies."' ""The LORD also announces to you: "The LORD will himself build a house for you. When your life is complete and you go to join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come forth from your body, and I will fortify his kingdom. He will build a Temple dedicated to my Name, and I will make the throne of his kingdom last forever. I will be a father to him, and he will be to me a son who, when he commits iniquity, I will discipline with the rod wielded by armies and with wounds inflicted by human beings. But I'll never remove my gracious love from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed from your presence. Your dynasty and your kingdom will remain forever in my presence your throne will be secure forever."'"

King David rose to his feet and said, "My fellow citizens, may I have your attention. I intended to build a house of rest for the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, for a footstool of our God, so I began preparations for its construction. But then God told me, "You will not build a temple to my name, because you are a man of war, and you have committed bloodshed.' Nevertheless, the LORD God of Israel chose me from my entire ancestral household to be king over Israel forever, since he had chosen Judah as Commander-in-Chief. In my ancestor Judah's household, from my father's household, and from among my father's sons it pleased him to make me king over all of Israel. read more.
"Now out of all of my sons (since the LORD has given me many of them), he has selected my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD, ruling over Israel. He told me, "I chose your son Solomon to be the one who will construct my Temple and my courts, because I have chosen him to be a son to me, and I will be a father to him. I will establish his kingdom forever, assuming he remains strongly committed to carry out my commandments and ordinances, as he is doing today.'

"Indeed God is mighty and he doesn't show disrespect; he is mighty and strong of heart. He doesn't let the wicked live; he grants justice to the afflicted. He won't stop looking at righteous people; he seats them on thrones with kings forever, and they are exalted.

Purge the dross from the silver, and material for a vessel comes forth for the silversmith. Purge the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.