Psalms 68 Cross References - LEB

¹ For the music director. Of David. A psalm. A song.*
God will arise; his enemies will be scattered, and those who hate him will flee from before him. ² As smoke is driven off, you will drive them off. As wax melts before fire, the wicked will perish before God. ³ But the righteous will be glad; they will exalt before God, and will rejoice with joy. ⁴ Sing to God, sing praises to his name. Lift up a song to the rider on the clouds—his name is Yah—* and rejoice before him. ⁵ A father to orphans and a judge for widows is God in his holy habitation. ⁶ God settles the lonely in a home; he brings prisoners out into prosperity. But the rebellious abide in a barren land. ⁷ O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the desert, Selah ⁸ the earth shook; the heavens also dripped rain at the presence of God who was at Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel. ⁹ You caused abundant rain to fall, O God. When your inheritance was weary you revived it. ¹⁰ Your community dwelled in it. You provided in your goodness for the poor, O God. ¹¹ The Lord gives the word. Great is the company of women who announce: ¹² "The kings of armies flee, they flee, and she who remains at home divides the spoil. ¹³ Though you men lie down between the sheepfolds, you will be like the wings of a dove covered in silver and its pinions in yellow gold." ¹⁴ When Shaddai scattered kings on it, on Zalmon it snowed.* ¹⁵ A mountain of God* is the mountain of Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan. ¹⁶ Why do you look with hostility, O many-peaked mountains? This* mountain God desires for his dwelling. Yes, Yahweh will abide in it forever. ¹⁷ The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, with thousands doubled. The Lord is among them at Sinai, distinctive in victory.* ¹⁸ You have ascended on high; you have led away captives. You have received gifts from among humankind, and even from the rebellious, so that Yah* God may dwell there. ¹⁹ Blessed be the Lord. Daily he loads us with benefits,* the God of our salvation.* Selah ²⁰ Our God is a God of deliverances, and to the Yahweh the Lord belong escapes from death. ²¹ But God will shatter the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of the one who _⌊continues on_⌋* in his guilt. ²² The Lord said, "I will bring them back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, ²³ so that your foot may shatter them bloody for the tongues of your dogs to have their share from the enemies." ²⁴ They have seen your processions, O God, the processions of my God, my king, distinctive in victory.* ²⁵ Singers went up front, those playing stringed instruments last, between them young women playing tambourines. ²⁶ Bless God in the assemblies, Yahweh from the fountain of Israel. ²⁷ There is little Benjamin ruling them, with the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali. ²⁸ Your God has commanded your strength. Show yourself strong, O God, by what you perform* for us. ²⁹ Because your temple is above Jerusalem, kings will bring tribute to you. ³⁰ Rebuke the beasts in* the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, trampling the pieces of silver.* Scatter the nations who delight in battles. ³¹ Ambassadors* will come from Egypt; Cush will quickly stretch out her hands to God. ³² O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praise to the Lord, Selah ³³ to the one who rides in the highest heavens of old. See, he gives forth his voice, a mighty voice. ³⁴ Ascribe strength to God. His majesty is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. ³⁵ Awesome are you, O God, from your sanctuary.* The God of Israel, it is he who gives strength and might to the people. Blessed be God.

⁵ You will not bow down to them, and you will not serve them, because I am Yahweh your God, a jealous God, punishing the guilt of the parents on the children on the third and on the fourth generations* of those hating me,

³⁵ And whenever the ark was setting out Moses would say,
"Rise up, Yahweh! May your enemies be scattered; may the ones that hate you flee from your presence."

¹⁰ but repaying those* who hate him _⌊in their own person_⌋* to destroy them;* he is not slow with those who hate him _⌊in their own person_⌋;* he repays them.*

⁴¹ "And now arise, O Yahweh God, to your resting place, you and the ark of your strength! O Yahweh God, let the priests be clothed with salvation, and let your holy ones rejoice in your goodness!

⁶ Rise up, O Yahweh, in your anger, and lift yourself up against the wrath* of my oppressors, and awake for me, since you have commanded judgment. ⁷ And let the assembly of peoples surround you, and over it return on high.

⁸ Your hand will find all your enemies; your right hand will find those who hate you.

²⁶ Rise up! Be a help for us, and redeem us for the sake of your loyal love.

¹¹ Do not kill them, lest my people forget. Make them to wander by your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.

¹⁴ When Shaddai scattered kings on it, on Zalmon it snowed.*

³⁰ Rebuke the beasts in* the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, trampling the pieces of silver.* Scatter the nations who delight in battles.

⁶⁵ Then the Lord awoke like one who had been asleep, awoke like a warrior who had been drunk with wine.* ⁶⁶ And he beat back his enemies; he gave them over to perpetual scorn. ⁶⁷ And he rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not chose the tribe of Ephraim, ⁶⁸ but chose the tribe of Judah, _⌊Mount Zion_⌋* that he loved.

¹⁰ _⌊You yourself crushed_⌋* Rahab like one who is slain; you scattered your enemies with your strong arm.

⁸ Arise, O Yahweh, to your resting place, you and your mighty ark. ⁹ Let your priests clothe themselves with righteousness, and let your faithful sing for joy.

³ At the sound of tumult, peoples fled; because of your exaltation, nations scattered.

¹⁵ Look! I will make you into a new sharp threshing sledge, _⌊with_⌋* sharp edges. You shall thresh and crush the mountains, and you shall make the hills like chaff. ¹⁶ You shall winnow them and the wind shall carry them, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you yourself shall rejoice in Yahweh; you shall boast in the holy one of Israel.

¹³ Yahweh goes forth like a mighty warrior; he stirs up zeal like a man of war. He raises the war cry, indeed he raises the battle shout; he prevails against his foes. ¹⁴ I have been silent for a long time; I have kept silent; I have restrained myself like one giving birth; I will moan, pant, and gasp together.

⁹ Awake! Awake; put on strength, O arm of Yahweh! Awake as in days of long ago, the generations of a long time back! Are you not the one who cut Rahab in pieces, the one who pierced the sea-dragon? ¹⁰ Are you not the one who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, the one who _⌊made_⌋* the depths of the sea a way for those who are redeemed to cross over?

² A third you must burn with fire in the midst* of the city at _⌊the completion_⌋* of the days of the siege, and you must take a third, and you must strike it with the sword around it, and a third you must scatter to the wind, and I will draw a sword behind them.

¹⁴ And all who are around him, his help* and all of his troops I will scatter _⌊in every direction_⌋,* and I will draw* the sword behind them. ¹⁵ And they will know that I am Yahweh _⌊when I scatter them_⌋* among the nations and I scatter them in the countries.

³⁵ Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold _⌊all at once_⌋* broke into pieces* and they became like chaff from the summer threshing floor, and the wind carried them away and any trace of them could not be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and it filled the whole earth.

²³ Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and _⌊will take up residence with him_⌋.* ²⁴ The one who does not love me does not keep my words, and the word that you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.

¹⁴ I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it is melted _⌊within me_⌋.*

²⁰ But the wicked will perish, and the enemies of Yahweh will be like the splendor of the pastures. They vanish; in smoke they vanish.

⁷ _⌊You, indeed, are to be feared_⌋,* and who can stand before you when you are angry? *

¹⁶ It is burned with fire, cut down. They perish at the rebuke of your face.

⁵ The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

¹⁸ For wickedness burned like fire; it consumed brier and thorn. And it kindled the thickets of the forest, and they swirled upward in a column of smoke.

² * as fire kindles brushwood, the fire causes water to boil, to make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations might tremble from your _⌊presence_⌋.*

³ Therefore, they will be like the morning cloud, and like the dew of early morning going away, like chaff swirling from the threshing floor, or like smoke from a window.

⁴ The mountains will melt under him and the valleys will burst open, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. ⁵ Mountains quake before him; the hills shake apart.* The earth heaves before him— the world and all her inhabitants. ⁶ His indignation—who can stand before it? Who can endure _⌊his fierce anger_⌋?* His wrath is poured out like fire; rocks are shattered before* him.

⁸ with burning flame* giving punishment to those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus, ⁹ who will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength,

¹⁶ And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, ¹⁷ because the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

¹² And you shall rejoice _⌊before_⌋* Yahweh your God, you and your sons and your daughters and your slaves and your slave women and the Levite who is in your _⌊towns_⌋,* because there is not for him a plot of ground and an inheritance with you.

¹ For the music director. A psalm of David.*
O Yahweh, the king will rejoice in your strength, and how greatly he will delight in your help.*

¹¹ Be glad in Yahweh and rejoice, you righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright of heart.

⁴ Then* I will go to the altar of God, to God, _⌊my surpassing joy_⌋,* and I will praise you with lyre, O God, my God.

¹⁰ The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

¹⁰ The righteous will rejoice in Yahweh and take refuge in him, and all the upright in heart will boast.

¹ Come, let us sing for joy to Yahweh; let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. ² Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; with songs let us shout joyfully to him.

¹² Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous, and give thanks _⌊to his holy name_⌋.*

⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the hills sing joyfully together ⁹ before Yahweh, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.

¹ A psalm of thanksgiving.*
Shout in triumph to Yahweh, all the earth. ² Serve* Yahweh with joy; come into his presence with exultation.

¹⁶ Rejoice always,

⁸ whom, although you* have not seen, you love; in whom now you believe, although you* do not see him, and you rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

²⁰ Rejoice over her, heaven and the saints and the apostles and the prophets, because God has pronounced your judgment on her!"

⁷ Let us rejoice and be glad and give him the glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself.

¹⁴ And God said to Moses, "I am that I am." And he said, "So you must say to the _⌊Israelites_⌋,* 'I am sent me to you.'"

³ And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Shaddai,* but by my name Yahweh I was not known to them.

⁸ And I will bring you to the land _⌊that I swore_⌋* to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I will give it to you as a possession. I am Yahweh."

²⁶ "There is no one like God, O, Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, and with his majesty through the skies.

¹⁰ And he mounted a cherub and flew, and he swooped down on wings of wind.

² Sing the glory of his name. _⌊Set forth his glorious praise_⌋.*

⁴ All the earth will bow in worship to you, and sing praise to you. They will sing the praise of your name." Selah

⁴ Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, because you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations on the earth. Selah

³³ to the one who rides in the highest heavens of old. See, he gives forth his voice, a mighty voice.

¹⁸ that they may know that you, whose name is Yahweh, you alone, are the Most High over the whole earth.

³ the one who sets beams in the waters for his upper chambers, who makes clouds his chariot, who rides* on the wings of the wind,

⁴ And you will say on that day,
"Give thanks to Yahweh; call on his name. Make his deeds known among the peoples; bring to remembrance that his name is exalted. ⁵ Sing praises to Yahweh, for he has done a glorious thing; this is known in all the earth. ⁶ Inhabitant of Zion, shout out and sing for joy, for the holy one of Israel is great in your midst."

¹ An oracle of Egypt:
Look! Yahweh is riding on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. And the idols of Egypt will tremble in front of him, and the heart of Egypt melts in his inner parts.

³ A voice is calling in the wilderness, "Clear the way of Yahweh! Make a highway smooth in the desert for our God!

¹⁰ Pass through, pass through the gates! Make the way clear _⌊for_⌋* the people! Pile up, pile up the highway; clear it of stones!* Lift up an ensign over the peoples!

¹⁸ And he executes justice for the orphan and widow, and he is one who loves the alien, to give to them food and clothing.

¹⁵ Look down from the dwelling place of your holiness, from heaven, and bless your people Israel, and the land that you have given to us, as you swore to our ancestors,* a land flowing with milk and honey.'

² But I have built for you an exalted house, even a place for you to dwell in forever."

²⁷ Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy dwelling place in the heavens.

¹² because I saved the needy who cried for help, and I saved* the orphan for whom there was no helper. ¹³ The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

¹⁶ "If I have withheld the desire of the poor from them, or* I have caused the widow's eyes to fail, ¹⁷ or I have eaten my morsel _⌊alone_⌋,* and the orphan has not eaten from it

¹⁴ But you have seen; indeed you have noted trouble and grief to take it into your hand. The helpless abandons himself upon you; you have been the helper for the orphan.

¹⁸ to render judgment for the fatherless and the oppressed so that a mere mortal from the earth will no longer cause terror.

¹⁴ From his dwelling place* he gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth,

² May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

⁴ May he provide justice for the poor of the people, save the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor.

³ Judge on behalf of the helpless and the orphan; provide justice to the afflicted and the poor. ⁴ Rescue the helpless and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

⁹ Yahweh protects* the strangers. He helps up the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he _⌊thwarts_⌋.*

²³ Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Every one loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not defend the orphan and the legal dispute of the widow does not come before them.

¹⁵ For thus says the high and lofty one who resides forever, and whose name is holy:
"I reside in a high and holy place, and with the _⌊contrite_⌋* and humble of spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the _⌊contrite_⌋.*

¹ Thus says Yahweh:
"Heaven is my throne, and the earth is the footstool for my feet. Where is this house that you would build for me? And where is this resting place for me?

²⁸ They have grown fat, they have grown sleek, also, _⌊their evil deeds have no limit_⌋.* They do not judge with justice, the legal cause of the orphan, or allow it to succeed, and the legal case of the poor, they do not defend.

¹¹ Leave your orphans. I will let them* live. And your widows, let them trust in me."

³ Assyria will not save us; we will not ride on horses,* and we will say no more, "Our God," to the work of our hands because in you the fatherless child finds mercy.

² saying, "There was a certain judge in a certain town who did not fear God and did not respect people. ³ And there was a widow in that town, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Grant me justice against my adversary!' ⁴ And he was not willing for a time, but after these things he said to himself, 'Even if I do not fear God or respect people, ⁵ yet because this widow is causing trouble for me, I will grant her justice, so that she does not wear me down in the end by her* coming back!'" ⁶ And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge is saying! ⁷ And will not God surely _⌊see to it that justice is done_⌋* to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, and will he delay toward them?

⁴⁸ But the Most High does not live in houses* made by human hands, just as the prophet says, ⁴⁹ 'Heaven is my throne and earth is the footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?

¹ Therefore become imitators of God, as beloved children,

²³ And your heavens that are over your heads shall be like bronze, and the earth that is under you shall be like iron. ²⁴ Yahweh will change the rain of your land to fine dust and to sand; from the heaven it shall come down upon you _⌊until you are destroyed_⌋.*

⁵ Those who were full must hire themselves out for bread, but those who are hungry will become fat. As for the infertile, she will bear seven, but she who has many sons withers away.

³³ because Yahweh hears the needy and does not despise his own who are prisoners.

¹⁰ Those who sat in darkness and gloom, prisoners of misery and iron—

¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and gloom, and tore off their bonds.

³⁴ a fruitful land into a salty place, because of the evil of its inhabitants.

⁴⁰ he pours contempt on princes and causes them to wander in a trackless waste. ⁴¹ But he protects* the needy from misery, and he makes their families like a flock.

⁹ He causes the barren woman of the house to dwell as the happy mother of children. Praise Yah!*

⁷ who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food for the hungry. Yahweh sets prisoners free;

¹ The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me, he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up _⌊the brokenhearted_⌋,* to _⌊proclaim_⌋* release to the captives and liberation to those who are bound,

³ Lest I strip her naked and expose her like the day when she was born; I will make her like the desert and turn her into parched land; I will kill her with thirst.

³ but Esau I have hated. I have made his* mountain ranges a desolation, and given his inheritance to the jackals of the desert."

⁶ Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door were watching the prison. ⁷ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood near him,* and a light shone in the prison cell. And striking Peter's side, he woke him up, saying, "Get up _⌊quickly_⌋!"* And his chains fell off of his* hands. ⁸ And the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals!" And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me!" ⁹ And he went out and* was following him.* And he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but was thinking he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ And after they* had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened for them by itself, and they went out and* went forward along one narrow street, and at once the angel departed from him. ¹¹ And when* Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know truly that the Lord has sent out his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and all _⌊that the Jewish people expected_⌋!"* ¹² And when he* realized this,* he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John (who is also called Mark), where many people were gathered together and were praying. ¹³ And when* he knocked at the door of the gateway, a female slave _⌊named_⌋* Rhoda came up to answer. ¹⁴ And recognizing Peter's voice, because of her* joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and* announced that Peter was standing at the gate. ¹⁵ But they said to her, "You are out of your mind!" But she kept insisting* it was so. And they kept saying,* "It is his angel!" ¹⁶ But Peter was continuing to knock, and when they* opened the door* they saw him and were astonished. ¹⁷ But motioning to them with his* hand to be silent, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Report these things to James and to the brothers," and he departed and* went to another place. ¹⁸ Now when* day came, there was not a little commotion among the soldiers as to what then had become of Peter. ¹⁹ And when* Herod had searched for him and did not find him,* he questioned the guards and* ordered that they be led away to execution. And he came down from Judea to Caesarea and* stayed there. ²⁰ Now he was very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. So they came to him with one purpose, and after* persuading Blastus, _⌊the king's chamberlain_⌋,* they asked for peace, because their country was supported with food from the king's country. ²¹ So on an appointed day Herod, after* putting on royal clothing and sitting down on the judgment seat, began to deliver a public address to them. ²² But the people began to call out loudly,* "The voice of a god and not of a man!" ²³ And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down _⌊because_⌋* he did not give the glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and* died. ²⁴ But the word of God kept on increasing* and multiplying. ²⁵ So Barnabas and Saul returned to* Jerusalem when they* had completed their* service, having taken along with them* John (who is also called Mark).

²⁶ And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds* were unfastened.

²⁷ For it is written,
"Rejoice, O barren woman, who does not give birth to children; burst out and shout, you who do not have birth pains, because many are the children of the desolate woman, even more than those of the one who has a husband."*

²¹ And Yahweh was going before them by day in a column of cloud to lead them on the way and by night in a column of fire to give light to them to go by day and night.

³⁴ Or has a god ever attempted to go to take for himself* a nation from the midst of a nation, using trials and signs and wonders and war, with an outstretched arm and with great and awesome deeds, like all that Yahweh your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

¹⁴ And Deborah said to Barak, "Get up! This is the day that Yahweh has given Sisera into your hand. Has Yahweh not gone out before you?" So Barak went out from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.

⁴ Yahweh, when you went down from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured down, the clouds poured down water.

¹ When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of a strange language, ² Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. ³ The sea looked and fled; the Jordan turned back. ⁴ The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like _⌊lambs_⌋.* ⁵ What's with you, O sea, that you fled? O Jordan, that you turned back? ⁶ O mountains, that you skipped like rams? O hills, like lambs? ⁷ At the presence of the Lord writhe, O earth,* at the presence of the God of Jacob, ⁸ who turned the rock into a pool of water, flinty stone into a spring of water.

¹³ The one who breaks out before them goes up; they break through and pass the gate, going out through it. Their king passes before them, Yahweh at their head.

¹² In fury you marched through the earth; in anger you trampled the nations. ¹³ You went forth for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of wickedness, laying bare from the foundation to the top.*

¹⁶ _⌊And_⌋* on the third day, when it was morning, there was thunder and lightning, and a heavy cloud over the mountain and a very loud ram's horn sound, and all the people who were in the camp trembled.

¹⁸ And Mount Sinai was all wrapped in smoke because Yahweh went down on it in the fire, and its smoke went up like the smoke of a smelting furnace, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.

²³ _⌊And then_⌋* _⌊when you heard_⌋* the voice from the midst of the darkness, and as the mountain was burning with fire, and and all the heads of your tribes and your elders approached me, ²⁴ you said, 'Look, Yahweh our God has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice from the midst of the fire; this day we have seen* that God can speak with a human being, _⌊yet he remains alive_⌋.* ²⁵ And so then why shall we die, for this great fire will consume us if _⌊we continue_⌋* to hear the voice of Yahweh our God any longer, and so we shall die?

⁴ Yahweh, when you went down from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured down, the clouds poured down water. ⁵ The mountains trembled* before Yahweh, this Sinai, at the presence of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

¹³ Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

³⁵ Awesome are you, O God, from your sanctuary.* The God of Israel, it is he who gives strength and might to the people. Blessed be God.

¹⁸ The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;* lightnings lit the world; the earth shook and quaked.

⁷ At the presence of the Lord writhe, O earth,* at the presence of the God of Jacob,

³ And I will give you the treasures of darkness and treasures of secret places so that you may know that I am Yahweh, the one who calls you by your name, the God of Israel,

¹ * Would that you would tear the heavens and come down; the mountains would quake before you,

³ When you did terrible deeds which we did not _⌊expect_⌋,* you came down; the mountains quaked because of your _⌊presence_⌋.*

¹³ You went forth for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of wickedness, laying bare from the foundation to the top.*

²⁶ whose voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, saying,
"Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven."*

¹⁹ And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant appeared in his temple, and there were lightnings and sounds and thunders and an earthquake and large hail.*

¹⁰ For the fact is that the land _⌊that you are about to go into_⌋* to take possession of it is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have _⌊come out of_⌋,* where you sow your seed and you give water by your foot, _⌊as in a vegetable garden_⌋.* ¹¹ But the land that you are about to cross into to take possession of it is a land of hills and valleys, and by the rain of the heaven it drinks water, ¹² a land that Yahweh your God is caring for it; continually the eyes of Yahweh your God are on it, from the beginning of the year up to the end of the year.

¹⁴ then 'I will send the rain for your land in its season, early rain and later rain, and you will gather your grain and your wine and your olive oil.

⁹ You care for* the land* and water it; you greatly enrich it. The stream of God is filled with waters. You provide their grain, for so you have established it. ¹⁰ You drench its furrows, penetrating its ridges. With rains you soften it; its growth you bless. ¹¹ You crown the year with your _⌊bounty_⌋,* and your wagon paths drip with _⌊richness_⌋.* ¹² They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the hills gird themselves with joy. ¹³ The pasturelands put on flocks, and the valleys clothe themselves with grain. They shout in triumph; they even sing.

¹⁶ Waters saw you, O God; waters saw you and they trembled. Surely the deeps shook. ¹⁷ The clouds poured out water. The skies _⌊thundered_⌋.* Your arrows also _⌊flew about_⌋.*

²⁴ and rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. ²⁵ Humankind ate the bread of _⌊angels_⌋.* He sent them food enough to be satisfied. ²⁶ He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens and drove along the south wind by his strength. ²⁷ Then he rained meat on them like dust, even winged birds* like the sand of the seas.

²⁶ And I will make them and the area all around my hill a blessing, and I will let the rain go down _⌊at its appointed time_⌋;* they will be rains of blessing.

⁵ And now if you will carefully listen to my voice and keep my covenant, you will be a treasured possession for me out of all the peoples, _⌊for all the earth is mine_⌋,* ⁶ but you, you will belong to me as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you will speak to the _⌊Israelites_⌋."*

³ They were assembled in front of Moses and Aaron, and they said to them, "_⌊You take too much upon yourselves_⌋!* All of the community is holy, every one of them, and Yahweh is in their midst, so why do you raise yourselves over the assembly of Yahweh?"

⁵ And _⌊you shall declare_⌋* and you shall say _⌊before_⌋* your God, 'My ancestor* was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt, and there he dwelt as an alien _⌊few in number_⌋,* and there he became a great nation, mighty and numerous.

⁹ And he brought us to this place and gave to us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. ¹⁰ And now, look, I am bringing* the firstfruit of the fruit of the ground that you gave to me, Yahweh,' and you shall place it _⌊before_⌋* Yahweh your God, and you shall bow down _⌊before_⌋* Yahweh your God.

⁸ _⌊When the Most High apportioned_⌋* the nations, at his dividing up of the sons of humankind, he fixed the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of the children of Israel.* ⁹ For Yahweh's portion was his people, Jacob the share of his inheritance. ¹⁰ He found him in a desert land, and in a howling, desert wasteland; he _⌊encircled him_⌋,* he cared for him, he protected him like the _⌊apple_⌋* of his eye. ¹¹ As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreads out its wings, takes them,* carries them* on its pinions,* ¹² so Yahweh alone guided him,* and _⌊there was no foreign god accompanying him_⌋.* ¹³ And he set him on the high places of the land, and he fed him the crops* of the field, and he nursed him with honey from crags,* and with oil from flinty rock, ¹⁴ With curds* from the herd, and with milk from the flock, with the fat of young rams, and rams, the offspring of Bashan, and with goats along with the finest kernels of wheat, and from the blood of grapes* you drank fermented wine.*

⁸ He raises up the poor from the dust. From the ash heap he lifts up the needy, to cause them to sit with noble people and to cause them to inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth belong to Yahweh and he has set the inhabited world on them.

¹⁰ the one who is giving rain on the _⌊surface of_⌋* the earth and is sending water on the _⌊surface of_⌋* the fields, ¹¹ to set the lowly on high, and those mourning are lifted to safety.

⁹ You care for* the land* and water it; you greatly enrich it. The stream of God is filled with waters. You provide their grain, for so you have established it.

¹ A maskil of Asaph.*
Why, O God, have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? ² Remember your congregation that you bought long ago, when you redeemed the tribe of your inheritance. Remember _⌊Mount Zion_⌋* where you have dwelt.

¹⁹ Do not give to beasts the life of your dove; do not ever forget the life of your afflicted ones.

²⁰ Yes, he struck the rock and water flowed and streams gushed out, but can he also give food or provide meat for his people?"

⁵ the blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have good news announced to them.*

⁵³ He has filled those who are hungry with good things, and those who are rich he has sent away empty-handed.

³ and not as lording it over _⌊those under your care_⌋*, but being examples for the flock.

¹⁵ And Yahweh said to Moses, "Why do you cry out to me? Speak to the _⌊Israelites_⌋* so that they set out.*

²⁰ And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took her* tambourine in her hand, and all of the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances.

⁹ And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us, and go out, fight against Amalek tomorrow. I will be standing on the top of the hill, and the staff of God will be in my hand." ¹⁰ And Joshua did as Moses had said to him to fight with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. ¹¹ And* when Moses raised his hand, Israel would prevail, but when he rested his hand, Amalek would prevail. ¹² But the hands of Moses were heavy, and they took a stone and placed it under him, and he sat on it; Aaron and Hur supported his hands, _⌊one on each side_⌋,* and his hands were steady until _⌊sundown_⌋.* ¹³ And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the _⌊edge of the sword_⌋.* ¹⁴ And Yahweh said to Moses, "Write this as a memorial in the scroll and _⌊recite it in the hearing of_⌋* Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens." ¹⁵ And Moses built an altar, and he called its name Yahweh Is My Banner. ¹⁶ And he said, "Because a hand was against the throne of Yah,* a war will be for Yahweh with Amalek from generation to generation."

⁶ She sent and called for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh Naphtali and said to him, "Has not Yahweh the God of Israel commanded you? 'Go, _⌊march to_⌋* Mount Tabor, and take ten thousand men from the descendants* of Naphtali and Zebulun. ⁷ _⌊I will draw out_⌋* Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and troops, to the wadi* of Kishon, and I will give him into your hand.'" ⁸ Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you do not go with me, I will not go." ⁹ She said, "Surely I will go with you; however, there will be no glory for you in _⌊the path you are taking_⌋,* for Yahweh will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." And Deborah stood up and went with Barak to Kedesh. ¹⁰ Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and _⌊they went up behind him_⌋,* ten thousand men, and Deborah went up with him. ¹¹ And Heber the Kenite was separated from the other Kenites,* that is, from the descendants* of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses. And _⌊he was encamped_⌋* at Elon-bezaanannim, which is near Kedesh. ¹² When they* reported to Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, ¹³ Sisera summoned all his chariots—all nine hundred chariots* of iron—and the entire army that was with him from Harosheth Haggoyim to the wadi* of Kishon. ¹⁴ And Deborah said to Barak, "Get up! This is the day that Yahweh has given Sisera into your hand. Has Yahweh not gone out before you?" So Barak went out from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. ¹⁵ And Yahweh threw Sisera and all his chariots and army into confusion* before _⌊the edge of Barak's sword_⌋;* and Sisera dismounted from his chariot and fled on foot. ¹⁶ But Barak pursued after the chariots* and army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim, and all of Sisera's army fell to _⌊the edge of the sword_⌋;* no one was left. ¹⁷ Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. ¹⁸ And Jael came out to meet Sisera, and she said to him, "Turn aside, my lord; turn aside to me and do not be afraid." So he turned aside into her tent, and she covered him _⌊with a blanket_⌋.* ¹⁹ And he said to her, "Please, give me a drink of water, because I am thirsty." So she opened a skin vessel of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. ²⁰ And he said to her, "Stand at the doorway of the tent, and if anyone comes and asks you, and says, 'Is there anyone here?' You must answer, 'No.'" ²¹ But Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, took in her hand a tent peg and a hammer, and she went softly* to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; he was fast asleep since he was exhausted, and he died. ²² And behold, Barak was pursuing Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him, and she said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking." And he came with her and saw that Sisera was lying dead with the peg in his temple. ²³ On that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the _⌊Israelites_⌋.* ²⁴ And the hand of the _⌊Israelites_⌋* _⌊pressed harder_⌋* and harder on Jabin king of Canaan, until they destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

⁶ "In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the caravans had ceased, _⌊the travelers_⌋,* _⌊they kept to the byways_⌋.* ⁷ The warriors* ceased; they failed to appear in Israel, until I,* Deborah, arose; I* arose as a mother in Israel. ⁸ God chose new leaders,* then war was at the gates; a small shield or a spear was not seen among forty thousand in Israel. ⁹ My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel, those offering themselves willingly among the people; bless Yahweh! ¹⁰ The riders of white female donkeys, those sitting on saddle blankets, and those going on the way, talk about it! ¹¹ At the sound of those dividing* the sheep among the watering places, there they will recount the righteous deeds of Yahweh, the righteous deeds for his warriors* in Israel. Then the people of Yahweh went down to the gates. ¹² "Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, sing a song! Get up, Barak! Take captive your captives, O son of Abinoam. ¹³ Then the remnant went down to the nobles; the people of Yahweh went down for him* against the mighty. ¹⁴ From Ephraim is their root into Amalek, after you, Benjamin, with your family; from Makir the commanders went down, and from Zebulun those carrying the scepter of the military commander. ¹⁵ And the chiefs* in Issachar were with Deborah; and Issachar likewise was with Barak; into the valley _⌊he was sent to get him from behind_⌋.* Among the clans of Reuben were great _⌊decisions of the heart_⌋.* ¹⁶ Why do you sit among the sheepfolds, to hear the calling sounds of the herds? For the clans of Reuben, there were great searchings of the heart. ¹⁷ Gilead has remained* beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan dwell as a foreigner with ships? Asher sat at the coast of the waters, and by his coves he has been settling down. ¹⁸ Zebulun is a people who scorned death, and Naphtali, on the heights of the field. ¹⁹ "The kings came, they fought; then the kings of Canaan fought; at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, they got no plunder in silver. ²⁰ The stars fought from heaven; from their courses they fought against Sisera. ²¹ The wadi* torrent of Kishon swept them away, the raging wadi torrent, the wadi torrent of Kishon. March on, my soul, with strength! ²² "Then the hooves of the horse beat loudly, because of galloping, galloping of his stallions. ²³ 'Curse Meroz,' says the angel of Yahweh; 'curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they did not come to the help of Yahweh, to the help of Yahweh against the mighty.' ²⁴ "Most blessed of women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; most blessed is she of women among tent dwellers. ²⁵ He asked for water, and she gave milk; in a drinking bowl for nobles, she brought curds. ²⁶ She reached out her hand to the peg, and her right hand for the workman's hammer; and she struck Sisera, crushed his head, and she shattered and pierced his temple. ²⁷ Between her feet he sank, he fell, he lay. Between her feet he sank down, he fell; Where he sank down, there he fell—_⌊dead_⌋.* ²⁸ "Through the window she looked down; the mother of Sisera cried out through the lattice, 'Why is his chariot delayed in coming? Why do the hoof beats* of his chariot tarry?' ²⁹ The wisest of her ladies answer her; she also answers the question herself: ³⁰ 'Are they not finding and dividing the plunder? _⌊A bedmate or two bedmates for every man_⌋;* colorful garments for Sisera, plunder of colorful garments,* beautifully finished colorful garments, on the neck of the plunderer?' ³¹ So may all your enemies perish, O Yahweh, but those who love him are like the rising sun at its brightest."
And the land had rest for forty years.

⁶ _⌊When they were coming back_⌋* after David had returned from striking down the Philistine, the women went out from all the cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with three-stringed instruments.

³ Then he put a new song in my mouth, a praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and will trust Yahweh.

²⁵ Singers went up front, those playing stringed instruments last, between them young women playing tambourines.

¹¹ And he himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers

¹³ And he was dressed in an outer garment dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.

²⁵ And he removed* the wheels of their chariots so that they drove them with difficulty, and the Egyptians said, "We must flee away* from Israel because Yahweh is fighting for them against Egypt."

⁸ They killed the kings of Midian in addition to the ones they had slain: Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; they also killed Balaam son of Beor by the sword. ⁹ The _⌊Israelites_⌋* took captive the women of Midian and their children, and they plundered all their domestic animals and all their livestock and all their wealth.

²⁷ divide the war-booty between those who engaged in the war, who went out to the battle, and all the community.

⁵⁴ So Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the commanders of the thousands and hundreds, and they brought it to the tent of the assembly as a memorial for the _⌊Israelites_⌋* before Yahweh.

¹⁶ But these five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.

⁴² all of these kings and their land Joshua captured at one time, because Yahweh the God of Israel fought for Israel.

⁷ These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the _⌊Israelites_⌋* defeated beyond to the Jordan to the west, from Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon,* and up to Mount Halak, which rises to Seir. And Joshua gave it as a possession to the tribes of Israel according to their allotments, ⁸ in the hill country, the Shephelah,* the Arabah,* on the slopes, in the wilderness, and in the Negev;* the Hittites,* the Amorites,* the Canaanites,* the Perizzites,* the Hivites,* and the Jebusites:* ⁹ the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; ¹⁰ the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; ¹¹ the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; ¹² the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; ¹³ the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; ¹⁴ the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; ¹⁵ the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; ¹⁶ the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one; ¹⁷ the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; ¹⁸ the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one; ¹⁹ the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; ²⁰ the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Acshaph, one; ²¹ the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; ²² the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one; ²³ the king of Dor in Naphath Dor, one; the king of Goiim for Gilgal, one; ²⁴ the king of Tirzah, one; all the kings, thirty-one.

¹⁹ "The kings came, they fought; then the kings of Canaan fought; at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, they got no plunder in silver.

³⁰ 'Are they not finding and dividing the plunder? _⌊A bedmate or two bedmates for every man_⌋;* colorful garments for Sisera, plunder of colorful garments,* beautifully finished colorful garments, on the neck of the plunderer?'

²⁴ And who would listen to you regarding this matter? For as the share of the one who went down into the battle, so the share of the one who remained with the baggage will be. They will share alike."

¹⁵ And the kings of the earth, and the most important people, and the military leaders, and the rich, and the powerful, and every slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,

¹⁷ And I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly _⌊directly overhead_⌋*,
"Come! Assemble for the great banquet of God, ¹⁸ in order that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of military tribunes, and the flesh of the powerful, and the flesh of horses and those seated on them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slave, and small and great!" ¹⁹ And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war with the one who is seated on the horse and with his army. ²⁰ And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs before him, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur.

¹⁴ Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds.

¹⁴ And they made their lives bitter with hard work with mortar and with bricks and with all sorts of work in the field—with all their work in which they ruthlessly enslaved them.

¹⁶ Why do you sit among the sheepfolds, to hear the calling sounds of the herds? For the clans of Reuben, there were great searchings of the heart.

²⁰ Judah and Israel were as many as the sand which is on the seashore in abundance, eating and drinking and rejoicing! ²¹ * Now Solomon was ruling over all the kingdoms from the River* to the land of the Philistines, and up to the border of Egypt, who were bringing tribute and were serving Solomon all the days of his life.

⁶ "I removed his shoulder from a burden. His hands were freed from the basket.

³⁷ Then he brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.

⁴ For Yahweh takes pleasure in his people; he glorifies the afflicted with salvation.

⁶ " 'And I passed by you, and I saw you kicking about in your blood, and I said to you in your blood, "Live! ⁷ Grow up;* I will make you like a plant of the field." And you grew up, and you became tall and _⌊reached full womanhood_⌋.* Your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown, but you were naked and bare. ⁸ " 'And I passed by you, and I saw you, and look, _⌊your time of lovemaking had come_⌋,* and so I spread out my hem over you, and I covered your nakedness, and I swore to you, and I entered into* a covenant with you,' _⌊declares_⌋* the Lord Yahweh, 'and _⌊you became mine_⌋.* ⁹ And I washed you with water, and I rinsed off your blood from on you, and I anointed you with oil. ¹⁰ And I clothed you with beautiful finished cloth, and I put sandals on you of fine leather, and I bound you in fine linen, and I covered you with costly fabric. ¹¹ And I adorned you with ornaments,* and I put a bracelet on your arms and a necklace on your neck. ¹² And I put an ornamental ring on your nose and earrings on your ears and a _⌊beautiful crown_⌋* on your head. ¹³ And you adorned yourself with gold and silver, and your clothing was fine linen and costly fabric and beautiful finished cloth; you ate finely milled flour and honey and olive oil, and you became exceedingly beautiful; _⌊you were fit to be a queen_⌋.* ¹⁴ And a name went out for you among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect because of my majesty that I bestowed on you,' _⌊declares_⌋* the Lord Yahweh.

¹⁶ And he was longing to fill his stomach with* the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving anything* to him.

²² But his* father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it* on him, and put a ring on his finger* and sandals on his* feet!

⁹ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Neither sexually immoral people, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor passive homosexual partners, nor dominant homosexual partners, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor greedy persons, not drunkards, not abusive persons, not swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And some of you were these things, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus* and by the Spirit of our God.

² You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the speechless idols, however you were led.

¹ And you, _⌊although you were dead_⌋** in your trespasses and sins, ² in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all formerly lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the will* of the flesh and of the mind, and we were children of wrath* by nature, as also the rest of them were.

²⁶ in order that he might sanctify her by cleansing her* with the washing of water by the word; ²⁷ in order that he might present to himself the church glorious, not having a spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she may be holy and blameless.

³ For we also were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, enslaved to various desires and pleasures, spending our lives in wickedness and envy, despicable, hating one another.

⁵ and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To the one who loves us and released us from our sins by his blood ⁶ and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power _⌊forever and ever_⌋*. Amen.

³ Yahweh heard the voice of Israel; he gave to them the Canaanites, and _⌊they destroyed them_⌋* and their cities. They called the name of the place Hormah.

²¹ Israel sent messengers to Sihon, the king of the Amorites,* saying, ²² "Let us go through your land; we will not turn aside into a field or vineyard; we will not drink well water along the way of the king until we have gone through your territory." ²³ But Sihon did not allow Israel to go through his territory. Sihon gathered all his people and went out to meet Israel; he came to the desert, to Jahaz, and he fought against Israel. ²⁴ But Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and they took possession of his land from Arnon to Jabbok, until the _⌊Ammonites_⌋,* because the boundary of the _⌊Ammonites_⌋* was strong. ²⁵ Israel took all these cities, and Israel inhabited all the cities of the Amorites,* in Heshbon, and in all its environs.* ²⁶ Because Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites,* who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land from his hand until Arnon. ²⁷ Thus the ones who quote proverbs say,
"Come to Heshbon! Let it be built! And let the city of Sihon be established. ²⁸ Because fire went out from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon; it consumed Ar of Moab, the lords of the* high places of Arnon. ²⁹ Woe to you, Moab! You have perished, people of Chemosh. He has given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, to the king of the Amorites,* Sihon. ³⁰ We destroyed them; Heshbon has perished up to Dibon; we laid waste up to Nophah, which _⌊reaches_⌋* Medeba." ³¹ Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites.* ³² Moses sent to explore Jaazer; they captured _⌊its environs_⌋* and dispossessed the Amorites* who were there. ³³ Then they turned and went up by the way of the Bashan, and Og king of the Bashan and all his people went out to meet them for battle at Edrei. ³⁴ And Yahweh said to Moses, "Do not fear him because I will give him and all his people and all his land into your hand. You will do to him just as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites,* who was living in Heshbon." ³⁵ And so they destroyed him and his sons, and all his people until they had not spared a survivor; and they took possession of his land.

¹⁰ And Yahweh threw them into panic before Israel, who* struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. ¹¹ And as they were fleeing from Israel, they were on the slope of Beth-horon, and Yahweh threw huge stones from the heavens on them as far as Azekah; and more died by the hail stones than those whom the _⌊Israelites_⌋* killed by the sword. ¹² Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh, on the day Yahweh gave the Amorites* over to the _⌊Israelites_⌋,* and he said in the sight of Israel,
"Sun in Gibeon, stand still, and moon, in the valley of Aijalon." ¹³ And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on its enemies.
Is it not written in the scroll of Jashar? The sun stood still in the middle of the heaven and was not in haste to set for about a full day. ¹⁴ There has not been a day like this before it or after, that Yahweh listened to the voice of a man; for Yahweh fought for Israel. ¹⁵ And Joshua returned and all Israel with him to the camp at Gilgal. ¹⁶ But these five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. ¹⁷ And it was told to Joshua, saying, "The five kings were found hidden in the cave at Makkedah." ¹⁸ And Joshua said, "Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men in front of it to guard them. ¹⁹ But do not stay there; pursue after your enemies and attack them from the rear. Do not allow them to go into their cities, for Yahweh your God has given them into your hand." ²⁰ When Joshua and the _⌊Israelites_⌋* had finished striking them with a very great blow, until they perished, _⌊those of them who survived_⌋* went into the fortified cities, ²¹ and all the people returned to the camp safely* to Joshua at Makkedah. _⌊No one spoke_⌋* against the _⌊Israelites_⌋.* ²² And Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave, and bring to me those five kings from the cave." ²³ And they did so, and brought him these five kings from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. ²⁴ And when they brought these kings to Joshua, Joshua called all the men of Israel and said to the commanders of _⌊the fighting men_⌋* who had gone with him, "Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came near and put their feet on their necks. ²⁵ And Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid or dismayed! Be strong and bold, for thus Yahweh will do to all your enemies whom you are about to fight. ²⁶ And after this Joshua struck them down and killed them, and he hanged them on five trees. And they were hanging on the trees until the evening. ²⁷ And it happened _⌊at the time of sunset_⌋,* Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they put large stones against the mouth of the cave, which are there to this very day. ²⁸ Joshua captured Makkedah on that day, and he struck it and its king with _⌊the edge of the sword_⌋;* he utterly destroyed it and everyone that was in it. He did not leave behind a survivor. So he did to the king of Makkedah just as he did to the king of Jericho. ²⁹ And Joshua passed on, and all of Israel with him, from Makkedah to Libnah, and he fought against Libnah. ³⁰ And Yahweh also gave it into the hand of Israel, and its king and all the people in it he struck with _⌊the edge of the sword_⌋.* He left in it no survivor. He did to its king just as he did to the king of Jericho. ³¹ And Joshua passed on, and all of Israel with him, from Libnah to Lachish, and _⌊he laid siege to it_⌋* and fought against it. ³² And Yahweh gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he captured it on the second day. He struck it with _⌊the edge of the sword_⌋,* and everyone in it, just as he did to Libnah. ³³ Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua struck him and his people until he left no survivor behind. ³⁴ And Joshua passed on, and all of Israel with him, from Lachish to Eglon, and _⌊they laid siege to it_⌋* and fought against it. ³⁵ And they captured it on that day, and he struck it with _⌊the edge of the sword_⌋,* and all the people that were in it on that day he utterly destroyed as he had done to Lachish. ³⁶ And Joshua went up, and all Israel with him, from Eglon to Hebron, and they fought against it ³⁷ and captured it, and they struck it with _⌊the edge of the sword_⌋,* its king and all its cities, and all the people that were in it; he left behind no survivor, as he had done to Eglon, and he utterly destroyed it and all the people that were in it. ³⁸ Then Joshua returned to Debir, and all of Israel with him, and they fought against it, ³⁹ and he captured it and its king and all its cities, and they struck them with _⌊the the edge of the sword_⌋,* and they utterly destroyed all the people that were in it; he left behind no survivor, just as he had done to Hebron. Thus he did to Debir and its king what he had done to Libnah and its king. ⁴⁰ So Joshua struck all the land—the hill country, the Negev,* the Shephelah,* and the slopes*—and all their kings; he left behind no survivor, and _⌊all that breathed_⌋* he utterly destroyed as Yahweh the God of Israel commanded. ⁴¹ Joshua struck them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza, and all the land of Goshen up to Gibeon; ⁴² all of these kings and their land Joshua captured at one time, because Yahweh the God of Israel fought for Israel. ⁴³ And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

¹ These are the kings of the land whom the _⌊Israelites_⌋* defeated, and of whose land they took possession beyond the Jordon _⌊to the east_⌋,* from the wadi* of Arnon up to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah* to the east: ² Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the wadi* of Arnon, from the middle of the valley and half of Gilead, up to the _⌊Jabbok River_⌋,* which marks the border of the _⌊Ammonites_⌋;* ³ and the Arabah* up to the Kinnereth Sea* to the east, and as far as the sea of Arabah, the Salt Sea* to the east, _⌊in the direction of_⌋* Beth Jeshimoth, and to the area southward, _⌊at the foot of_⌋* the slopes of Pisgah;* ⁴ the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites, who lived at Ashtaroth and Edrei ⁵ and ruled over Mount Hermon and Salecah and over all Bashan up to the border of the Geshurites* and the Maacathites,* and half of Gilead, as far as the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. ⁶ Moses Yahweh's servant and the _⌊Israelites_⌋* defeated them; and Moses Yahweh's servant gave it as a possession to the Reubenites,* the Gadites,* and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

⁷ And the people served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who saw all the great work Yahweh had done for Israel.

⁴⁸ So Abimelech went up Mount Zalmon, he and all his army that were with him, and Abimelech took the ax* in his hand and cut down a bundle of brushwood, and he lifted it and put it on his shoulder. And he said to the army that was with him, "What you have seen me do, quickly do also."

⁷ Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

¹⁸ "Come now, and let us argue," says Yahweh. "Even though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white like snow; even though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

³ Israel was holy to Yahweh, the first fruit of his produce. All those who ate it were held guilty; disaster came to them," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh.'"

¹⁴ And the armies that are in heaven, dressed in clean, white fine linen, were following him on white horses. ¹⁵ And out of his mouth came a sharp sword, so that with it he could strike the nations. And he will shepherd them with an iron rod,* and he stomps the winepress of the wine of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful. ¹⁶ And he has a name written on his outer garment and on his thigh: "King of kings and Lord of lords." ¹⁷ And I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly _⌊directly overhead_⌋*,
"Come! Assemble for the great banquet of God, ¹⁸ in order that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of military tribunes, and the flesh of the powerful, and the flesh of horses and those seated on them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slave, and small and great!" ¹⁹ And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war with the one who is seated on the horse and with his army. ²⁰ And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs before him, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur. ²¹ And the rest were killed by the sword of the one who is seated on the horse—the sword that comes out of his mouth—and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

¹⁰ All of the towns of the plateau and the whole of Gilead and all of Bashan up to Salecah and Edrei, the towns of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

⁶ "But as for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy mountain."

⁶⁸ but chose the tribe of Judah, _⌊Mount Zion_⌋* that he loved. ⁶⁹ And he built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever.

¹ Of the sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.*
His foundation is on the holy mountains. ² Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

² And it shall happen in the future of the days the mountain of the house* of Yahweh shall be established; it will be among the highest* of the mountains, and it shall be raised from the hills. All of the nations shall travel to him; ³ many peoples shall come. And they shall say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house* of the God of Jacob, and may he teach us part of his ways, and let us walk in his paths." For instruction shall go out from Zion, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.

¹⁴ Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, those dwelling alone in a forest in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

⁵ _⌊But only_⌋* to the place that Yahweh your God will choose from all of your tribes to place his name there as his dwelling shall you seek, and there you shall go.

¹¹ _⌊and then_⌋* at the place that Yahweh your God will choose, to let his name dwell there, there you shall bring all the things I am commanding you, your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and _⌊your donations_⌋,* and all of the choice things, your votive gifts that you vow to Yahweh.

³ Yahweh said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your plea which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house which you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

⁴ The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like _⌊lambs_⌋.*

⁶ O mountains, that you skipped like rams? O hills, like lambs?

¹³ For Yahweh has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation. ¹⁴ "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

² And it shall happen in the future of the days the mountain of the house* of Yahweh shall be established; it will be among the highest* of the mountains, and it shall be raised from the hills. All of the nations shall travel to him;

²² But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to tens of thousands of angels, to the festal gathering ²³ and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,

² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Behold, the dwelling of God is with humanity, and he will take up residence with them, and they will be his people and God himself will be with them.*

⁵ And he said, "You must not come near to here. Take off your sandals from on your feet, because the place on which you are standing, it is holy ground."

²² And even the priests who come near Yahweh must consecrate themselves, lest Yahweh break out against them." ²³ And Moses said to Yahweh, "The people are not able to go up to Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, saying, 'Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.'"

² Then* he said,
"Yahweh came from Sinai, and he dawned upon them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran, and he came with myriads of holy ones, at his right hand a fiery law for them.*

¹¹ Then they were walking, talking as they went. Suddenly a fiery chariot with horses of fire appeared and separated between the two of them. Elijah went up in the storm to the heavens

¹⁶ And he said, "Don't be afraid, for more are with us than are with them." ¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Yahweh, please open his eyes that he may see," and Yahweh opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw, and look, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

¹⁵ And I saw the living creatures, and look! A wheel was on the earth* beside _⌊each of the living creatures that had four faces_⌋.* ¹⁶ The appearance of the wheels and their construction was like the appearance of beryl,* and _⌊they all looked alike_⌋,* and their appearance and their construction was _⌊like a wheel within a wheel_⌋.* ¹⁷ When they moved, they went toward their four sides; they did not _⌊veer at all as they went_⌋.* ¹⁸ And their rims _⌊were high and awesome_⌋,* and _⌊all four of_⌋* their rims were full of eyes all around. ¹⁹ And at the going of the living creatures, the wheels next to them also went, and _⌊when the creatures were lifted from the ground_⌋* the wheels also rose. ²⁰ _⌊Wherever_⌋* the spirit went they would go there, and the wheels rose, for the spirit of the living creatures* was in the wheels. ²¹ At their* going, they* go, and at their standing, they stood, and at their being lifted up from on the earth,* the wheels rose,* for the spirit of the living creatures* was in the wheels. ²² Now* the likeness above the heads of the living creatures was an expanse like the outward appearance of _⌊awesome_⌋* _⌊ice_⌋* spread out above their heads _⌊upward_⌋.* ²³ And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight _⌊one toward the other_⌋;* each had two wings covering them, and each had two wings covering their bodies. ²⁴ And I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the voice of Shaddai,* and _⌊when they moved_⌋* there was a sound of tumult like the sound of an army; _⌊when they stood still_⌋* they lowered their wings. ²⁵ And there was* a sound from above the expanse that was above their heads, _⌊and when they stood_⌋* they lowered their wings. ²⁶ And from above the expanse that was above their heads there was the likeness of a throne, _⌊looking like a sapphire_⌋,* and above the likeness of the throne was a likeness similar to* the appearance of a human on it, but _⌊above it_⌋.* ²⁷ And I saw something like the outward appearance of amber, something like the appearance of fire, with a covering around it, from the likeness of his loins and _⌊upward_⌋.* And from the likeness of his loins and _⌊downward_⌋* I saw something like the appearance of fire, and _⌊it was radiant all around_⌋.* ²⁸ Like the appearance* of a bow that is in the cloud on _⌊a rainy day_⌋,* such was the radiance* around it; thus was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. And I saw, and I fell on my face, and I heard a voice speaking.

¹⁰ A stream of fire issued forth and flowed _⌊from his presence_⌋;* thousands upon thousands served him and ten thousand upon ten thousand stood before him. The judge sat, and the books were opened.

⁸ Was the anger of Yahweh against the rivers? Was your wrath against the rivers, or your fury against the sea, when you mounted upon your horses, upon your victory chariot?

⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot call upon my Father, and he would put at my disposal at once more than twelve legions of angels?

¹¹ And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and of the living creatures and of the elders, and their number was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands times thousands,

¹⁶ And the number of the troops of the cavalry was _⌊two hundred million_⌋*; I heard the number of them.

¹² "Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, sing a song! Get up, Barak! Take captive your captives, O son of Abinoam.

¹⁸ "But will God indeed dwell with humankind upon the earth? Look, the heavens and _⌊the highest heavens_⌋* cannot contain you! Surely then this house that I have built will not contain you!

⁷ And let the assembly of peoples surround you, and over it return on high.

³ Who may ascend the mountain of Yahweh? And who may stand in his holy place?

⁷ Lift up your heads, O gates, and rise up, O ancient doorways, that the king of glory* may enter. ⁸ Who is the king of glory?* Yahweh, strong and mighty; Yahweh, mighty in war! ⁹ Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift up, O ancient doorways, that the king of glory* may enter. ¹⁰ Who is the king of glory?* Yahweh of hosts, He is the king of glory!* Selah

⁵ God has gone up with a shout, Yahweh with the sound of a trumpet.

⁶⁰ So he abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh, the tent he had placed among humankind.

¹ Of David. A psalm.*
A declaration of Yahweh to my lord, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool."

²² "_⌊How long_⌋,* O simple ones, will you love simplicity? And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? ²³ May you turn to my argument!* Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you; I will make my words known to you.

⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way, and the man of sin his thoughts. And let him return to Yahweh, that* he may take pity on him, and to our God, for he will _⌊forgive manifold_⌋.*

³⁵ All around the city is eighteen thousand cubits,* and the name of the city from that day is "Yahweh Is There"!

¹³ But go and* learn what it means, "I want mercy and not sacrifice."* For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

⁹ Now early on the first day of the week, after he* rose, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had expelled seven demons.

⁴⁷ and repentance and the forgiveness* of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all the nations,* beginning from Jerusalem.

⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending out* what was promised by my Father upon you, but you stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

⁵¹ And it happened that while he was blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven.

¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, in order that he may be with you _⌊forever_⌋*— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it does not see him or know him.* You know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.

²³ Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and _⌊will take up residence with him_⌋.*

⁷ But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

¹³ But when he—the Spirit of truth—comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will proclaim to you the things to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and will proclaim it* to you. ¹⁵ Everything that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he takes from what is mine and will proclaim it* to you.

² until the day he was taken up, after he* had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, ³ to whom he also presented himself alive after he suffered, with many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking the things about the kingdom of God. ⁴ And while he* was with* them,* he commanded them, "Do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for what was promised by the Father, which you heard about from me. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit _⌊not many days from now_⌋."* ⁶ So when* they had come together, they began asking* him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" ⁷ But he said to them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when* the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest part of the earth." ⁹ And after he* had said these things, while* they were watching, he was taken up, and a cloud received him from their sight.

⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages* as the Spirit gave them ability to speak out.

²³ this man, delivered up by the determined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by* nailing to a cross* through the hand of lawless men.

³³ Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out this that you see and hear.* ³⁴ For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,
'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, ³⁵ until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '* ³⁶ Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt, that God has made him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified!" ³⁷ Now when they* heard this,* they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "What should we do, men and brothers?" ³⁸ And Peter said* to them, "Repent and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all those who are far away, as many as the Lord our God calls to himself." ⁴⁰ And with many other words he solemnly urged and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this crooked generation!" ⁴¹ So those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added.

¹⁷ So Ananias departed and entered into the house, and placing his* hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

⁸ but God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while* we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

⁴⁵ Thus also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul";* the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ But the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is from the earth, made of earth; the second man is from heaven.

¹⁶ And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said,
"I will live in* them and will walk about among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people."*

⁸ Therefore it says,
"Ascending on high he led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men."* ⁹ Now "he ascended," what is it, except that he also descended* to the lower regions of the earth? ¹⁰ The one who descended himself is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order that he might fill all things.

¹⁸ and he himself is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in everything, ¹⁹ because he was well pleased for all the fullness to dwell in him,

³ in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

⁹ because in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily,

¹³ although I* was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, but I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, ¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord abounded with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ The saying is trustworthy and worthy of all acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

³ For we also were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, enslaved to various desires and pleasures, spending our lives in wickedness and envy, despicable, hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love for mankind of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not by deeds of righteousness that we have done, but because of his mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

³ who is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, sustaining all things by the word of power.* When he* had made purification for sins through him, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

¹⁴ Therefore, because we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.

²⁰ where Jesus, the forerunner for us, entered, because he* became a high priest _⌊forever_⌋* according to the order of Melchizedek.

¹ Now this is the main point in what has been said: we have a high priest such as this, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

²² who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, with angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to him.

²⁰ As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands—the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Behold, the dwelling of God is with humanity, and he will take up residence with them, and they will be his people and God himself will be with them.*

⁷ You are my hiding place; from trouble you preserve me. With cries of deliverance you surround me. Selah

²² Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.*

⁵ By awesome deeds in righteousness you will answer us, O God of our salvation, you who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth and of the far-off seas,

¹⁷ May his name endure forever. May his name increase _⌊as long as the sun shines_⌋,* and let them be blessed in him. Let all nations call him blessed. ¹⁸ Blessed be Yahweh God, the God of Israel, who alone does wonderful things. ¹⁹ And blessed be his glorious name forever, and may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.

¹ Of David.*
Bless Yahweh, O my soul, and all within me, bless his holy name. ² Bless Yahweh, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits: ³ who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, ⁴ who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with loyal love and mercies, ⁵ who satisfies your life with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. ⁶ Yahweh does deeds of justice and judgments for all who are oppressed, ⁷ who made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the _⌊people_⌋* of Israel. ⁸ Yahweh is compassionate and gracious, _⌊slow to anger_⌋* and abundant in loyal love. ⁹ He does not dispute continually, nor keep his anger forever. ¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so his loyal love prevails over those who fear him. ¹² As far as east is from west, so he has removed far from us the guilt of our transgressions. ¹³ As a father pities* his children, so Yahweh pities* those who fear him. ¹⁴ For he knows our frame.* He remembers that we are dust. ¹⁵ As for man, his days are like the grass. As the flower of the field, so he blossoms. ¹⁶ When the wind passes over it, it is no more, and its place knows it no longer. ¹⁷ But the loyal love of Yahweh is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to their children's children, ¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his precepts. ¹⁹ Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. ²⁰ Bless Yahweh, you his angels, you mighty heroes who do his word by _⌊obeying_⌋* the sound of his word. ²¹ Bless Yahweh, all you his hosts, you his attendants who do his will. ²² Bless Yahweh, all his works,* in all the places of his dominion. Bless Yahweh, O my soul.

¹⁷ And to me, how precious* are your thoughts, O God; how vast is their sum.

⁴ Even* to your old age I am he; even* to your advanced age I myself will support you. I myself have made you, and I myself will carry you, and I myself will support you, and I will save you.

²³ They are new in the morning, great is your faithfulness.

³ Blessed is* the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

³⁹ See, now, that I, even I am he, and there is not a god besides me; I put to death and I give life; I wound and I heal; there is not one who delivers from my hand!

⁶ Yahweh kills and restores alive, he brings down to Sheol* and raises up.

¹³ because you have delivered my soul from death. Have you not kept my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

¹⁷ I will not die but live, and tell of the works of Yah.* ¹⁸ Yah has disciplined me severely, but he did not consign* me to death.

²³ With all vigilance, keep your heart, for from it comes the source* of life.

² Look! God is my salvation; I will trust, and I will not be afraid, for my strength and might is Yah, Yahweh; and he has become salvation for me."

¹⁷ Israel is saved by Yahweh with everlasting salvation; you shall not be ashamed, and you shall not be humiliated _⌊to all eternity_⌋.* ¹⁸ For thus says Yahweh, _⌊who created_⌋* the heavens, he is God, _⌊who formed_⌋* the earth and _⌊who made_⌋* it. He himself established it; he did not create it as emptiness— he formed it for inhabiting.
"I am Yahweh and there is none besides me. ¹⁹ I have spoken not in secrecy, in a place, a land, of darkness, I have not said to the descendants of Jacob, 'Seek me _⌊in vain_⌋!'* I, Yahweh, am speaking righteousness, declaring uprightness. ²⁰ Assemble and come; draw near together, survivors of the nations! They do not know, those who carry _⌊their wooden idols_⌋* and pray to a god who cannot save. ²¹ Declare and present your case, also let them consult together! Who _⌊made this known_⌋* from _⌊former times_⌋,* declared it from _⌊of old_⌋?* Was it not I, Yahweh? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God besides me, and no savior besides me. ²² Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is none besides me.

⁷ But I will have pity on the house of Judah and I will save them by Yahweh their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, war, horses, or horsemen.

²² You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because salvation is from the Jews.

²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and makes them* alive, thus also the Son makes alive whomever he wishes.

²³ in order that all people* will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

²⁸ "Do not be astonished at this, because an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear his voice ²⁹ and they will come out—those who have done good things to a resurrection of life, but those who have practiced evil things to a resurrection of judgment.

²⁵ Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die _⌊forever_⌋.* Do you believe this?"

¹⁴ Therefore, since the children share in blood and flesh, he also in like manner shared in these same things, in order that through death he could destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and could set free these who through fear of death were subject to slavery throughout all their lives.

¹⁸ and the one who lives, and I was dead, and behold, I am living _⌊forever and ever_⌋*, and I hold the keys of death and of Hades.

¹ And I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.

¹² If he* does not repent, he* will sharpen his sword. He has bent his bow and he has _⌊strung_⌋* it.

²³ But you, O God, you will bring them down to the pit of corruption. The men of bloodshed and deceit will not live half their days, but I will trust you.

¹⁸ You have ascended on high; you have led away captives. You have received gifts from among humankind, and even from the rebellious, so that Yah* God may dwell there.

⁶ He will judge among the nations; he will fill them with corpses. He will shatter the _⌊rulers_⌋* of many countries.

²⁴ Because I called out and you refused me, I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds. ²⁵ You have ignored all my counsel, and my reproof you are not willing to accept. ²⁶ I will also laugh at your calamity;* I will mock when panic* comes upon you. ²⁷ When your panic comes like a storm, and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you, ²⁸ then they will call* me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but not find me. ²⁹ Since they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Yahweh, ³⁰ they were not willing to accept my counsel, they despised all my reproof. ³¹ They shall eat from the fruit of their way, and they shall be sated from their own schemes, ³² for the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. ³³ Whoever listens to me will dwell in security and rest securely* from dread and disaster."

²⁷ And when the wicked turns from his wickedness that he did and he does justice and righteousness, _⌊he will preserve his life_⌋.* ²⁸ And if he sees and he returns from all of his transgressions that he did, surely he will live; he will not die! ²⁹ And yet they, the house of Israel, say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair!' Are not my ways fair, house of Israel? _⌊Are not your ways unfair?_⌋* ³⁰ "Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each one* according to his ways," _⌊declares_⌋* the Lord Yahweh. "Repent* and turn around from all of your transgression, and it will not be as a stumbling block of iniquity to you.

⁴ And again he sent to them another slave, and that one they struck on the head and dishonored.

⁵ No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!"

¹ Because of this, it is all the more necessary that we pay attention to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. ² For if the word spoken through angels was binding and every transgression and act of disobedience received a just penalty, ³ how will we escape if we* neglect so great a salvation which had its beginning when it* was spoken through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard,

²⁵ Watch out that you do not refuse the one who is speaking! For if those did not escape when they* refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape,* if we* reject the one who warns from heaven,

¹⁴ But I have a few things against you: that you have there those who hold fast to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. ¹⁵ So likewise you also have those who hold fast to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ¹⁶ Therefore repent! But if you do not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war with them with the sword from my mouth.

²² And the _⌊Israelites_⌋* entered the middle of the sea on the dry land. The waters were a wall for them on their right and on their left.

²⁹ But the _⌊Israelites_⌋* walked on the dry land in the middle of the sea. The waters were a wall for them on their right and on their left.

³³ Then they turned and went up by the way of the Bashan, and Og king of the Bashan and all his people went out to meet them for battle at Edrei.

¹¹ And this shall happen on that day:
The Lord will again extend his hand a second time to acquire the remnant of his people that is left, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the coastlands of the sea, ¹² and he will raise a signal for the nations. And he will gather the outcasts of Israel, and he will gather the scattered ones of Judah together from the four _⌊corners_⌋* of the earth. ¹³ And the jealousy of Ephraim shall depart, and the enemies of Judah shall be cut off. Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not be an enemy of Ephraim. ¹⁴ But they shall _⌊swoop_⌋* upon the Philistine shoulder,* _⌊westward_⌋.* Together they shall plunder the sons of the east. Edom and Moab _⌊will be under their command_⌋,* and the sons of Ammon will be their subjugated people. ¹⁵ And Yahweh will divide* the tongue* of the sea of Egypt,* and he will wave his hand over the river* with his scorching wind; and he will strike it into seven streams, and he will _⌊make it passable by foot_⌋.* ¹⁶ So there shall be a highway from Assyria for the remnant of his people that remains, as there was for Israel _⌊when_⌋* it went up from the land of Egypt.

²² Thus says the Lord Yahweh:
"Look! I will lift my hand up to the nations, and I will raise my signal to the peoples, and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.*

¹⁰ Are you not the one who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, the one who _⌊made_⌋* the depths of the sea a way for those who are redeemed to cross over? ¹¹ So* the redeemed ones of Yahweh shall return, and they shall come to Zion with singing, and everlasting joy shall be on their heads.* Joy and gladness shall _⌊appear_⌋;* sorrow and sighing shall flee away!

⁵ "Look, days are coming," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, "when I will raise up for David a righteous branch, and he will reign as king, and he will achieve success, and he will do justice and righteousness in the land. ⁶ In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell _⌊in safety_⌋,* and this is his name by which he will be called: 'Yahweh is our righteousness.' ⁷ "_⌊Therefore_⌋* look, days are coming," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, "when they will no longer say, '_⌊As Yahweh lives_⌋,* who led up the _⌊Israelites_⌋* from the land of Egypt,' ⁸ but '_⌊As Yahweh lives_⌋,* who led up, and who brought the offspring of the house of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where he had driven them.' Then they will live in their land."

²⁴ " 'And I will take you from the nations, and I will gather you from all of the lands, and I will bring you to your land.

¹⁰ * The number of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea that cannot be measured or counted; and in the place where it is said to them, "You are not my people," it will be said to them, "Children of the living God." ¹¹ Then the children of Judah and Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one head; and _⌊they will take possession of_⌋* the land, for great is the day of Jezreel.*

² If they dig into Sheol, from there my hand will take them, and even if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down. ³ And even if they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will search and will take them, and even if they hide from before my eyes at the bottom of the sea, from there I will command the sea serpent and it will bite them.

¹⁹ You shall say to him, 'Thus says Yahweh: "Have you committed murder and also taken possession?" ' You shall also say to him, 'Thus says Yahweh: "In the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, the dogs will also lick your blood." '"

³⁸ They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked his blood (now, the prostitutes washed themselves there) according to the word of Yahweh which he had spoken.

³³ So he said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down, and her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled her. ³⁴ Then he came and ate and drank, and said, "Please take care of this cursed one and bury her, for she is the daughter of a king." ³⁵ When they went to bury her, they could not find her, except the skull, the feet, and the palms of the hands. ³⁶ They returned and told him, and he said, "This is the word of Yahweh which he spoke by the hand of his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'On the plot of ground of Jezreel, the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel.'" ³⁷ So the dead body of Jezebel became dung on the surface spread on the field in the plot of ground of Jezreel, so one cannot say, "This is Jezebel."

¹ Who is this, coming from Edom, from Bozrah in bright red garments? Who is this honored in his garment, lying down in his great strength? "It is I, speaking in justice, _⌊mighty_⌋* to save!" ² Why are your garments* red, and your garments like he who treads in the winepress? ³ "I have trodden the winepress alone, and there was no man from the peoples with me. And I trod them in my anger, and I trampled them in my wrath, and spattered their juice on my garments, and stained all my clothing, ⁴ for the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my blood-vengeance has come! ⁵ And I looked, but* there was no helper, and I was appalled, but* there was no one who sustains, so* my arm came to assist me, and my wrath _⌊was what_⌋* sustained me. ⁶ And I trampled peoples in my anger, and I made them drunk in my wrath, and I brought their juice down to the earth."

¹² It was told to King David, "Yahweh has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and all that is his because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David with jubilation. ¹³ It happened that when the carriers of the ark of Yahweh had marched six steps that he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. ¹⁴ Now David was dancing with all his might before Yahweh, and David was wearing* a linen ephod. ¹⁵ So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of Yahweh with shouts of joyful acclaim and with the sound of the trumpet. ¹⁶ It happened that when the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked down through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before Yahweh, and she despised him in her heart. ¹⁷ They brought the ark of Yahweh and set it in its place in the middle of the tent which David had pitched for it. Then David offered up burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in the presence of Yahweh.

⁸ Now David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their strength, and with songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

¹⁶ Then David ordered the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of song, musical instruments, stringed instruments, and cymbals, _⌊raising their voices for joy_⌋.* ¹⁷ So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel, and from his brothers, Asaph the son of Berekiah, and from the sons of Merari, their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; ¹⁸ and with them their brothers of the second rank, Zechariah the son, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-Edom and Jeiel. ¹⁹ Now the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals; ²⁰ Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play on harps according to Alamoth; ²¹ and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play lyres, directing according to the Sheminith. ²² And Kenaniah, chief of the Levites in singing, was to be an instructor in singing because he understood. ²³ And Berekiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. ²⁴ And Shebaniah, Jehoshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Elizezer the priests _⌊sounded the trumpets_⌋* before the ark of God. And Obed-Edom and Jehiah were gatekeepers for the ark.

⁵ God has gone up with a shout, Yahweh with the sound of a trumpet. ⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises. Sing praises to our king, sing praises. ⁷ For God is king of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding.*

² Thus I have seen you in the sanctuary, beholding your strength and glory.

³⁴ Jephthah came to Mizpah, to his house, and behold his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and dancing. She was his only child; he did not have a son or daughter except her.

⁷ And while dancing, singers will sing, "All my springs are in you."

¹² young men and young women as well, the old together with the young— ¹³ let them praise the name of Yahweh, because his name alone is is exalted. His splendor is above earth and heavens.

³ Praise him with blast of horn; praise him with harp and lyre. ⁴ Praise him with tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flute. ⁵ Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with clashing cymbals.

⁴ I will again build you, and you will be built, O virgin Israel. You will again adorn yourself with your tambourines, and you will go forth in the dancing in a ring of the merrymakers.

¹³ "Then the young woman will rejoice in the dancing in a ring, and the young men and the old men together. And I will turn their mourning to jubilation, and I will comfort them, and I will gladden them from their sorrow.

² And I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the sound that I heard was like harpists playing on their harps. ³ And they were singing something like a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, and no one was able to learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who had been bought from the earth.

² And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name were standing by* the glassy sea, holding harps from God. ³ And they were singing the song of Moses, the slave of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
"Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God All-Powerful; righteous and true are your ways, King of the ages!*

²⁸ So Israel dwells alone and carefree, the spring of Jacob in a land of grain and wine; his heavens even drip dew.

⁷ Then on that day David first appointed to give thanks to Yahweh by the hand of Asaph and his brothers. ⁸ Give thanks to Yahweh; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the nations! ⁹ Sing to him; sing praises to him; tell of his wondrous works! ¹⁰ Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those seeking Yahweh rejoice! ¹¹ Seek Yahweh and his strength; seek his face continually! ¹² Remember his wonderful works that he has done, his wonders and the judgments of his mouth, ¹³ O offspring of Israel, his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! ¹⁴ He is Yahweh our God; his judgments are in all the earth. ¹⁵ Remember his covenant forever, the word he commanded for a thousand generations, ¹⁶ that he _⌊made_⌋* with Abraham, his sworn oath to Isaac. ¹⁷ And he confirmed it to Jacob as a statute, an everlasting covenant to Israel, ¹⁸ saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, the portion of your inheritance." ¹⁹ When you were few in number, little, and sojourners were in it, ²⁰ when they wandered from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people, ²¹ he did not allow anyone to oppress them, and he rebuked kings on their account, ²² saying, "You must not touch my anointed nor do harm to my prophets!" ²³ Sing to Yahweh, all the earth! Proclaim his salvation from day to day! ²⁴ Proclaim his glory among the nations, his wondrous works among the peoples! ²⁵ For Yahweh is great and greatly praised, and he is feared among all gods. ²⁶ For all the gods of the nations are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens. ²⁷ Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. ²⁸ Ascribe to Yahweh, O clans of the nations, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength! ²⁹ Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of his name! Lift up an offering and come before him! Bow down to Yahweh in the splendor of holiness! ³⁰ Tremble before him, all the earth; surely the world shall not be shaken. ³¹ Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, and let them tell the peoples, "Yahweh reigns!" ³² Let the sea roar and its fullness; let the field rejoice and all that is in it. ³³ Then the trees of the forest shall sing for joy before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth. ³⁴ Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; his loyal love is everlasting. ³⁵ Then say, "Save us, O God of our salvation; gather us and rescue us from the nations that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. ³⁶ Blessed be Yahweh the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!"
Then all the people said, "Amen!" and praised Yahweh.

¹² My foot stands on level ground. In assemblies I will bless Yahweh.

³² and let them exalt him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

¹ Praise Yah!* I will give thanks to Yahweh with all my heart, in the assembly of the upright and the congregation.

¹⁹ O house of Israel, bless Yahweh. O house of Aaron, bless Yahweh. ²⁰ O house of Levi, bless Yahweh. You who fear Yahweh, bless Yahweh. ²¹ Blessed be Yahweh from Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise Yah!*

¹⁶ Shall your springs be scattered outward? In the streets, shall there be streams of water?

¹ Hear this, house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel and came out from the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of Yahweh, and _⌊invoke_⌋* the God of Israel, but not in truth and not in righteousness.

³² We are twelve brothers, the sons of our father. One is no more and the youngest is with our father now in the land of Canaan.'

¹⁸ Zebulun is a people who scorned death, and Naphtali, on the heights of the field.

³⁵ And Yahweh defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and the _⌊Israelites_⌋* destroyed on that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men of Benjamin, all of them _⌊sword-wielding_⌋.*

⁶ But the _⌊Israelites_⌋* had compassion for Benjamin, their relatives,* and they said, "Today one tribe is cut off from Israel. ⁷ What will we do for them—for the ones being left over—for wives? For we have sworn by Yahweh not to give to them our daughters as wives." ⁸ They asked, "Which one is there from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to Yahweh at Mizpah?" And behold, no one came from Jabesh-gilead to the camp, to the assembly. ⁹ The people were counted, and no one was there from the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead. ¹⁰ And the congregation sent there twelve thousand men from the troops, and they commanded them, saying, "Go, strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with _⌊the edge of the sword_⌋,* and the women and children. ¹¹ This is the thing you will do: _⌊you will destroy_⌋* every man and _⌊every woman who had sex with a man_⌋."* ¹² And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins* who had not _⌊had sex with a man_⌋,* and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. ¹³ Then the congregation sent and spoke all this to the descendants* of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon, and _⌊they assured them they would not be hurt_⌋.* ¹⁴ And Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave to them the women whom they kept alive from Jabesh-gilead; but they were not enough for them. ¹⁵ And the people felt sorry for Benjamin because _⌊Yahweh weakened the tribes of Israel_⌋.* ¹⁶ So the elders of the congregation said, "What should we do for the remaining ones for wives, since the women from Benjamin have been destroyed?" ¹⁷ And they said, "There must be a remnant for Benjamin, so that a tribe will not be blotted out from Israel. ¹⁸ But we cannot give them wives from our daughters." (For the _⌊Israelites_⌋* swore, saying, "Cursed be anyone who gives a wife to Benjamin.") ¹⁹ And they said, "Look, the annual feast of Yahweh is in Shiloh, which is to the north of Bethel, _⌊east_⌋* of the main road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah. ²⁰ They instructed the descendants* of Benjamin, saying, "Go, lie in ambush in the vineyards, ²¹ and watch and look; when the daughters of Shiloh dance in the dances, come out from the vineyards and seize for yourselves a wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. ²² And if their fathers or their brothers complain to us, we will say to them, 'Allow us to have them, because we did not capture a wife for each man in the battle, and because you did not give them to them, _⌊or else_⌋* you would have been guilty.'" ²³ The descendants* of Benjamin did likewise, and they took wives for each of them from the dancers whom they seized, and they went and returned to their territory, and they rebuilt the cities and they lived in them. ²⁴ So the _⌊Israelites_⌋* dispersed from there at that time according to tribe and family; and they went out from there, each one to their own territory. ²⁵ In those days there was no king in Israel; each one did what was right in his own eyes.

²¹ Saul answered and said, "Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the humblest of all the families of the tribes of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me _⌊in this way_⌋?"*

¹⁶ And some of the sons of Benjamin and from Judah came to the fortress, to David.

²⁹ From the men of Benjamin, kinsmen of Saul, three thousand, and _⌊even still_⌋* the majority of them _⌊remained loyal_⌋* to the house of Saul.

³ And David gathered all Israel to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of Yahweh to its place that he had established for it.

¹² The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjamites. And he was over his working group of twenty-four thousand.

⁹ The princes of the peoples are gathered together with the people of Abraham's God. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is very exalted.

⁷ Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine, and Ephraim is the _⌊helmet for_⌋* my head; Judah is my scepter.*

¹³ And the jealousy of Ephraim shall depart, and the enemies of Judah shall be cut off. Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not be an enemy of Ephraim.

¹⁹ Then speak to them, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Look! I am taking the piece of wood for Joseph that is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel its associates, and I will put them on it, the piece of wood of Judah, and I will make them into one piece of wood, so that they be one in my hand.'" ²⁰ And the pieces of wood on which you wrote will be in your hand before their eyes. ²¹ And speak to them, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Look! I am taking the _⌊Israelites_⌋* from among _⌊the nations to which they went_⌋,* and I will gather them from _⌊everywhere_⌋,* and I will bring them to their own soil. ²² And I will make them into one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel, and _⌊they will all have one king as their king_⌋,* and they* will not again be two nations and will not again divide into two kingdoms again. ²³ And they will not defile themselves again with their idols and with vile idols and with all of their transgressions, and I will save them from all of their apostasy _⌊by which they sinned_⌋,* and I will cleanse them and they will be for me as a people and I, I will be for them as God. ²⁴ " '"And my servant David will be king over them, and one shepherd will be for all of them, and in my regulations they will go, and my statutes they will observe, and they will do them. ²⁵ And they will dwell on the land that I gave to my servant, to Jacob, _⌊in which your ancestors dwelled_⌋,* and they will dwell on it, they and their children and the children of their children _⌊forever_⌋,* and my servant David will be a leader for them _⌊forever_⌋.* ²⁶ And I will make with them a covenant of peace; _⌊an everlasting covenant_⌋* it will be with them. And I will establish them, and I will cause them to increase, and I will put my sanctuary in the midst of them _⌊forever_⌋.* ²⁷ And my tabernacle will be with them, and I will be for them as God, and they will be to me as a nation.

⁸ By day Yahweh commands his loyal love, and in the night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

⁴ You are my king, O God. Command* victories for Jacob.

³ Be for me a rock of refuge to resort to always; you have ordained* to save me, because you are my rock and my fortress.

⁸ Yahweh accomplishes things for my benefit. O Yahweh, your loyal love endures forever; do not abandon the works of your hands.

³¹ But* those who wait for Yahweh shall renew their strength. They shall go up with wings* like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not be faint.

⁸ Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!" ⁹ And immediately the man became well and picked up his mat and began to walk.* (Now it was the Sabbath on that day.)

⁶ But Peter said, "Silver and gold _⌊I do not possess_⌋,* but what I have, this I give to you—in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!"* ⁷ And taking hold of him by the right hand, he raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ And leaping up, he stood and began walking around* and entered into the temple courts* with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

⁹ And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, because the* power is perfected in weakness." Therefore rather I will boast most gladly in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may reside in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (you having been firmly rooted and established in love), ¹⁸ in order that you may be strong enough to grasp together with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to the one who is able to do beyond all measure more than all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work in us,

⁶ convinced of this same thing, that the one who began a good work in you will finish it* until the day of Christ Jesus,

¹¹ for which purpose we also pray always for you, that you may be considered worthy of the calling of our God, and he might fulfill every desire for goodness and work of faith with power,*

¹⁰ Then she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, abundant spices, and precious stones. Spices as these did not come again in such abundance as that which the queen of Sheba brought to King Solomon.

²⁴ All of the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart. ²⁵ They were each bringing his gift; objects of silver and objects of gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. _⌊This used to happen year after year_⌋.*

⁴ "Go and say to David my servant, 'Thus says Yahweh, "You are not to build a house for me to live in, ⁵ for I have not lived in a house from the day that I brought out Israel unto this day. I have been from tent to tent and from tabernacle to tabernacle. ⁶ In every place I have moved about, did I say one word with the judges of Israel I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, 'Why have you not built for me a house of cedar?'" ' ⁷ So now, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says Yahweh of hosts, "I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over my people Israel, ⁸ and I have been with you wherever you went and have cut down your enemies from before you and will make a name for you, like the name of the great ones on the earth. ⁹ And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them,* and they* shall dwell in their* place and be in anguish no longer. And wicked men will no longer wear them down as before, ¹⁰ from the day that I commanded judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue your enemies, and I declare to you that Yahweh will build for you a house.* ¹¹ And it shall be that when your days are fulfilled to go and sleep with your ancestors,* then I will raise up your seed after you, who will be one of your sons, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹² He himself will build for me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

⁷ And David said to Solomon his son, "I myself had in my heart to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, ⁸ but it happened that the word of Yahweh came over me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and have made much war; you shall not build a house for my name because you have shed much blood upon the ground before me. ⁹ Behold, a son shall be born to you; he himself will be a man of rest, and I will give rest to him from all his enemies all around, for his name will be Solomon, and peace and quietness I will give to Israel in his days. ¹⁰ He himself will build a house for my name, and he himself will be to me a son, and I will be to him as a father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.' ¹¹ Now, my son, Yahweh will be with you, that you may succeed and build the house of Yahweh your God as he has spoken concerning you.

¹⁰ Look now, for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it!" ¹¹ Then David gave to Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, its inner chambers, and of the house of the lid of the ark, ¹² and the plan of all _⌊that he had in mind_⌋* for the courtyards of the house of Yahweh and for all the surrounding storage rooms, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for sanctified objects, ¹³ and for the working groups of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Yahweh, and for all the vessels for the service of the house of Yahweh, ¹⁴ and for the gold, according to the weight of the gold for all the vessels of the service, and the service of all the vessels of silver according to the weight of all the vessels _⌊for every kind of service_⌋.* ¹⁵ And the weight of the golden lampstands and the golden lamps, _⌊the weight of each lampstand and each lamp_⌋,* and the silver according to the weight of a lampstand and its lamp, according to the use of _⌊each lampstand_⌋,* ¹⁶ and the weight of gold for the tables of the arranged bread, _⌊each table_⌋,* and silver for the tables of silver, ¹⁷ and pure gold for the three-pronged meat forks, and the bowls and the pitchers, and for the golden bowls, by weight for _⌊each bowl_⌋,* and for the silver bowls, by weight for _⌊each bowl_⌋,* ¹⁸ and for the altar of incense made of refined gold, by weight, and gold for the plan for the chariot—the cherubim with outspread and covering wings over the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. ¹⁹ "All this I give you in writing; from the hand of Yahweh he instructed me about all the workings of this plan." ²⁰ Then David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do this! Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for Yahweh God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you and will not forsake you until all the work of the service of the house of Yahweh is finished. ²¹ And behold, the working groups of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work for all those willing with the skill for every service, and the commanders and all the people for all your commands."

³ And moreover, with respect to my provisions for the house of my God I have a treasure of gold and silver that I have given to the house of my God above all that I have provided for the holy house:

⁵ And the house that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. ⁶ Now who indeed has adequate strength to build a house for him? For the heavens and _⌊the highest heavens_⌋* are not able to contain him. Now who am I that I would build a house for him, except to burn incense before him?

⁸ But Yahweh said to David my father, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart, ⁹ but you yourself will not build the house, but your son who will proceed from your loins; he himself will build the house for my name.'

²³ And many brought tribute to Yahweh, to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the eyes of all the nations thereafter.

³³ And Hezekiah slept with his ancestors,* and they buried him in the upper part of the burial sites of the descendants* of David. And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son became king in his place.

¹³ I issue forth a decree that any of the people of Israel, their priests, or their Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem may go with you. ¹⁴ For you are sent from the king and his seven counselors to enquire about Judah and Jerusalem concerning the law of your God, which is in your hand. ¹⁵ Also, bring the silver and gold that the king and his advisors have freely offered to the God of Israel whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, ¹⁶ and all of the silver and gold that you will find in the whole province of Babylonia, with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests giving willingly for the house of their God in Jerusalem. ¹⁷ With this money, then, with diligence you must buy young bulls, young rams, lambs, and their offerings and libations. You must offer them on the altar that is in the house of your God in Jerusalem. ¹⁸ You may do whatever seems best to you and your brothers to do with the remainder of the silver and gold according to the desire of your God. ¹⁹ And the vessels that were given to you for the service of the house of your God you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem. ²⁰ And the remainder of the needs for the house of your God that falls to you to provide, you may provide from the house of the king's treasury." ²¹ "I, even I, King Artaxerxes, issue forth a decree to all the treasurers who are in the province Beyond the River. Whatever the priest Ezra, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may ask of you, let it be done with diligence, ²² up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred measures of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and _⌊unlimited salt_⌋.* ²³ All that is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done with diligence for the house of the God of heaven, otherwise wrath will come on the kingdom of the king and his sons. ²⁴ You also should be aware that it is not permitted to place tax, tribute, or duty upon all of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, and other servants of the house of God. ²⁵ "You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that you possess, appoint magistrates and judges who can judge all of the people in the province Beyond the River who know the laws of your God. And you will teach those who do not know. ²⁶ All who do not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with diligence, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods and for imprisonment." ²⁷ Blessed be Yahweh the God of our ancestors,* who put this in the heart of the king to glorify the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem ²⁸ and who extended to me loyal love before the king and his counselors, and before all of the mighty officials of the king. I took courage, for the hand of Yahweh my God was upon me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

⁸ Also, a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's land reserve, that he should give me timber for laying the beams for the gates of the citadel of the house and for the walls of the city, and for the house which I will enter." And the king gave permission to me, according to the good hand of God on me.

¹² Even the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift. The rich from among people will seek your _⌊favor_⌋.*

¹⁰ Let the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute. Let the kings of Sheba and Seba present gifts, ¹¹ and let all kings bow down to him. Let all nations serve him.

¹¹ Make vows and fulfill them to Yahweh, your God; let all surrounding him bring tribute to the one to be feared.*

⁷ At that time, a gift* will be brought to Yahweh of hosts
from a _⌊tall_⌋* and _⌊smooth_⌋* people, and from a people feared near and far, a mighty, mighty and trampling nation, whose land the rivers divide, to the place of the name of Yahweh of hosts, the mountain of Zion.

⁶ A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young male camels of Midian and Ephah. All those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and they shall proclaim the praise of Yahweh. ⁷ All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth shall serve you. They shall present a sacrifice for favor on my altar, and I will glorify _⌊my honorable house_⌋.* ⁸ Who are these? They fly like a cloud, and like doves to their coops. ⁹ Because the coastlands wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish are first to bring your children from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of Yahweh your God, and for the holy one of Israel, because he has glorified you. ¹⁰ And _⌊foreigners_⌋* shall build your walls, and their kings shall serve you, for in my anger I struck you, but* in my favor I have taken pity on you. ¹¹ And your gates shall continually be open, day and night they shall not be shut, to bring you the wealth of nations, and their kings shall be led.

¹⁶ And you shall suck the milk of nations, and suck the breast of kings, and you shall know that I am Yahweh your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Strong One of Jacob. ¹⁷ Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver, and instead of wood, bronze, and instead of stones, iron. And I will _⌊appoint_⌋* peace as your overseer, and righteousness as _⌊your ruling body_⌋.*

¹ It happened afterwards that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the hands of the Philistines. ² When he defeated Moab, he measured them with the cord, making them lie on the ground. He measured two cords to kill and _⌊the third cord_⌋* to let live.* So Moab became servants of David, bringing tribute. ³ Then David struck down Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument* at the Euphrates River. ⁴ David captured from him one thousand and seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand _⌊foot soldiers_⌋.* David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but _⌊from them_⌋* he spared a hundred chariot horses. ⁵ When Aram of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, the king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand men of Aram. ⁶ David placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, so Aram became servants of David, bringing tribute. Yahweh protected David everywhere he went. ⁷ David took the small round gold shields which had _⌊belonged_⌋* to the servants of Hadadezer, and he brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ From Betah and from Berothai, the towns of Hadadezer, King David took very many bronze items. ⁹ When Toi, the king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ Toi sent Joram his son to King David _⌊to greet him_⌋* and to congratulate him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him; _⌊for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi_⌋.* _⌊He brought with him_⌋* objects of silver and objects of gold and objects of bronze. ¹¹ King David dedicated them also to Yahweh along with the silver and the gold that he had dedicated from all of the nations which he had subdued; ¹² from Aram and from Moab and from the _⌊Ammonites_⌋* and from the Philistines and from Amalek and from the plunder of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, the king of Zobah. ¹³ So David made a name for himself when he returned from defeating Aram in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand. ¹⁴ He put garrisons in Edom; all over Edom he put garrisons, and all of Edom became servants of David. Yahweh protected David wherever he went. ¹⁵ David reigned over all of Israel, and he* was administering justice and righteousness for all his people. ¹⁶ Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was secretary. ¹⁷ Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests and Seraiah was scribe. ¹⁸ Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were priests.

¹ _⌊Afterwards the king of the Ammonites died_⌋,* and his son Hanun ruled in his place. ² David said, "I will show loyal love with Hanun, the son of Nahash, as his father showed loyal love with me." So David sent to console him concerning his father, by the hand of his servants. And the servants of David came to the land of the _⌊Ammonites_⌋.* ³ But the commanders of the _⌊Ammonites_⌋* said to Hanun their master, "_⌊In your opinion_⌋,* is David honoring your father because he has sent condolences to you? Is it not in order to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it that David sent his servants to you?" ⁴ Then Hanun took the servants of David, and he shaved off half of their beards and cut their garments off in the middle up to their buttocks, then sent them away. ⁵ When they told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Remain in Jericho until your beards have grown, and then you can return." ⁶ When the _⌊Ammonites_⌋* saw that they had become odious to David, the _⌊Ammonites_⌋* sent word and hired Aram Beth-Rehob and Aram-Zobah, twenty thousand infantry; and they also hired the king of Maacah, a thousand men, and the men of Tob, twelve thousand men. ⁷ When David heard, he sent Joab and all the army of mighty warriors. ⁸ The _⌊Ammonites_⌋* came out and _⌊drew up a battle formation_⌋* at the entrance of the gate, but Aram-Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were alone in the open field. ⁹ When Joab saw that _⌊the battle was to be fought on two fronts_⌋,* he chose from all the members of the elite troops of Israel and _⌊lined them up for battle_⌋* to meet Aram. ¹⁰ The rest of the army he placed into the hand of his brother Abishai, who _⌊arranged them in battle lines_⌋* to meet the _⌊Ammonites_⌋.* ¹¹ Then he said, "If Aram is stronger than I am, you must become my deliverer; but if the _⌊Ammonites_⌋* are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. ¹² Be strong, and let us strengthen ourselves for the sake of the people and for the sake of the cities of our God. May Yahweh do what is good in his eyes. ¹³ Joab and all the people who were with him moved forward into the battle against Aram, and they fled from before him. ¹⁴ When the _⌊Ammonites_⌋* saw that Aram had fled, they fled from before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the _⌊Ammonites_⌋* and came to Jerusalem. ¹⁵ When the Arameans saw that they were defeated before Israel, they gathered themselves together. ¹⁶ Then Hadadezer sent and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates, and they came to Helam. Now Shobach, the commander of the army of Hadadezer, _⌊was at their head_⌋.* ¹⁷ David was told, so he gathered all Israel and crossed over the Jordan and came to Helam. Aram _⌊arranged themselves in battle lines_⌋* to meet David, and they fought with him. ¹⁸ And Aram fled before Israel, and David killed from the Arameans seven hundred chariot teams and forty thousand horsemen. He struck down Shobach, the commander of his army, and he died there. ¹⁹ When all the kings, the servants of Hadadezer, saw that he had been defeated before Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them, and Aram was afraid to help the _⌊Ammonites_⌋* any longer.

¹ * And Abijah slept with his ancestors,* and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son became king in his place. In his days the land was at rest ten years. ² Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his God. ³ He removed the foreign altars and high places, broke down the stone pillars, and cut down the Asherahs. ⁴ And he commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their ancestors,* and to keep the law and the commandment. ⁵ And he removed the high places and the incense stands from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom had rest under* him. ⁶ And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land was at rest. Under* him there was no war in those years, for Yahweh had given rest to him. ⁷ And he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and surround them with walls, towers, gates, and bars while the land is before us, because we have sought Yahweh our God. We have sought and he has given rest to us on every side." So they built and had success. ⁸ And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah, bearing shields and spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin who carried shields and drew bows. All of these were mighty warriors of strength. ⁹ Zerah the Cushite came out against them with an army of a thousand thousands and three hundred chariots. And he came to Mareshah. ¹⁰ And Asa went out before him, and a battle was put in order in the valley of Zepah at Mareshah. ¹¹ Then Asa cried out to Yahweh his God. And he said, "O Yahweh, there is none with you to help between the great and the powerless. Help us, O Yahweh our God, for we rely upon you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O Yahweh, you are our God! Let no man prevail against you!" ¹² So Yahweh defeated the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled. ¹³ Then Asa and the army* with him pursued them to Gerar. And many from the Cushites fell, for they had no deliverance, for they were shattered before Yahweh and before his army. And they carried away much war booty. ¹⁴ And they struck all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of Yahweh was upon them. And they plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. ¹⁵ And they also struck the tents of the herdsmen and carried away many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

¹ And it happened that afterward, the _⌊Moabites_⌋,* the _⌊Ammonites_⌋,* and some of the Meunites* came against Jehoshaphat for war. ² And they came and reported it to Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude from beyond the sea, from Aram,* is coming against you. Now behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). ³ Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek Yahweh. And he called for a fast through all Judah. ⁴ And Judah assembled to seek after Yahweh; even from all the cities of Judah they came to seek Yahweh. ⁵ Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of Yahweh before the new courtyard. ⁶ And he said, "O Yahweh, God of our ancestors,* are you not God in heaven? Now you rule in all the kingdoms of the nations, and in your hand are power and might, and there is none who can resist against you. ⁷ O, our God, did you yourself not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it to the descendants* of Abraham your friend forever? ⁸ And they lived in it and built for you a sanctuary for your name in it, saying, ⁹ 'If disaster, a sword, punishment, disease, or famine come upon us, we shall stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you out of our trouble, then you will hear and save us.' ¹⁰ And now, look, the people* of Moab and Ammon and Mount Seir whom you did not allow Israel to come against when they came from Egypt, from whom they turned aside and did not destroy, ¹¹ now behold, they are rewarding us by coming to dispossess us from your possession which you gave us as an inheritance. ¹² O our God, will you not judge them, for there is no power in us before this great multitude that is coming against us. Now we do not know what we shall do, for our eyes are upon you." ¹³ And all Judah was standing before Yahweh, and also their little children, their wives, and their children. ¹⁴ Then the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite from the descendants* of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. ¹⁵ And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat, thus says Yahweh to you: 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed before this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. ¹⁶ Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they are coming up the ascent of Ziz. And you will find them at the end of the valley facing the desert of Jeruel. ¹⁷ There will be no need for you to fight in this battle. Take your stand! Stand and see the deliverance of Yahweh among you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out before them and Yahweh will be with you.'" ¹⁸ Then Jehoshaphat bowed his face* down to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before Yahweh to worship Yahweh. ¹⁹ Then the Levites, from the _⌊Kohathites_⌋* and from the _⌊Korahites_⌋* stood up to praise Yahweh the God of Israel with an exceedingly* loud voice. ²⁰ And they rose up early in the morning and went out to the desert of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in Yahweh your God, and you shall be established! Believe in his prophets, and you shall succeed!" ²¹ And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed singers to Yahweh who were giving praise to the splendor of his holiness when they went out before the army. And they said, "Give thanks to Yahweh, for his loyal love is everlasting!" ²² And _⌊when_⌋* they began with singing and praise, Yahweh set ambushes against the people* of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who were coming against Judah. And they were defeated ²³ when the people* of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to destroy and demolish them. And when the inhabitants of Seir had made an end of them, each helped to destroy his comrade. ²⁴ And Judah came against the watchtower of the wilderness. And they looked at the crowd, and behold, corpses were lying on the ground. There was none who had escaped. ²⁵ When Jehoshaphat came with his people to plunder their booty, they found among them in abundance possessions, corpses, and precious items. And they took plunder for themselves _⌊until they could carry no more_⌋.* And they were three days in plundering the booty, for it was abundant. ²⁶ And on the fourth day, they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, for there they blessed Yahweh. Therefore the name of that place is called the Valley of Berakah up to this day. ²⁷ And all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned, and Jehoshaphat was at their head in returning to Jerusalem with joy, for Yahweh caused them to rejoice over their enemies. ²⁸ And they came to Jerusalem with harps, stringed instruments, and trumpets to the house of Yahweh. ²⁹ And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the earth when they heard that Yahweh had fought against the enemies of Israel. ³⁰ So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at rest, since his God gave rest to him all around. ³¹ So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign. And he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. The name of his mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. ³² And he walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn aside from it, to do what was right in the eyes of Yahweh. ³³ Only the high places were not removed. The people still had not yet set their heart on the God of their ancestors.* ³⁴ Now the rest of the words of Jehoshaphat, from the first to the last, behold, they are written in the chronicles* of Jehu the son of Hanani, which are recorded in the scroll of the kings of Israel. ³⁵ And afterward Jehoshaphat the king of Judah joined with Ahaziah the king of Israel, who acted wickedly. ³⁶ He joined with him to build ships to go to Tarshish. And they built the ships in Ezion Geber. ³⁷ Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because of your joining with Ahaziah, Yahweh will break down your works." And the ships were destroyed and were not able to go to Tarshish.

²¹ Under the lotus tree it lies, in the hiding place of the reeds and in the marsh.

¹² Kiss the Son lest he be angry and you perish on the way, for his anger burns quickly. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

⁴⁴ as soon as _⌊they heard_⌋,* they obeyed me. The children of a foreign land feigned obedience before me.

¹² Many bulls have encircled me; mighty bulls of Bashan have surrounded me. ¹³ They open their mouth against me like a lion tearing and roaring.

⁷ I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.

⁷ And wild oxen shall go down with them, and steers with strong bulls. And their land shall be drenched with* blood, and their soil shall be fattened with* fat.

¹ And this happened: When King Hezekiah heard, he tore his garments, covered himself with sackcloth, and entered the temple* of Yahweh. ² And he sent Eliakim, who was _⌊in charge of_⌋* the palace,* and Shebna the secretary, and the elders of the priests _⌊covered_⌋* with sackcloth to Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet. ³ And they said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah: 'This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for children have come to the cervical opening, and there is no strength to give birth. ⁴ Maybe Yahweh your God heard the words of Rabshakeh whom the king of Assyria, his master, has sent to taunt the living God, and he will rebuke the words that Yahweh your God hears. And you must lift up a prayer for the benefit of the remnant that is found.'" ⁵ When* the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, ⁶ Isaiah said to them, "You must say this to your master: 'Thus says Yahweh: "You must not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. ⁷ Look! I am about to _⌊put_⌋* a spirit in him _⌊so that_⌋* he shall hear a rumor and he shall return to his land, and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his land." '" ⁸ And Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that he had left from Lachish. ⁹ Now* he* heard concerning Tirhakah the king of Cush, saying, "He has set out to fight against* you."
When* he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, ¹⁰ "You shall say this to Hezekiah, king of Judah: 'Do not let your God in whom you trust in him deceive you by saying, "Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria." ¹¹ Look! you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands to destroy them, and you—shall you be delivered? ¹² Did the gods of the nations that my _⌊predecessors_⌋* destroyed deliver them—Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar? ¹³ Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, or* Ivvah?'" ¹⁴ And Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers, and he read* it. Then* he went up to the temple* of Yahweh, and Hezekiah spread it out before the _⌊presence_⌋* of Yahweh. ¹⁵ And Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh, saying, ¹⁶ "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel _⌊who is enthroned on_⌋* the cherubim, you are the one, God by yourself, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you are the one who made the heavens and the earth. ¹⁷ Yahweh, extend your ear and hear! Yahweh, open your eyes and see, and hear all the words of Sennacherib that he has sent to taunt the living God! ¹⁸ Truly, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the lands* and their land, ¹⁹ to _⌊set_⌋* their gods in the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of human hands, wood and stone, and they destroyed them. ²⁰ So* now, Yahweh, our God, save us from his hand so that* all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are Yahweh, you alone!" ²¹ And Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel: 'Because you have prayed to me _⌊concerning_⌋* Sennacherib, king of Assyria, ²² this is the word that Yahweh has spoken concerning him:
She shows contempt for you; she derides you, virgin daughter of Zion; she shakes her head behind you, daughter of Jerusalem. ²³ Whom have you taunted and blasphemed, and against whom have you raised up your voice and lifted your eyes upward?
To the holy one of Israel! ²⁴ By the hand of your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said, "With my many chariots,* I myself have gone up the height of the mountains, to the remote areas of Lebanon. And I cut off _⌊its tall cedars_⌋,* the choicest of its junipers. And I came to the height of its limit, the forest of its orchard.* ²⁵ I myself dug and drank waters, and I caused all the streams of Egypt to dry up by the sole of my feet." ²⁶ Have you not heard from _⌊a long time ago_⌋?* I have made it from days of primeval time, and I formed it. Now I have brought it about, and it is for fortified cities to collapse into heaps of destroyed stones. ²⁷ And their inhabitants are _⌊weak_⌋;* they are dismayed, and they are ashamed; they have become like plants* of the field, and like greens of grass, like grass on* the roofs and a cultivated field _⌊before_⌋* the standing grain. ²⁸ And I know your sitting down and your going out, and your coming in, and your raging _⌊against_⌋* me. ²⁹ Because you were enraged _⌊against_⌋* me, and your noise* has come up to* my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bridle on your lips, and I will turn you back on the way by which you came. ³⁰ And this shall be the sign for you: the eating of volunteer plants* this* year, and in the second year self-seeded plants,* and in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. ³¹ And the remnant of the house of Judah that remain shall _⌊grow_⌋* roots* downwards and make fruit upwards. ³² For a remnant shall go out from Jerusalem and survivors* from mountain Zion.
The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.' ³³ Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning* the king of Assyria:
'He shall not come to this city, and he shall not shoot an arrow there, and he shall not meet it with a shield, and he shall not heap a siege ramp up against her. ³⁴ He shall return by the way that he came, and he shall not come to this city,'
_⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh. ³⁵ 'And I will defend this city, to save it for my sake and for the sake of David, my servant.'" ³⁶ And the angel of Yahweh set out and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When* they rose in the morning, look! All of them were dead corpses. ³⁷ Then* Sennacherib king of Assyria left, went, and returned and lived at Nineveh. ³⁸ And this happened: he was bowing in worship in the house of Nisroch his god, and Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him with the sword. And they themselves escaped to the land of Ararat, and Esar-haddon his son reigned as king in his place.

¹¹ "Though you rejoice, though you exult, O plunderers of my inheritance, though you frisk about like a heifer on the grass, and you neigh like the powerful stallions,

³² And the fords have been seized, and the reed marshes have been burned with fire, and _⌊the soldiers_⌋* are horrified. ³³ For thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel,
"The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trodden down, _⌊just a little while_⌋* and the time of the harvest will come for her."

³ Speak, and you must say, 'thus says the Lord Yahweh:
"Look! I am against you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, the great sea monster, the one lying down in the midst of his Nile streams, who says to me, "It is my Nile, and I made it for myself."*

²² For I joyfully agree with the law of God in my inner person,

¹ From where are conflicts and from where are quarrels among you? Is it not from this, from your pleasures that wage war among your members?

²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all of the assembly of Israel, and he spread out his hands to the heavens,

²⁰ If we had forgotten the name of our God, or had spread out our hands in prayer to a foreign god,

⁸ And may he rule from sea up to sea, and from the River* to the edges of the land. ⁹ Let the desert dwellers bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust.

⁹ My eye languishes from misery. I call on you, O Yahweh, every day; I spread out my hands* to you.

⁶ I stretch out my hands to you; my soul longs for you like a dry land. Selah

¹⁸ On that day, there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the _⌊language_⌋* of Canaan and swear an oath to Yahweh of hosts. One will be called "City of the Sun." ¹⁹ On that day, there will be an altar for Yahweh in in the middle of the land of Egypt, and a stone pillar for Yahweh at her border. ²⁰ And it will be a sign and a witness to Yahweh of hosts in the land of Egypt; when they cry out to Yahweh because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and a _⌊defender_⌋,* and he will deliver them. ²¹ And Yahweh will make himself known to Egypt, and Egypt will know Yahweh on that day, and they will worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows* to Yahweh, and they will fulfill them. ²² And Yahweh will strike Egypt, striking and healing; and they will return to Yahweh, and he will respond to their prayer, and he will heal them. ²³ On that day, there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and Egypt will worship together with Assyria. ²⁴ On that day, Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, ²⁵ whom Yahweh of hosts blessed, saying, "May Egypt my people be blessed, and Assyria, the work of my hands, and my inheritance, Israel."

¹⁴ Thus says Yahweh: "The acquisition of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush and the Sabeans, tall men, shall pass over to you; they shall be yours, and they shall walk behind you. They shall pass over in chains, and they shall bow down to you; they will pray to you: 'Surely God is with you, and there is no other. Besides him there is no God.'"

⁶ A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young male camels of Midian and Ephah. All those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and they shall proclaim the praise of Yahweh. ⁷ All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth shall serve you. They shall present a sacrifice for favor on my altar, and I will glorify _⌊my honorable house_⌋.*

¹⁹ And I will set a sign among them, and I will send survivors from them to the nations: Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow; Tubal and Javan, the faraway coastlands that have not heard of my fame, and have not seen my glory.
And they shall declare my glory among the nations,

¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers and the daughter of my scattered ones shall bring my offering.

²⁷ And he got up and* went, and behold, there was a man, an Ethiopian eunuch (a court official of Candace,* queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury) who had come to worship in Jerusalem ²⁸ and was returning and sitting in his chariot, and reading aloud the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹ And the Spirit said to Philip, "Approach and join this chariot." ³⁰ So Philip ran up to it* and* heard him reading aloud Isaiah the prophet and said, "So then, do you understand what you are reading?" ³¹ And he said, "So how could I, unless someone will guide me?" And he invited Philip to come up and* sit with him. ³² Now the passage of scripture that he was reading aloud was this:
"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. ³³ In his* humiliation justice was taken from him. Who can describe his _⌊descendants_⌋?* For his life was taken away from the earth."* ³⁴ And the eunuch answered and* said to Philip, "I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this—about himself or about someone else?" ³⁵ So Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this scripture, proclaimed the good news to him about Jesus. ³⁶ And as they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"*

³⁸ And he ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water—Philip and the eunuch—and he baptized him. ³⁹ And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer, for he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he* passed through, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

⁴³ Call for songs of joy, O nations, concerning his people,* for the blood of his servants he will avenge, _⌊and he will take reprisals against his foes_⌋,* and he will make atonement for his land, his people."

² that your way may be known on the earth, your salvation among all nations. ³ Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all of the peoples praise you. ⁴ Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, because you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations on the earth. Selah ⁵ Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

¹ A psalm of thanksgiving.*
Shout in triumph to Yahweh, all the earth.

²² when the peoples assemble, together with* kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.

¹ Praise Yahweh, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. ² For his loyal love is mighty on our behalf, and the faithfulness of Yahweh is forever. Praise Yah!*

¹⁰ And again it says,
"Rejoice, Gentiles, with his people."* ¹¹ And again,
"Praise the Lord, all the Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him."*

⁴ Who would never fear, Lord, and glorify your name? For only you are holy, because all the nations* will come and worship before you, because your righteous deeds have been revealed."

¹⁴ Look! For to Yahweh your God _⌊belong_⌋* heaven and the _⌊highest heavens_⌋,* the earth and all that is in it.

²⁷ For will God really dwell on the earth? Behold, the heavens and the heaven of heavens could not contain you! _⌊How could_⌋* this house that I have built?

³ The voice of Yahweh is over the waters; the God of glory thunders. Yahweh is over many waters. ⁴ The voice of Yahweh is powerful. The voice of Yahweh is majestic. ⁵ The voice of Yahweh breaks the cedars. Yahweh shatters even the cedars of Lebanon. ⁶ And he makes them skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. ⁷ The voice of Yahweh flashes* flames of fire. ⁸ The voice of Yahweh shakes the wilderness. Yahweh shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. ⁹ The voice of Yahweh causes deer* to give birth and strips the forests bare. And at his temple all in it say, "Glory!"

⁶ Nations roar, kingdoms shake; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

⁴ Sing to God, sing praises to his name. Lift up a song to the rider on the clouds—his name is Yah—* and rejoice before him.

¹⁷ The clouds poured out water. The skies _⌊thundered_⌋.* Your arrows also _⌊flew about_⌋.* ¹⁸ The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;* lightnings lit the world; the earth shook and quaked.

² Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

²⁵ Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

⁵ And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard _⌊as far as_⌋* the outer courtyard; it was like the voice of God Shaddai* _⌊when he speaks_⌋.*

²⁸ Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have both glorified it,* and I will glorify it* again." ²⁹ Now the crowd that stood there and heard it* said _⌊it had thundered_⌋.* Others were saying, "An angel has spoken to him!"

¹² And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here," and they went up into heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.

¹⁵ And the seventh angel blew the trumpet, and there was a loud voice in heaven saying,
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign _⌊forever and ever_⌋*."

²⁸ Ascribe to Yahweh, O clans of the nations, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength! ²⁹ Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of his name! Lift up an offering and come before him! Bow down to Yahweh in the splendor of holiness!

¹ A psalm of David.*
Ascribe to Yahweh, O sons of God,* ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. ² Ascribe to Yahweh the glory _⌊due_⌋* his name. Worship Yahweh in holy array.

⁶ Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. ⁷ Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of the peoples, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. ⁸ Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.

¹ Praise Yah.* Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament.

¹⁷ For he received honor and glory from God the Father when* a voice such as this was brought to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

⁶ And I heard something like the sound of a great crowd and something like the sound of many waters and something like the sound of powerful thunder, saying,
"Hallelujah! For the Lord God,* the All-Powerful, reigns!

¹ Then Moses and the _⌊Israelites_⌋* sang this song to Yahweh, _⌊and they said_⌋,*
"Let me sing to Yahweh because he is highly exalted; the horse and its rider he hurled into the sea.

²⁵ Your bars are* iron and bronze, and as your days, so is* your strength."

⁵ I said, "O Yahweh God of the heavens, the great and awesome one who keeps the covenant and loyal love for the ones who love him and for those who keep his commands.

¹¹ May Yahweh give strength to his people. May Yahweh bless his people with peace.

⁴ And in your majesty _⌊ride victoriously_⌋,* because of truth and humility and righteousness. And let your right hand teach you awesome deeds.

² For Yahweh Most High is awesome,* a great king over all the earth.

⁵ Come and _⌊consider_⌋* the works of God; he is awesome in his dealings* with the children of humankind.

²⁰ Blessed be God, who has not turned aside my prayer, or his loyal love from me.

¹² He cuts off the spirit of leaders. He is to be feared by the kings of the earth.

²⁹ He gives power to the weary, and he increases power for _⌊the powerless_⌋.*

²¹ Declare and present your case, also let them consult together! Who _⌊made this known_⌋* from _⌊former times_⌋,* declared it from _⌊of old_⌋?* Was it not I, Yahweh? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God besides me, and no savior besides me.

¹² I will make them strong in Yahweh, and in his name they will walk, _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh.

¹⁶ that he may grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,

¹³ I am able to do all things by the one who strengthens me.

¹¹ enabled with all power, according to his glorious might, for all steadfastness and patience with joy,

²⁴ and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and _⌊to the sprinkled blood_⌋* that speaks better than Abel's does. ²⁵ Watch out that you do not refuse the one who is speaking! For if those did not escape when they* refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape,* if we* reject the one who warns from heaven, ²⁶ whose voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, saying,
"Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven."* ²⁷ Now the phrase "yet once more" indicates the removal of what is shaken, namely, things that have been created, in order that the things that are not shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore, since we* are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be thankful, through which let us serve God acceptably, with awe and reverence. ²⁹ For indeed our God is a consuming fire.