Genesis 18 Cross References - NSB

¹ Jehovah appeared again to Abraham by the oak grove of Mamre. He was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. ² He looked up and noticed three men coming toward him. He ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed to the ground. ³ Abraham said: »My Lord, if I have now found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. ⁴ »Please. Let a little water be brought. Wash your feet and rest under the tree. ⁵ »I will bring a bite to eat to refresh you. Stay a while before you continue your journey.« They responded: »Very well, do as you have said.« ⁶ Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said: »Quick! Make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.« ⁷ Then Abraham ran to the herd. He selected a fat calf and told a servant to butcher it and prepare it. ⁸ He took butter and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree as they ate. ⁹ Then they said to him: »Where is Sarah your wife«? He responded: »Here, in the tent.« ¹⁰ He said: »Next year I will give you and Sarah a son.« (Sarah was listening in the tent door behind him.) ¹¹ Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. ¹² Therefore Sarah laughed within herself. She said to herself: »After I have grown old, shall I have a baby? My lord is old also.« ¹³ Jehovah said to Abraham: »Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' ¹⁴ »Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life. Sarah shall have a son!« ¹⁵ Sarah denied saying: »I did not laugh!« She was afraid. He said: »But you did laugh!« ¹⁶ Then the men stood up from their meal and started in the direction of Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them on the way. ¹⁷ Jehovah said: »Shall I hide what I am doing from Abraham? ¹⁸ »Abraham will definitely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him. ¹⁹ »I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household; and that they may remain in the righteous and just way of Jehovah. Jehovah will bring to Abraham what he told him.« ²⁰ Jehovah said: »Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, ²¹ »I will go down now and see whether they have done the bad things I have been told. Then I will know.« ²² The men left there and went toward Sodom. Abraham still stood before Jehovah. ²³ Abraham came near and said: »Will you destroy the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴ »Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city. Would you also destroy the place and not spare it because the righteous people are there? ²⁵ »Surely you would not do that! Would you slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked? Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?« ²⁶ Jehovah said: »If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, I will spare the entire place for their sakes.« ²⁷ Then Abraham answered and said: »Indeed now, I who am only dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to Jehovah: ²⁸ »Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous. Would you destroy the entire city for lack of five?« So He (God) said: »If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.« ²⁹ Abraham spoke again: »Suppose there should be forty found there?« God replied: »I will not do it for the sake of forty.« ³⁰ Abraham then said: »Do not be angry, and let me speak. Suppose thirty should be found there?« God replied: »I will not do it if I find thirty there.« ³¹ Abraham then said: »Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to Jehovah: Suppose twenty should be found there?« God replied: »I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.« ³² Abraham again queried: »Please do not be angry as I speak once more: Suppose ten should be found there?« God said: »I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.« ³³ Jehovah went his way as soon as he finished speaking with Abraham. Abraham returned to his place.

⁷ Jehovah appeared to Abram and said: »I will give this land to your offspring (seed).« He built an altar there to Jehovah, who had appeared to him.

¹⁸ Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron. He built an altar to Jehovah there.

¹³ Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew. He was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. They were Abram’s allies.

¹ The word of Jehovah came to Abram in a vision: »Do not be afraid, Abram; I am your shield. Your reward shall be very great.«

¹ Abram was ninety-nine years old. Jehovah appeared to him and said: »I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless. ² »I will establish my covenant between us. I will greatly increase your numbers.« ³ Abram fell on his face and God said to him:

²² When he finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

² Jehovah appeared to Isaac and said: »Isaac, stay away from Egypt! I will show you where I want you to go.

³ Jacob said to Joseph: »Almighty God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me.

¹ Moses responded: »What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say: ‘Jehovah has not appeared to you.’«

⁷ That night God appeared to Solomon. He said: »What do you want me to I give you?«

² He said: »Men, brothers and fathers, listen; The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran.

¹⁶ Then the men stood up from their meal and started in the direction of Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them on the way.

²² The men left there and went toward Sodom. Abraham still stood before Jehovah.

¹ That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom. Lot was sitting there as they arrived. When he saw them, he got up to greet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed low to the ground.

⁷ Abraham got up and bowed to the people of that region, the Hittites.

²⁴ Then Jacob was by himself. A man was fighting with him till dawn.

³ Jacob went ahead of them. He bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. ⁴ Esau ran to meet him. He threw his arms around him, and kissed him. They both cried. ⁵ Esau looked around and saw the women and the children. He asked: »Who are these people with you?« Jacob answered: »These are the children whom God has been good enough to give me.« ⁶ Then the concubines came up with their children and bowed down. ⁷ Leah and her children came next, and last of all Joseph and Rachel came and bowed down.

²⁶ Joseph came home and they gave him the gifts they had brought. They bowed down to him.

²⁸ They answered: »Your servant our father is still alive and well.« Again they bowed down to Joseph.

¹⁴ When Judah and his brothers got there, Joseph was still at home. So they bowed down to Joseph.

¹³ When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, there stood a man in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua went to him, and said: »Are you on our side or our adversaries?«

³ Jehovah’s angel appeared to her and said: »You have not been able to have children, but you will become pregnant and have a son.

⁶ Then the woman told her husband: »A man of God came to me. He looked as frightening as the angel of God. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name. ⁷ »He told me I would become pregnant and have a son. He told me: ‘Do not drink any wine or beer, or eat any forbidden food. This is because the boy is to be dedicated to God as a Nazirite as long as he lives.’« ⁸ Then Manoah prayed to Jehovah: »Please, Jehovah, let the man of God that you sent come back to teach us what we must do with the boy when he is born.« ⁹ God did what Manoah asked. His angel came back to the woman while she was in the field. Her husband Manoah was not with her, ¹⁰ She ran to tell him, »The man who came to me the other day appeared to me again.« ¹¹ Manoah followed his wife to the man and asked, »Are you the man who talked to my wife?« »Yes,« he answered.

¹⁰ Then she bowed down on her face to the earth, and said to him: »Why have I found favor in your eyes? For you give me attention and I am a foreigner.«

¹⁵ The fifty prophets from Jericho saw him and said: »The power of Elijah is on Elisha!« So they went to meet him and bowed down before him.

¹³ Contribute to the needs of the holy ones and practice hospitality.

² Show hospitality to strangers, for some have entertained angels without knowing it.

⁹ Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

⁵ »I own cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, and slaves. I am sending you word in the hope of gaining your favor.«

² »My lords,« he said, »come to my home to wash your feet, and be my guests for the night. You may get up in the morning as early as you like and be on your way again.« »Oh no,« they said, »We will spend the night out here in the city square.«

³² The man went into the house. Laban unloaded the camels and gave them straw and fodder. Then he brought water for Abraham’s servant and his men to wash their feet.

²⁴ The servant took them into Joseph’s house. He gave them water to wash their feet. He also tended their donkeys.

⁴¹ She bowed down with her face touching the ground. »I am ready to serve,« she said. »I am willing to wash the feet of my master’s servants.«

⁴⁴ Turning to the woman, he said to Simon: »See this woman? I entered into your house and you gave me no water for my feet. She watered my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair.

⁵ Then he poured water into the basin and washed the disciples’ feet. He wiped them with the towel he was wearing. ⁶ When he approached, Simon Peter said: »Lord do you wash my feet?« ⁷ »You do not know what I do now,« Jesus said: »but you will understand later.« ⁸ Peter said: »You will never wash my feet.« Jesus answered him: »If I do not wash you; you have no part with me.« ⁹ Simon Peter replied: »Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.« ¹⁰ Jesus responded: »He that is bathed must wash his feet. He is clean everywhere and you are clean, but not all.« ¹¹ He knew who would betray him. That is why he said you are not all clean. ¹² After he washed their feet he put his outer garments on and sat down. He asked: »Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ »You call me Teacher and Lord and you are right for I am. ¹⁴ »If the Teacher and Lord washed your feet you should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ »I have given you an example. You should also do as I have done to you.

¹⁰ having a good reputation for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the feet of the holy ones, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

⁸ »I have two virgin daughters. Do with them as you wish, but leave these men alone, for they are under my protection.«

¹⁰ Jacob said: »Please accept these gifts as a sign of your friendship for me. When you welcomed me and I saw your face, it was like seeing the face of God.

¹⁸ »Please do not leave until I return and bring you an offering.« Jehovah said: »I will stay until you come back.«

¹⁵ Not knowing that it was Jehovah’s angel, Manoah said: »Please do not go yet. Let us cook a young goat for you.«

⁵ The morning of the fourth day they woke up early and prepared to go. But the woman’s father said to the Levite: Eat first. You will feel better. You can go later.

¹⁵ And wine which makes man's heart glad. That he may make his face shine with oil, and food, which sustains man's heart.

¹ Jehovah of Hosts, the Almighty (Ruler) (Sovereign) is going to take all support and supply of food and water from Jerusalem and Judah.

¹¹ »‘Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:34) (1 Timothy 6:8) (Proverbs 30:8) (Psalm 37:25)

⁸ But the noble man devises noble plans. He stands firm for what is honorable.

³³ He offered another illustration: »The kingdom of heaven is similar to leaven. A woman hid leaven in three measures of meal until it was all leavened.«

³⁸ Along the way he entered a village. A woman named Martha received him into her house. ³⁹ Her sister Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and heard his word. ⁴⁰ Martha was worried about the housework. She approached Jesus and said: »Lord do you not care that my sister does not help me? Tell her to help me.«

¹⁵ When she and her household were baptized she came to us saying, »If you judge me to be faithful to God, come to my house, and stay there.« She absolutely insisted that we come.

¹³ For you brothers, were called for freedom; only do not use your freedom for an occasion to the flesh. Serve one another through love!

³ Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him. He set a great feast before them, complete with fresh unleavened (unfermented) bread.

¹⁵ Not knowing that it was Jehovah’s angel, Manoah said: »Please do not go yet. Let us cook a young goat for you.« ¹⁶ The angel replied: »If I stay I will not eat your food. But if you want to prepare it, burn it as an offering to Jehovah.«

⁴ »You lie on beds of ivory, and stretch on couches. You eat the the best lambs out of the flock and the fattest calves out of the stall.

¹⁴ »The cheater who sacrifices a worthless animal to me will be cursed. For he has in his flock a good animal that he promised to give me! I am a great King,« Jehovah of Hosts declares. »People of all nations will respect my name!«

⁴ »Again he sent out other servants with orders to say to the guests, ‘I have prepared my feast. Oxen and fat livestock are butchered and everything is ready, so come to the feast.’

²³ »‘Get the prize calf and kill it. Let us celebrate with a feast!

²⁷ »Your brother returned home, the servant answered. Your father killed the prize calf because he has returned safely.

³⁰ »This son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes. When he comes home you kill the prize calf for him!

¹⁴ »He ate cheese from cows and drank milk from sheep and goats. He gave them fat (the best from the flock) from lambs, rams from the stock of Bashan, male goats, and the best wheat. He drank the blood-red wine of grapes.

²⁵ »Sisera asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him cream in a beautiful bowl.

⁴⁴ Men were stationed over the houses where the contributions and the first fruits and the tenths were stored. They were to take into them the amounts, from the fields of every town. The law fixed this for the priests and the Levites: Judah was glad on account of the priests and the Levites who were in their places.

³⁷ »Those servants are blessed, for the master will find them alert when he comes. I tell you he will tighten his belt, have them sit down at the table, and he will serve them the meal.

⁸ »No you do not. You say to him get my supper ready. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. After that you may have your meal.

³⁰ When he had sat down with them to eat he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them.

⁴³ He took it and ate it in front of them.

² Jesus ate supper there. He and Lazarus sat at the meal while Martha served.

⁴¹ »However, all the people did not see him. Witnesses who were previously chosen by God saw him. We who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead saw him.

²⁰ »'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and dine with him, and he with me.

⁹ Jehovah asked Cain: »Where is your brother Abel?« »I do not know,« he replied. »Am I my brother’s keeper?«

⁶⁷ Isaac brought Rebecca into the tent that his mother Sarah had lived in. She became his wife. Isaac loved Rebecca. He was comforted for the loss of his mother.

³³ So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent, and into the tents of the two servant-women, but they were not there. He left Leah’s tent and went into Rachel’s.

⁵ to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God will not be (defamed) dishonored.

¹⁰ »I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.«

¹⁶ »I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.«

¹⁹ God replied: »Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son! You will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as a long lasting covenant for his descendants after him.

²¹ »But my covenant I will establish with Isaac. Sarah will bear him to you by this time next year.«

¹³ Jehovah said to Abraham: »Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' ¹⁴ »Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life. Sarah shall have a son!«

² Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age. It was at the very time God had promised him.

¹⁵ The angel of Jehovah called to Abraham from heaven a second time. ¹⁶ He said: »I am taking an oath on my own name, declares Jehovah, that because you have done this and have not refused to give me your son, your only son,

³ Jehovah’s angel appeared to her and said: »You have not been able to have children, but you will become pregnant and have a son. ⁴ »Do not drink any wine or beer, or eat any forbidden food. ⁵ »After your son is born never cut his hair. This is because from the day of his birth he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite. He will begin the work of delivering Israel from the Philistines.«

¹⁶ Elisha said to her: »By this time next year you will hold a son in your arms.« »Please do not lie to me. You are a man of God!« She said. ¹⁷ Just as Elisha said, about that time the following year she gave birth to a son.

¹³ »Have no fear Zechariah,« said the angel, »for God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elisabeth will have a son and his name will be John.

⁸ That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as seed. ⁹ The word of promise: »According to this time I will come and Sarah will have a son.«

²³ How is it that the son by the slave woman is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise?

²⁸ Brothers, we are children who belong to the promise, the same as Isaac was.

¹⁷ Abraham fell to his face. He laughed and said to himself: »Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?«

²⁴ Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised.

³⁵ Rachel said to her father: »Do not be angry, Father, but I cannot get up to greet you. I am having my period.« So even though Laban had made a thorough search, he did not find the idols.

¹⁹ »‘When a woman has her monthly period, she will be unclean for seven days. Those who touch her will be unclean until evening.

⁷ They had no child for Elizabeth was barren and they both were well advanced in years.

¹⁸ Zechariah asked: »How might I be certain of this for my wife and I are old?«

³⁶ »Your relative Elisabeth has also conceived a son even in her old age. This so-called barren woman is in her sixth month.

¹⁸ In hope against hope Abraham believed that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken: »So your descendants will be.« ¹⁹ Not being weak in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ Yet, he looked to the promise of God. He did not waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith. He gave the glory to God! ²¹ He was fully assured that what he had promised, he was able to perform.

¹¹ By faith Sarah received strength to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who promised. ¹² This was to come from one man and him as good as dead. There were born children, as many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as uncountable as the sand by the seashore.

¹⁹ Abraham reasoned that God is able to raise him from the dead. So he figured he would receive him back.

¹³ Jehovah said to Abraham: »Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?'

⁶ Sarah said: »God brought me laughter. Everyone who hears about this will laugh on account of me.« ⁷ She added: »Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.«

² Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with joyful songs. Then the nations said: »Jehovah has done spectacular things for them.«

¹⁸ Zechariah asked: »How might I be certain of this for my wife and I are old?« ¹⁹ The angel answered: »I am Gabriel, whose place is before God. I have been sent to give you this good news. ²⁰ »You will be without voice or language till the day when these things happen. Your lack of faith in what I say has caused this.«

³⁴ Mary asked the angel: »How is this to be for I have had no intercourse with a man?« ³⁵ The angel replied: »Holy Spirit would come to you and the power of the Most High will envelope you. Because of this the newborn will be called the Son of God.«

³³ Each one of you should love his own wife even as himself. The wife should respect her husband.

⁶ Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You are her children now, if you do what is right and are not fearful.

²⁵ He did not need evidence about men for he knew what was in man.

¹⁰ He said: »Next year I will give you and Sarah a son.« (Sarah was listening in the tent door behind him.)

²³ »Is there a limit to my power?« Jehovah answered. »You will soon see whether what I have said will happen or not!«

²¹ »Do not be terrified of them. Jehovah your God is with you. He is great and awesome God.

³ he will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you and gather you from all the nations of the world where he has scattered you.

⁶ Jonathan said to the young man: »Let us cross over to the camp of those heathen Philistines. Maybe Jehovah will help us. If he does, nothing can keep him from giving us the victory no matter how few of us there are.«

¹⁶ Elisha said to her: »By this time next year you will hold a son in your arms.« »Please do not lie to me. You are a man of God!« She said.

¹ Elisha answered: »Hear the word of Jehovah: ‘By this time tomorrow you will be able to buy in Samaria ten pounds of the best wheat or twenty pounds of barley for one piece of silver.’« ² The personal attendant of the king said to Elisha: »If Jehovah could make floodgates in the heavens could this happen?« Elisha replied: »You will see it with your own eyes. But you will not eat from it.«

⁵ »God is mighty, but does not despise men. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

² »I know that you can do all things and no plan of yours can be thwarted.

¹³ Return, O Jehovah! How long? Change your plans about us, your servants.

¹ Jehovah reigns and he is clothed with majesty. Jehovah has girded himself with strength. The world also is established, that it cannot be moved.

³ For Jehovah is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

¹⁷ ‘Ah Lord Jehovah! You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for you.

²⁷ »Behold! I am Jehovah the God of all humanity. Nothing is too hard for me.

¹⁸ Who is a God like you who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? You do not keep your anger forever, because you delight in loving-kindness (unchanging love).

⁶ Jehovah of hosts proclaims: »If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes?« Said Jehovah of Hosts.

⁹ »Do not presume that Abraham is your father. I tell you that God can make descendants for Abraham from these stones!

³¹ Suddenly, Jesus put out his hand and took hold of him, and said: »You of little faith, why were you in doubt?«

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said: »With men this is not possible. All things are possible with God!«

²⁷ Jesus looked at them: »With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.«

³⁷ »When God speaks, these things are possible.«

⁵⁰ When Jesus heard this he said: »Do not fear, only believe and she will be made whole.«

²¹ He was fully assured that what he had promised, he was able to perform.

²⁰ Now to him that is able to do far more abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. ²¹ Christ will, through his power, bring everything under his authority. He will change our humble bodies and make them like his glorified (glorious) body (literally and figuratively: body of his glory). He is able to subject all things to himself.

¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

¹³ »Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and my life will be spared because of you.«

¹⁰ He said to her: »You are talking like a godless fool. We accept the good that God gives us. Should we not also accept the bad?« Through all this Job did not speak sinful words.

²¹ would God not find out, since he knows the secrets in our hearts?

¹⁹ The lip of truth will be established forever. A lying tongue is only for a moment.

¹³ The man who covers his sins will not be blessed; but whoever confesses and leaves them will have mercy.

⁸ Jesus immediately discerned in his spirit that they reasoned within themselves. He asked them: »Why reason these things in your hearts?

¹⁷ The maid that kept the door asked Peter: »Are you also one of this man’s disciples?« He said: »I am not.«

²⁵ Simon Peter stood nearby warming himself. They asked him: »Are you also one of his disciples?« He denied it saying: »I am not.« ²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, being a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said: »Did I see you in the garden with him?« ²⁷ Peter denied it again. Then the cock crowed.

¹⁹ We know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law. Every mouth may be stopped and the entire world may become liable to God for punishment.

²³ You are renewed in the spirit (vital principles) (attitude) of your mind (understanding).

⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you got rid of the old self with its evil practices.

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

³ The congregation sent them on their way. They passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations. They brought great joy to all the brothers.

³⁸ What grieved them most was his statement that they would not see him again. They accompanied him to the ship.

⁵ When the time came we left there and went on our journey. All the disciples, their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city. We knelt down on the beach and prayed, and said goodbye.

²⁴ When I take my journey to Spain, I will come to you. I trust to see you in my journey, and to be escorted on my way by you, after I have been satisfied with your company.

⁶ They testify about your love seen by the congregation. You do well to send them forward on their journey worthily of God.

²⁴ Jehovah made burning sulfur and fire rain out of the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah.

²⁷ but when she came to Elisha, she bowed down before him and took hold of his feet. Gehazi was about to push her away. Elisha said: »Do not bother her. You can see she is deeply distressed. Jehovah has not told me a thing about it.«

⁷ »You are our God. When your people Israel moved into this land, you drove out the people who were living here and gave the land to the descendants of Abraham, your friend, to be theirs from generation to generation.

¹⁴ Jehovah is intimate with those who respect him. He reveals the intent of his covenant to them.

⁷ »The Lord Jehovah will do nothing without revealing his secrets to his servants the prophets.

¹⁵ »I no longer call you servants for the servant does not know what the lord does. I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.

²³ The scripture was fulfilled which says: »Abraham believed Jehovah and it was reckoned (imputed) (considered) (credited) to him for righteousness.« He was called »Jehovah’s friend« (Genesis 15:6) ( Isaiah 41:8).

² »I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing. ³ »I will bless those who bless you. I will curse whoever curses you. All the people on earth will be blessed through you.«

¹⁷ ‘»I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of their enemies’ cities. ¹⁸ ‘»All the nations will ask me to bless them as I have blessed your descendants. This is because you obeyed my command.’«

⁴ »I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. I will give your descendants all of this land. They will be a blessing to every nation on earth.

¹⁷ His name will endure forever. His name will continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and call him blessed.

²⁵ »You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant that God made with our fathers. He said to Abraham: ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed in your seed.’ ²⁶ »God raised up his servant and sent him to you first. He sent him to bless you and to turn every one of you from your wicked ways.«

⁸ The Scripture revealed ahead of time, that God justified the people of the nations by faith. He preached the good news beforehand to Abraham. He said: »In you will all the nations be blessed.«

¹⁴ This way the blessing of Abraham might come upon the nations through Christ Jesus and we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places through Christ.

²³ On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. ²⁴ Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised. ²⁵ His son Ishmael was thirteen. ²⁶ Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that same day. ²⁷ Every male in Abraham’s household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.

⁹ »Be on your guard! Make sure you do not forget, as long as you live, what you have seen with your own eyes. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren. ¹⁰ »Do you remember the day you stood in the presence of Jehovah your God at Mount Sinai (Horeb)? He said to me: ‘assemble the people. I want them to hear what I have to say, so that they will learn to obey me as long as they live. Then they will teach their children to do the same.’

⁶ »These words that I command you this day must be in your heart. ⁷ »Carefully teach them to your sons. Talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way. Speak about them when you lie down, and when you rise up.

¹⁹ »Teach them to your children! Talk about them in your home and away. Speak of them when you lie down or get up. ²⁰ »Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. ²¹ »You and your descendants will live a long time in the land that Jehovah promised your ancestors. Your families will live there as long as the sky is above the earth.

⁴⁶ he said to them: »Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today. Command your sons to observe carefully all the words of this law.

¹⁵ »‘If you are not willing to serve him, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your ancestors worshiped in Mesopotamia or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living. As for my family and me, we will serve Jehovah.’«

³⁰ »Jehovah, the God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father should walk before me all the days of your life.’« Now Jehovah says: »Far be it from me. I will honor those who honor me. I will not regard those who think little of me. ³¹ »‘The days are coming when I will cut off your arm (reduce your strength) and the arm of your father’s house. No old man shall be in your house!

²⁰ »What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah.

⁹ »You my son Solomon, learn to know your father’s God. Serve Jehovah wholeheartedly and willingly because he searches every heart and understands every thought we have. If you dedicate your life to serving him, he will accept you. On the other hand if you abandon him, he will reject you from then on.

⁵ The morning after each feast, Job would get up early to offer sacrifices for each of his children in order to purify them. He always did this because he thought that one of them might have sinned by insulting God unintentionally. ⁶ Jehovah knows (is fully aware of) the way of the righteous. But the way of the wicked will perish.

⁴ Jehovah is in his holy temple. Jehovah’s throne is in heaven. His eyes see. They examine the sons of men.

¹⁵ Jehovah’s eyes watch over righteous people. His ears hear their cry for help.

² I will open my mouth in an illustration. I will utter dark sayings of old, ³ That we have heard and known and our fathers have told us. ⁴ We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, and his strength and his wondrous works that he has done. ⁵ He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel. This he commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, ⁶ That the generation to come might know, the children to be born, that they may arise and tell to their children, ⁷ That they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God but keep his commandments. ⁸ They should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God. ⁹ The sons of Ephraim were archers well equipped with bows. Yet they turned and ran in the day of battle.

²⁰ My son, obey your father's command, and do not abandon the law of your mother: ²¹ Constantly bind them upon your heart, and tie them about your neck. ²² When you go, they will lead you; when you sleep they will watch over you and when you awake, they will talk to you.

⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

¹⁹ »The living, yes the living praise you, as I am doing today! Fathers tell their children about your faithfulness.

² »Of all the families of the earth I have chosen (known) only you. Therefore I will punish you for all your sins.

¹⁴ »I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me.

¹⁷ The third time Jesus said to him: »Simon, son of John, do you have affection for me?« Peter was grieved. Because he said to him the third time, do you have affection for me? Peter replied: »Lord, you know all things; you know I have affection for you!« Jesus said to him: »Feed my sheep.«

²³ »Last night an angel of the God of whom I serve stood beside me. ²⁴ »He said, »Paul, do not be afraid. You must stand before Caessar and God has graciously given you the lives of you and all who sail with you.

³¹ Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers: »Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.«

⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of God.

⁴ one who manages well his own house, having his children in subjection with all seriousness; ⁵ if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the congregation of God?

¹² Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

⁵ I am mindful of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

¹⁹ The foundation of God stands firm having this seal: »Jehovah knows those who belong to him,« and: »Everyone who names the name of Jehovah is to abstain from wickedness.«

¹⁵ From childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to make you wise to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁰ Jehovah said: »What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood (life) cries out to me from the ground.

¹³ The men of Sodom were wicked and sinned greatly against Jehovah.

¹³ »We will destroy the city completely. The stench of the place has reached Jehovah. He has sent us to destroy it.«

⁹ The expression on their faces will be held against them. They boast about their sins! They are like those of the people of Sodom. They do not even bother to hide them. How horrible it will be for these people. They have brought disaster on themselves.

⁷ I am Jehovah of Hosts (All Powerful)! Israel is the vineyard, and Judah is the garden I tended with care. I had hoped for honesty and for justice, but dishonesty and cries for mercy were all I found.

⁷ Do something, Jehovah, for the sake of your name, even though our iniquities testify against us. We have been unfaithful (like apostates) and have sinned against you.

⁴⁹ ‘»This was the guilt of your sister Sodom. She and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. ⁵⁰ ‘»They were arrogant and did disgusting things in front of me. So I did away with them when I saw this.

⁴ Behold, the wages of the laborers who harvested your fields, which are held back by you, cry out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of Jehovah of Hosts.

⁵ But Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building.

⁷ »Let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.«

⁸ »I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians. I will bring my people out of Egypt into a country where there is good land, rich with milk and honey. I will give them the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.

⁵ Jehovah said to Moses: »Tell the Israelites: You are impossible to deal with. If I were with you, I might destroy you at any time. Take off your jewelry and I will decide what to do with you.«

² »Remember the forty years Jehovah your God led you in the wilderness. He did this in order to humble you and test you. He wanted to know what was in your heart. Whether you would obey his commandments.

³ do not listen to them. Jehovah your God is allowing them to test you. He will then know that you love Jehovah with all your heart.

²² »The Mighty, Divine One is God of Gods! He is Jehovah! The Mighty, Divine One is God of Gods! He is Jehovah! He knows why we did this, and we want you to know too! If we rebelled and did not keep faith with Jehovah, do not allow us to live any longer!

²² There is no darkness or deep shadow where troublemakers can hide.

⁸ You set our sins in front of you. You put our secret sins in the light of your presence.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) O Jehovah, you have searched me and you know me. ² You know when I sit down and when I rise up. You understand my thought from afar. ³ You inspect my path and my lying down. You are intimately acquainted with my ways. ⁴ Even before I speak words from my tongue, behold, O Jehovah, You know it all. ⁵ You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me. ⁶ Knowing this is too wonderful for me! It is too high, I cannot attain to it. ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I ascend to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in the grave, behold, you are there. ⁹ If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, ¹⁰ Even there your hand will lead me. Your right hand will lay hold of me. ¹¹ If I say: »Certainly the darkness will overwhelm me!« Then the light around me will be night. ¹² Even the darkness is not dark to you. And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to you. ¹³ For you formed my inward parts. You wove me in my mother's womb. ¹⁴ I will praise you, for in an awesome way I am wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful and I know this very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my embryo and all were written in your book; the days ordained for me. Even this before one had taken place. ¹⁷ How precious are your thoughts to me, O God! How numerous is the sum of them! ¹⁸ If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with you. ¹⁹ If you would destroy the wicked, O God, depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. ²⁰ For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain. ²¹ Do I not hate those who hate You, O Jehovah? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? ²² I hate them with the utmost hatred! They have become my enemies. ²³ Examine me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious (troubled) (painful) (disturbing) thoughts. ²⁴ See if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

¹ Jehovah says: Judah's sin is written with an iron pen. It is engraved with a diamond point on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns (strength) (authority) of their altars.

¹⁰ »I, Jehovah, search the heart and examine the mind (inner man). I give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.

³ »For, behold, Jehovah comes out of his place! He comes down and treads upon the high places of the earth.

¹² »At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps. I will punish the men that are satisfied with their wayward lifestyle. They say in their heart, ‘Jehovah will not do good and he will not do evil.’

¹⁵ Jesus said: »You make yourselves look righteous to other people. God knows your hearts. The things considered of great value by people are worth nothing in God’s sight.

³⁸ »I do not do my own will. I came down from heaven to do the will of him that sent me.

¹¹ Why? Is it because I do not love you? God knows I do!

¹⁶ For the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ will rise first.

¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. All things are uncovered and laid bare before him. We must account to him. (Romans 2:16; 14:12)

¹ Jehovah appeared again to Abraham by the oak grove of Mamre. He was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. ² He looked up and noticed three men coming toward him. He ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed to the ground.

²³ God said he was going to destroy them, but Moses, his chosen one, stood in his way to prevent him from exterminating them.

¹ Jehovah said to me: »I would not feel sorry for these people, even if Moses and Samuel were standing in front of me. Send them away from my presence, and let them go.

²⁰ Should good be repaid with evil? For they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before you to speak good on their behalf. I tried to turn away your wrath from them.

³⁰ ‘»I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.

⁵⁵ Being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

¹ I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

²⁵ »Surely you would not do that! Would you slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked? Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?«

⁴ Abimelech had not come near her. He said: »Lord, I am innocent! Would you destroy my people and me?

²² Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground and said: »O God, you are the God who gives the breath of life to everyone! If one man sins, will you be angry with the entire congregation?«

¹⁷ David saw the angel who had been killing the people. He said to Jehovah: »I have sinned. I have done wrong. What have these sheep done? Please let your punishment be against me and against my father’s family.«

³ »Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

¹⁷ »Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous Mighty One?

⁴ Jehovah is in his holy temple. Jehovah’s throne is in heaven. His eyes see. They examine the sons of men. ⁵ Jehovah tests (examines) righteous and wicked people alike. He hates wicked people and the ones who love violence. ⁶ He rains down fire and burning sulfur upon wicked people. He makes them drink from a cup filled with scorching wind. ⁷ Jehovah is righteous. He loves a righteous way of life. Upright people will see his face (contemplate his presence).

²⁸ It is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in Jehovah God, that I may declare all your works.

²¹ »Their leader will be someone from their own people. Their ruler will come from among them. I will bring him near, and he will come close to me. Who would dare to come near me?« Declares Jehovah.

⁵ If our unrighteousness defines God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? God is not unrighteous when he vents his anger is he? I speak in human terms. ⁶ Not at all! For how will God judge the world?

²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

¹⁷ Elijah was a man of like passions with us. He prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.

³² Abraham again queried: »Please do not be angry as I speak once more: Suppose ten should be found there?« God said: »I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.«

⁹ If Jehovah of Hosts had not left us a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.

¹ People of Jerusalem, run through your streets! Look around and see for yourselves! Search the marketplaces! Can you find one person who does what is right and tries to be faithful to God? If you can, Jehovah will forgive Jerusalem.

¹³ »Enter through the narrow gate, since the gate to destruction is wide and the road that leads to destruction is wide and many enter through it. ¹⁴ »Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way to life. Only a few put forth the effort. Yes, only a few people enter the narrow gate.

²⁴ »He said, »Paul, do not be afraid. You must stand before Caessar and God has graciously given you the lives of you and all who sail with you.

⁴ »He is the Rock! His work is perfect. For all His ways are just. He is a God of faithfulness and without evil. He is just and upright.

²⁰ »Certainly God does not reject a blameless man or strengthen the hands of evildoers.

²² »It is all one thing. Therefore I say: God destroys the blameless and the wicked. ²³ »If the scourge slays suddenly, God laughs at the plight of the innocent.

¹⁷ »Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous Mighty One? ¹⁸ »Should anyone even say to a king: You good-for-nothing scoundrel! Or to nobles, you wicked people! ¹⁹ »The one who is righteous and mighty does not grant special favors to princes or prefer important people to poor people because his hands made them all.

¹¹ Men will say: Truly there is a reward for the righteous. Truly there is a God who judges the earth.

² Rise up, O Judge of the earth, Render recompense to the proud.

⁹ This is in Jehovah’s presence because he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and its people with fairness.

¹⁵ I have seen all things in the days of my vanity. There is a just man who perished in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolonged his life in his wickedness.

¹² Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and he lives a long life, yet I know that it will be well with those who respect (reverence) God and worship him. ¹³ Things will not go well with the wicked. He will not prolong his days. His days are like a shadow. He does not respect God.

¹⁰ Tell the righteous that blessings will come to them. They will taste the fruit of their labor. ¹¹ How horrible it will be for the wicked! Disaster will strike them. What they have done to others will be done to them.

¹ The righteous perishes and no man takes it to heart. Merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. ² He will enter into peace. The honorable and honest will rest in his bed.

¹ Jehovah, if I argued my case with you, you would prove to be right. Indeed, I must question you about matters of justice. Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why do dishonest people succeed with impunity?

¹⁸ »Once again my people will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between the person who serves God and the one who does not.«

²² »The Father does not judge any man for he has given all judgment to the Son. ²³ »All may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father that sent him. ²⁴ »Truly, Truly I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes him that sent me, has everlasting life. He will not receive judgment for he has passed out of death into life. ²⁵ »Truly I tell you, the hour is coming when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear (listen) (understand) will live. ²⁶ »The Son has life in himself just as the Father has life in himself. For the Father gave him life. ²⁷ »And he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man.

¹⁰ We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether it is good or bad.

¹³ »Even if one out of ten people are left it will be destroyed (burned) again. When a strong tree or an oak is cut down, a stump is left. The holy seed is the stump.«

²² Your people, O Israel, are like the sand of the sea. Yet only a remnant within them will return. Overwhelming and righteous destruction has been decreed.

²⁴ In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth.

⁸ Jehovah says: »As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and men say, ‘Do not destroy it, there is yet some good in it,’ so will I do in behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all.

²² »Unless those days are shortened, no flesh will be saved. For the sake of the chosen ones (selected individuals), those days will be shortened.

⁷ Jehovah God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. The man became a living being.

¹⁹ »You will eat your food by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground. You came from the ground. For dust you are and to dust you will return.«

³⁰ Abraham then said: »Do not be angry, and let me speak. Suppose thirty should be found there?« God replied: »I will not do it if I find thirty there.« ³¹ Abraham then said: »Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to Jehovah: Suppose twenty should be found there?« God replied: »I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.« ³² Abraham again queried: »Please do not be angry as I speak once more: Suppose ten should be found there?« God said: »I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.«

⁶ I said, »O my God, shame keeps me from lifting up my face (praying) to you (being in your presence), my God: for our sins have increased higher than our heads and our evil-doing has come up to heaven.

¹⁹ »How much more will he accuse those who live in clay houses that have their foundation in the dust? Those houses can be crushed quicker than a moth!

¹⁹ »God has cast me into the mire. I have become like dust and ashes.

⁶ »Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.« ⁷ »I am angry with you and your two friends, because you did not speak correctly about me, as my servant Job has. ⁸ »So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You did not speak correctly about me, as my servant Job has.«

⁴ what is man that you remember him or the son of man that you take care of him?

³ Jehovah, what is man, that you notice him or the son of man, that you regard him!

⁷ Then the dust will return to the earth as it was. The spirit (life) will return to God who gave it.

⁵ »Woe to me!« I cried. »I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips (a sinner) and I live among a people of unclean (filthy) lips (speech) (language). My eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of Hosts.«

⁸ But now, Jehovah, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are our potter. We are the work of your hands.

⁸ When Simon Peter saw this he fell down at Jesus’ knees. He said: »Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord.«

¹ He spoke an illustration to them emphasizing the need to pray and not become tired:

⁴⁷ The first man is from the earth, earthy: the second man is from heaven. ⁴⁸ As is the earthy so are those who are of the earth. And as is the heavenly, so are those who are of heaven.

¹ We know that if our earthly house (human body) (habitation of life) is destroyed; we have a building from God. It is an everlasting house in the heavens, not made with human hands. ² In this we sigh (in silent prayer), longing to be clothed with our habitation that is from heaven.

²⁶ Jehovah said: »If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, I will spare the entire place for their sakes.«

²⁹ Abraham spoke again: »Suppose there should be forty found there?« God replied: »I will not do it for the sake of forty.«

¹⁷ »Jehovah, let your power be as great as when you said, ¹⁸ »Jehovah is patient, forever loving; He forgives wrongdoing and disobedience. He never lets the guilty go unpunished. In fact he punishes children for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation. ¹⁹ »By your great love, please forgive these people’s sins, as you have forgiven them from the time they left Egypt until now.«

³² So they put on haircloth, and cords on their heads, and went to the king of Israel and said: »Your servant Benhadad says: ‘Let me now keep my life.’« And he said: »Is he still living? He is my brother.« ³³ Now the men took it as a sign, and were quick to pick up on his word. They said: »Benhadad is your brother.« Then he said: »Go and get him.« So Ben-hadad came out to him and he made him get up into his carriage.

³ »Oh that I knew where I might find him that I might come to his seat! ⁴ »I would present my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

¹⁸ With prayer and supplication pray at all times in the Spirit. Watch with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones.

¹⁶ Let us approach the throne of grace (loving-kindness) with confidence, that we may receive mercy, and find grace for help in time of need.

¹⁸ Judah went up to Joseph and said: »Please, Sir, let me speak openly with you. Do not be angry with me, although you are equal to Pharaoh.

³⁹ Then Gideon said to God: »Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet.«

¹¹ »It is common knowledge among all the king's servants and the people of every part of the kingdom, that if anyone, man or woman, comes to the king in his inner room without being sent for, there is only one law for him, that he is to be put to death. Only those to whom the king's rod of gold is stretched out may keep their lives. I have not been sent for to come before the king in the past thirty days.« ¹² They conveyed this message to Mordecai. ¹³ Mordecai sent this answer back to Esther: »Do not have the idea that you in the king's house will be safe from the fate of all the Jews. ¹⁴ »If at this time you say nothing. Then help and salvation will come to the Jews from some other place. But you and your father's family will come to destruction. Who is to say that you have not come to the kingdom even for such a time as this?« ¹⁵ Esther sent them back to Mordecai with this answer: ¹⁶ »Go assemble all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me. Take no food or drink night or day for three days. My women and I will do the same. Then I will go in to the king even though it is against the law. If death is to be my fate, then let it come.«

⁴ »I am so insignificant. How can I answer you? I will put my hand over my mouth.

¹² God remembers those who suffer. He does not forget their cry, and he punishes those who wrong them.

¹⁷ You have heard the desire of humble people, O Jehovah. You encourage them. You incline your ear (pay close attention) to them.

⁷ He is a God greatly reverenced in the council of the holy ones. He is awesome above all those who are around Him?

⁸ »My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,« declares Jehovah. ⁹ »As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

²⁸ Let us be thankful, because we will receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let us be grateful and worship (serve) (intensely adore) God in a way that will please him, with reverence and awe. ²⁹ Our God is a destroying (consuming) fire.

²⁷ Then Abraham answered and said: »Indeed now, I who am only dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to Jehovah:

⁷ »Ask and it will be given you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened for you.

¹¹ »Even though you are a sinner, you know how to give good gifts to your children. Think how much more your Father in heaven gives good things to those who ask him!

⁸ »I tell you even if he will not rise and give you what you need because he is your friend, he will arise and give you what you need because you keep asking.

²⁰ by a new and living way, which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, ²¹ having a high priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

³⁰ Abraham then said: »Do not be angry, and let me speak. Suppose thirty should be found there?« God replied: »I will not do it if I find thirty there.«

⁹ Jehovah added: »I have seen these people. They have an iron sinew (stiff necked people) (are impossible to deal with). ¹⁰ »Now let me alone. Let my anger burn against them. I am so angry with them I am going to destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.«

¹⁴ So Jehovah changed his mind and did not bring disaster on his people as he threatened.

¹³ If you are, tell me your plans, so that I may serve you and continue to please you. Remember also that you have chosen this nation to be your own.« ¹⁴ Jehovah replied: »I will go with you and give you peace.«

⁶ Jehovah then passed in front of him and called out: »I, Jehovah, am a God who is full of compassion and pity. I am not easily angered and show great love and faithfulness. ⁷ »I keep my promise for thousands of generations and forgive evil and sin. But I will not fail to punish children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for the sins of their fathers.«

⁹ He prayed: »Jehovah, if you really are pleased with me, I pray that you will go with us. It is true that these people are sinful and rebellious. However, please forgive our sin and let us be your people.« ¹⁰ Jehovah said: »Behold! I offer a covenant (promise) to perform signs and miracles for you that have never been done in all the earth. Neighboring nations will stand in fear and know that I was the one who did these marvelous things.

¹¹ Jehovah said to Moses: »How much longer will these people reject me? How much longer will they refuse to trust in me, even though I have performed many miracles among them? ¹² »I will send an epidemic and destroy them. I will make you the father of a nation that is larger and more powerful than they are!« ¹³ Moses said to Jehovah: »You brought these people out of Egypt by your power. When the Egyptians hear what you have done to your people, ¹⁴ they will tell it to the people who live in this land. These people have already heard that you, Jehovah, are with us, that you appear in plain sight when your cloud stops over us, and that you go before us in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. ¹⁵ »But if you kill all these people at the same time the nations who have heard these reports about you will say, ¹⁶ »Jehovah was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them, so he slaughtered them in the desert. ¹⁷ »Jehovah, let your power be as great as when you said, ¹⁸ »Jehovah is patient, forever loving; He forgives wrongdoing and disobedience. He never lets the guilty go unpunished. In fact he punishes children for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation. ¹⁹ »By your great love, please forgive these people’s sins, as you have forgiven them from the time they left Egypt until now.« ²⁰ Jehovah said: »I forgive them, as you have asked.

²³ »Yet if there is an angel on his side as a mediator, one out of a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,

⁵ You, O Jehovah, are good and forgiving, full of loving kindness toward everyone who calls out to you.

⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah! The prayer of the upright is his delight.

⁶ »I, Jehovah, have called you and have given you power to see that justice is done on earth. I will make a covenant with all peoples and bring light (truth) (light of instruction) (Psalm 27:1) to the nations through you. ⁷ »You will open the eyes of the blind and set free those who sit in dark prisons.

¹⁵ The prayer of faith will save the sick person. God will raise him up; and if he committed sins, it will be forgiven him. ¹⁶ Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man helps much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man of like passions with us. He prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.

¹⁵ If we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions (requests) that we have asked of him. ¹⁶ If any man see his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he will ask, and God will give him life for them that sin not leading to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I do not say that he should make request concerning this.

⁵⁵ Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban left and went back home.

²⁶ He said to him: »Let me go now, for the dawn is near.« But Jacob said: »I will not let you go till you have given me your blessing.«