# verses

text:
And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see in that day, when you shall go from chamber to chamber to hide yourself.”


text:
And the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the captain, the king's son;


text:
and you shall say, ‘Thus said the king: “Put this fellow into the prison house, and let him eat the bread of affliction, and <i>drink </i>the water of affliction, until I return in peace.”’”


text:
And Micaiah said, “If you do at all return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you people.”


text:
<n>Ahab Dies in Battle</n> So the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, went up to Ramoth Gilead.


text:
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Disguise me, and I will enter into the battle; but you put on my robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and entered into the battle.


text:
Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, “Fight against neither small nor great, but only against the king of Israel.”


text:
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, “It is the king of Israel.” And they compassed him round about to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord delivered him; and God turned them away from him.


text:
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned away from him.


text:
And a man drew a bow with a good aim, and struck the king of Israel between the lungs and the breastplate. And <i>Ahab</i> said to the charioteer, “Turn your hand, drive me out of the battle, for I am wounded.”


text:
And the battle turned in that day; and the king of Israel remained on the chariot against Syria until evening, and he died at sunset.


text:
And Jehu the prophet, the son of Hanani went out to meet him, and said to him, “King Jehoshaphat, do you help a sinner, or act friendly towards one hated of the Lord? Therefore wrath has come upon you from the Lord.


text:
Nevertheless <i>some </i>good things have been found in you, forasmuch as you did remove the groves from the land of Judah, and you directed your heart to seek after the Lord.”


text:
<n>The Reforms of Jehoshaphat</n> And Jehoshaphat dwelt in Jerusalem. And he again went out among the people from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim, and turned them back to the Lord God of their fathers.


text:
And he said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man, but for the Lord, and with you are matters of judgment.


text:
And now let the fear of the Lord be upon you, and be wary, and do <i>your duty</i>; for there is no unrighteousness with the Lord our God, neither <i>is it for Him </i>to be a respector of persons, or to take bribes.”


text:
Moreover Jehoshaphat appointed in Jerusalem some of the priests and Levites, and heads of houses of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and to judge the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


text:
And he commanded them, saying, “Thus shall you do in the fear of the Lord, in truth and with a perfect heart.


text:
Whatsoever man of your brothers that dwell in their cities <i>shall bring </i>the cause that comes before you, between blood <i>and </i>blood, and between precept and commandment, and ordinances and judgments, you shall even decide for them; so they shall not sin against the Lord, and there shall not be wrath upon you, and upon your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you shall not sin.


text:
And behold, Amariah the priest is head over you in every matter of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael is head over the house of Judah in every matter of the king; and the scribes and Levites are before you: be strong and active, and the Lord shall be with the upright.”


text:
<n>Invasion from the East</n> And it came about after this, <i>that</i> the children of Moab and the children of Ammon, and with them <i>some </i>of the Mineans, came up against Jehoshaphat to battle.


text:
And they came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from Syria, from beyond the sea; and behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar, which is En Gedi.”


text:
And Jehoshaphat was alarmed, and set his face to seek the Lord earnestly, and he proclaimed a fast in all Judah.


text:
And Judah gathered themselves together to seek after the Lord; even from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.


text:
<n>Jehoshaphat’s Prayer and Victory</n> And Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah in Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, in front of the new court.


text:
And he said, “O Lord God of my fathers, are You not God in heaven above, and are You not Lord of all the kingdoms of the nations? And <i>is there </i>not in Your hand the might of dominion, and there is no one who can resist You?


text:
Are You not the Lord that destroyed the inhabitants of this land before the face of Your people Israel, and gave it to Your beloved descendants of Abraham forever?


text:
‘If there should come upon us evils, sword, judgment, pestilence, <i>or </i>famine, we will stand before this house, and before You, (for Your name <i>is </i>upon this house) and we will cry to You because of the affliction, and You shall hear, and deliver.’


text:
And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, with regard to whom You did not permit Israel to pass through their border, when they had come out of the land of Egypt, (for they turned away from them, and did not destroy them)–


text:
yet now, behold, they make attempts against us, to come forth to cast us out from our inheritance which You have given to us.


text:
O Lord our God, will You not judge them? For we have no strength to resist this great multitude that has come against us; and we do not know what we shall do to them, but our eyes are toward You.”


text:
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the <i>son </i>of Zechariah, of the sons of Benaiah, of the sons of Jeiel, of the sons of Matthaniah the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, in the assembly.


text:
And he said, “Hear, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat; Thus says the Lord to you, even you: ‘Do not fear, neither be alarmed, before all this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.


text:
Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you shall find them at the extremity of the river of the Wilderness of Jeruel.


text:
It is not for you to fight. Understand these things, and see the deliverance of the Lord with you, Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, neither be afraid to go forth tomorrow to meet them; and the Lord shall be with you.’”


text:
And Jehoshaphat bowed with his face <i>to the ground </i>with all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, <i>and </i>they fell before the Lord, to worship the Lord.


text:
And the Levites of the children of Kohath, and <i>those </i>of the sons of Korah, rose up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.


text:
And they rose early in the morning and went out to the Wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and cried, and said, “Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem; put your trust in the Lord God, and your trust shall be honored; trust in His prophet, and you shall prosper.”


text:
And he took counsel with the people, and set appointed men to sing psalms and praises, to give thanks, and sing the holy songs of praise in going forth before the army. And they said, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy <i>endures </i>forever.”


text:
And when they began the praise and thanksgiving, the Lord caused the children of Ammon to fight against Moab, and <i>the inhabitants of </i>Mount Seir that came out against Judah; and they were defeated.


text:
Then the children of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, to destroy and consume them. And when they had made an end of <i>destroying </i>the inhabitants of Seir, they rose up against one another so that they were utterly destroyed.


text:
And Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, and looked, and saw the multitude, and behold, <i>they were </i>all fallen dead upon the earth; not one escaped.


text:
And Jehoshaphat and his people went out to plunder them, and they found much cattle, and furniture, and spoils, and precious things. And they plundered them, and they were three days gathering the spoil, for it was abundant.


text:
And it came to pass on the fourth day they were gathered to the Valley of Blessing; for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore they called the name of the place the Valley of Blessing, until this day.


text:
And all the men of Judah returned to Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat led them with great joy; for the Lord gave them joy over their enemies.


text:
And they entered into Jerusalem with lutes and harps and trumpets, <i>going </i>into the house of the lord.


text:
And the terror of the Lord was upon all the kingdoms of the land, when they heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel.


text:
And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah, being thirty-five years <i>old </i>when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi.


text:
And he walked in the ways of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord.


text:
Nevertheless the high places still remained; and as yet the people did not direct their heart to the Lord God of their fathers.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, the first and the last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu <i>the son </i>of Hanani, who <RF q=6>6 &#61547;&#61537;&#61556;&#61541;&#61543;&#61554;&#61537;&#61561;&#61541;&#61550;,Gk. 3rd person singular. LXX credits Jehu with writing the Book of Kings.</n>wrote the book of the kings of Israel.


text:
And afterwards Jehoshaphat king of Judah entered into an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, (now this was an unrighteous man)


text:
by acting <i>with </i>and going to him, to build ships to go to Tarshish. And he built ships in Ezion Geber.


text:
But Eliezer the <i>son </i>of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has broken your work, and your vessels have been wrecked.” And they could not go to Tarshish.


text:
<n>Jehoram Reigns in Judah</n> And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David; and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.


text:
And he had brothers, the six sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these <i>were </i>the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.


text:
And their father gave them many gifts, silver and gold and arms, together with fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, for he <i>was </i>the firstborn.


text:
And Jehoram entered upon his kingdom, and strengthened himself, and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also <i>others </i>of the princes of Israel.


text:
Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he succeeded to his kingdom, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.


text:
And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab; for one of Ahab’s daughters was his wife; and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.


text:
Nevertheless the Lord would not utterly destroy the house of David, because of the covenant which He made with David, and as He said to him that He would give a light to him and his sons forever.


text:
And Jehoram went with the princes, and all the cavalry with him. And it came to pass that he arose by night, and attacked Edom that compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots, and the people fled to their tents.


text:
And Edom revolted from Judah until this day. Then Libnah at that time revolted from <i>under </i>his hand, because he forsook the Lord God of his fathers.


text:
For he built high places in the cities of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit harlotry, and led Judah astray.


text:
And there came to him <i>a message </i>in writing from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Thus says the Lord God of your father David: ‘Because you have not walked in the way of your father Jehoshaphat, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,


text:
but have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and have caused Judah and its inhabitants in Jerusalem to play the harlot, as the house of Ahab caused <i>Israel </i>to play the harlot, and you have slain your brothers, the sons of your father, who were better than yourself.


text:
Behold, the Lord shall strike you with a great plague among your people, and your sons, and your wives, and all your possessions;


text:
and you <i>shall be afflicted </i>with a grievous disease, with a disease of the bowels, until your bowels have fallen out, day by day, because of the sickness.’”


text:
So the Lord stirred up the Philistines against Jehoram, and the Arabians, and those who bordered on the Ethiopians;


text:
and they went up against Judah, and prevailed against them, and took away all the possessions which they found in the house of the king, and his sons, and his daughters; and there was no son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.


text:
And it continued from day to day. And after two years had passed by, his bowels fell out from the disease, and he died in great agony. And his people performed no funeral, like the funeral of his fathers.


text:
He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he departed without honor, and was buried in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.


text:
<n>Ahaziah Reigns in Judah</n> And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Jehoahaz his youngest son king in his place, for the band of robbers that came against them, even the Arabians and the Alimazonians, had slain all the elder ones. So Jehoahaz son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.


text:
Jehoahaz began to reign when he was twenty years old, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.


text:
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord as the house of Ahab <i>had done</i>; for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.


text:
And he walked in their counsels, and he went with Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria to Ramoth Gilead. And the archers struck Joram.


text:
And Joram returned to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds in which the Syrians struck him with in Ramoth, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel because he was sick.


text:
And destruction from God came upon Ahaziah in <i>his </i>coming to Jehoram; for when he had come, Jehoram went out with him against Jehu the son of Nimshi, the anointed of the Lord against the house of Ahab.


text:
And it came to pass, when Jehu was taking vengeance on the house of Ahab, that he found the princes of Judah and the brothers of Ahaziah, ministering to Ahaziah, and he killed them.


text:
And he gave orders to search for Ahaziah. And they took him while he was healing his wounds in Samaria, and they brought him to Jehu, and he killed him. And they buried him, for they said, “He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.” So there was none in the house of Ahaziah to secure their power in the kingdom.


text:
<n>Athaliah Seizes the Throne</n> And Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, and she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs in the house of Judah.


text:
But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and rescued him secretly out of the midst of the sons of the king that were put to death, and she placed him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath daughter of King Jehoram, sister of Ahaziah, wife of Jehoida the priest, hid him, and she <i>even </i>hid him from Athaliah, and she did not slay him.


text:
And in the eighth year Jehoiada strengthened <i>himself</i>, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jehoram, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zechariah, with him unto the house of the Lord.


text:
And they went round about Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and heads of the families of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.


text:
And all the congregation of Judah made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he showed them the king's son, and said to them, “Behold, let the king's son reign, as the Lord said concerning the house of David.


text:
Now this <i>is </i>the thing which you shall do: let a third part of you, <i>even </i>of the priests and of the Levites, enter in on the Sabbath, even into the gates of the entrances;


text:
and let a third part be in the house of the king; and another third at the middle gate. And all the people in the courts of the Lord's house.


text:
And let no one enter into the house of the Lord except the priests and the Levites, and the servants of the Levites; they shall enter in, because they are holy; and let all the people keep the watch of the Lord.


text:
And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man's weapon in his hand; and whoever <i>else </i>goes into the house shall die; but they shall be with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in.”


text:
<n>Joash Crowned King of Judah</n> And the Levites and all Judah did according to all that the priest Jehoiada commanded them, and they took each his men from the beginning of the Sabbath to the end of the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss the courses.


text:
And Jehoiada gave to the men the swords, and the shields, and the arms, which <i>had </i>belonged to King David, in the house of God.


text:
And he set the whole people, every man with his arms, from the right side of the house to the left side of the altar and the house, over against the king round about.


text:
And he brought out the king’s son, and put on him the crown and the Testimony, and Jehoiada the priest and his sons proclaimed him king, and anointed him, saying, “Long live the king!”


text:
<n>Death of Athaliah</n> And Athaliah heard the sound of the people running, and acknowledging and praising the king; and she went in to the king into the house of the Lord.


text:
And she looked, and behold, the king <i>stood </i>in his place, and the princes and trumpets were at the entrance, and the princes were round the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded the trumpets, and there were the singers singing with instruments, and singing hymns of praise. So Athaliah tore her clothes, and cried, “You surely are plotting against <i>me</i>!”


text:
And Jehoiada the priest went forth and charged the captains of hundreds, even the captains of the army, and said to them, “Thrust her forth outside the house, <i>and whoever </i>follows her, and let her be slain with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord.”


text:
So they brought her <i>outside</i>; and she went through the horsemen's gate of the house of the king, and they killed her there.


text:
And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the people and the king, that the people should be the Lord's.


text:
And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal and they tore it down, and its altars, and they ground his images to powder, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before his altars.


text:
And Jehoiada the priest committed the works of the house of the Lord into the hand of the priests and Levites, and he re-established the courses of the priests and Levites which David appointed over the house of the Lord, and <i>he appointed them </i>to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses, with gladness, and with songs by the hand of David.


text:
And the porters stood at the gates of the house of the Lord, that no one unclean in any respect should enter in.


text:
And he took the heads of families, and the mighty men, and the chiefs of the people, and all the people of the land, and they conducted the king into the house of the Lord. And he went through the inner gate into the king's house, and they seated the king on the throne of the kingdom.


text:
<n>Joash Repairs the Temple</n> Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.


text:
And he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, “Go out into the cities of Judah, and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of the Lord from year to year, and make haste to speak <i>of it</i>.” But the Levites did not act quickly.


text:
So King Joash called Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, “Why have you not looked after the Levites, so that they should bring from Judah and Jerusalem that which was prescribed by Moses the man of God, when he assembled Israel at the tabernacle of witness?


text:
For Athaliah was a transgressor, and her sons tore down the house of God; for they offered the holy things of the house of the Lord to the Baals.”


text:
And the king said, “Let a box be made, and let it be put at the gate of the house of the Lord outside.


text:
And let <i>men </i>proclaim in Judah and in Jerusalem, that <i>the people </i>should bring to the Lord, as Moses the servant of God spoke concerning Israel in the wilderness.”


text:
And all the princes and all the people gave, and brought in, and cast into the box until it was filled.


text:
And it came to pass, when they brought in the box to the officers of the king by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that the money was more than sufficient, then came the king's scribe, and the officer of the high priest, and emptied the box, and restored it to its place. Thus they did day by day, and collected much money.


text:
And the king and Jehoiada the priest gave it to the workmen employed in the service of the house of the Lord, and they hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the Lord, also smiths and iron workers to repair the house of the Lord.


text:
So the workmen labored, and the works prospered in their hands, and they established the house of the Lord on its foundation, and strengthened <i>it</i>.


text:
And when they had finished <i>it</i>, they brought to the king and to Jehoiada the remainder of the money, and they made vessels for the house of the Lord, vessels of service for burnt offerings, and gold and silver <i>censers</i>: and they offered up burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada.


text:
<n>Apostasy of Joash</n> And Jehoiada grew old, being full of days, and he died, being a hundred and thirty years old at his death.


text:
And they buried him with the kings in the city of David, because he had dealt well with Israel, and with God and his house.


text:
And it came to pass after the death of Jehoiada, <i>that </i>the princes of Judah went in, and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them.


text:
And they forsook the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols. And there was wrath upon Judah and Jerusalem in that day.


text:
Yet He sent prophets to them, to turn them to the Lord; but they would not listen; and He testified to them, but they did not obey.


text:
And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood up above the people and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord? So shall you not prosper; for you have forsaken the Lord, and He will forsake you.’”


text:
And they conspired against him, and stoned him by command of King Joash in the court of the Lord's house.


text:
So Joash remembered not the kindness which his father Jehoiada had exercised towards him, but killed his son. And as he died, he said, “The Lord look upon <i>it</i>, and judge.”


text:
<n>Death of Joash</n> And it came to pass after the end of the year, <i>that </i>the army of Syria went up against him, and came against Judah and Jerusalem. And they killed all the chiefs among the people, and all their spoils they sent to the king of Damascus.


text:
For the army of Syria came with few men, yet God gave into their hands a very large army, because they had forsaken the God of their fathers; and He brought judgments on Joash.


text:
And after they had departed from him, when they had left him with grievous diseases, then his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and struck him on his bed, and he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tomb of the kings.


text:
And they that conspired against him were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.


text:
And all his sons, and the five came to him. And the other <i>matters</i>, behold, they are written in the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.


text:
<n>Amaziah Reigns in Judah</n> Amaziah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name <i>was </i>Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.


text:
And it came to pass, when the kingdom was established in his hand, that he killed his servants who had slain his father the king.


text:
But he did not kill their sons, according to the covenant of the law of the Lord, as it is written, <i>and </i>as the Lord commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not die for the children, and the sons shall not die for the fathers, but they shall die each for his own sin.”


text:
<n>The War Against Edom</n> And Amaziah assembled the house of Judah, and appointed them according to the houses of their families for captains of thousands and captains of hundreds in all Judah and Jerusalem. And he numbered them from twenty years old and upwards, and found of them three hundred thousand able to go out to war, holding spear and shield.


text:
And there came a man of God to him, saying, “O king, let not the army of Israel go with you; for the Lord is not with Israel, <i>even </i>all the sons of Ephraim.


text:
For if you shall undertake to strengthen <i>yourself </i>with these, then the Lord shall put you to flight before the enemies; for it is of the Lord both to strengthen and to put to flight.”


text:
And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall I do <i>for </i>the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?” And the man of God said, “The Lord can give you much more than these.”


text:
And Amaziah separated from the army that came to him from Ephraim, that they might go away to their place; and they were very angry with Judah, and they returned to their place with great wrath.


text:
And Amaziah strengthened <i>himself</i>, and took his people, and went to the Valley of Salt, and killed ten thousand of the children of Seir there.


text:
And the children of Judah took ten thousand prisoners, and they carried them to the top of the rock, and cast them headlong from the top of the rock, and they were all dashed to pieces.


text:
And the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back so that they should not go with him to battle, <i>went </i>and attacked the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth Horon; and they killed three thousand among them, and took much spoil.


text:
And it came to pass after Amaziah had returned from attacking Edom, that he brought home the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up for himself as gods, and bowed down before them, and he sacrificed to them.


text:
And the anger of the Lord came upon Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people, which have not rescued their own people out of your hand?”


text:
And it came to pass when the prophet was speaking to him, that he said to him, “Have I made you the king's counselor? Take heed lest you be scourged!” And the prophet became silent, and said, “I know that <i>God </i>is determined to destroy you, because you have done this thing, and have not listened to my counsel.”


text:
<n>Israel Defeats Judah</n> And Amaziah king of Judah took counsel, and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, and let us look one another in the face.”


text:
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife’; but behold, your wild beasts of the field that are in Lebanon shall come. And the wild beasts did come, and trod down the thistle.


text:
You have said, ‘Behold, I have defeated Edom,’ and your stout heart exalts you. Now stay at home; for why do you implicate yourself in mischief, that you should fall, and Judah with you?”


text:
Nevertheless Amaziah would not listen, for it was of the Lord to deliver him into <i>the enemy's </i>hands, because he sought after the gods of the Edomites.


text:
So Joash king of Israel went up; and they saw one another, he and Amaziah king of Judah, in Beth Shemesh, which is of Judah.


text:
Then Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, <i>son </i>of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, in Beth Shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem; and he pulled down <i>part </i>of the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits.


text:
And <i>he took </i>all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord and with Obed-Edom, and the treasures of the king's house, and the hostages, and he returned to Samaria.


text:
<n>Death of Amaziah</n> And Amaziah the <i>son </i>of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash the <i>son </i>of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, the first and the last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?


text:
And at the time when Amaziah departed from the Lord, then they formed a conspiracy against him, and he fled from Jerusalem to Lachish. And they sent after him to Lachish, and killed him there.


text:
<n>Uzziah Reigns in Judah</n> Then all the people of the land took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and they made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.


text:
Uzziah began to reign at the age of sixteen years, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.


text:
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Amaziah his father did.


text:
And he sought the Lord in the days of Zechariah, who understood the fear of the Lord; and in his days he sought the Lord, and the Lord prospered him.


text:
And he went out and fought against the Philistines, and pulled down the walls of Gath, and the walls of Jabneh, and the walls of Ashdod, and he built cities <i>near </i>Ashdod, and among the Philistines.


text:
And the Lord strengthened him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt on the rock, and against the Meunites.


text:
And the Meunites gave gifts to Uzziah; and his fame spread as far as the entering in of Egypt, for he strengthened <i>himself </i>exceedingly.


text:
And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem, both at the Corner Gate, and at the Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress of the wall; and he fortified them.


text:
And he built towers in the wilderness, and dug many wells, for he had many cattle in the low country and in the plain; and vinedressers in the mountain country and in Carmel, for he was a farmer.


text:
And Uzziah had a host of warriors that went out orderly to war, and returned orderly in number; and their number was <i>made </i>by the hand of Jeiel the scribe, and Maaseiah the officer, by the hand of Hananiah the king's deputy.


text:
The whole number of the chiefs of families of the mighty men of war <i>was </i>two thousand six hundred;


text:
and with them was a warrior force <i>of</i> three hundred thousand and seven thousand five hundred; these waged war mightily to help the king against <i>his </i>enemies.


text:
And Uzziah prepared for them, <i>even </i>for all the army, shields, spears, helmets, breastplates, bows, and slings for stones.


text:
And he made in Jerusalem machines invented by a wise contriver, to be upon the towers and upon the corners, to cast darts and great stones. And <i>the fame </i>of their preparation was heard from a great distance; for he was marvelously helped, till he became strong.


text:
<n>The Penalty for Uzziah’s Pride</n> And when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction; and he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.


text:
And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him, “<i>It is </i>not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but only for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to sacrifice: Leave the sanctuary, for you have departed from the Lord; and this shall not be for glory to you from the Lord God.”


text:
And Uzziah was angry, and in his hand <i>was </i>the censer to burn incense in the temple. And when he was angry with the priests, then the leprosy rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, over the altar of incense.


text:
And Azariah the chief priest, and the <i>other </i>priests, turned <i>to look </i>at him, and behold, he <i>was </i>leprous in his forehead; and they got him out of there quickly, for he also hastened to go out, because the Lord had rebuked him.


text:
And Uzziah the king was a leper until the day of his death, and he dwelt <i>as </i>a leper in a separate house; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord; and Jotham his son <i>was set </i>over his kingdom, judging the people of the land.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Uzziah, the first and the last, <i>are </i>written by Isaiah the prophet.


text:
And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial <i>place </i>of the kings, for they said, “He is a leper”; and Jotham his son reigned in his place.


text:
<n>Jotham Reigns in Judah</n> Jotham <i>was </i>twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name <i>was </i>Jerushah, daughter of Zadok.


text:
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; but he did not go into the temple of the Lord. And still the people corrupted themselves.


text:
He fought against the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against him. And the children of Ammon gave him a hundred talents of silver each year, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand <i>measures </i>of barley. These the king of the children of Ammon brought to him annually.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Jotham, and his war, and his deeds, behold, <i>they are </i>written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.


text:
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.


text:
<n>Ahaz Reigns in Judah</n> Ahaz was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, as David his father.


text:
And <i>he sacrificed </i>to their idols in the valley of the Son of Hinnom, and passed his children through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel.


text:
<n>Syria and Israel Defeat Judah</n> And the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. And <i>the king</i> attacked him, and took a great multitude of prisoners captive, and carried him to Damascus. Also <i>God </i>delivered him into the hands of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter.


text:
And Pekah the son of Remeliah king of Israel, killed in Judah in one day a hundred and twenty thousand mighty men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.


text:
And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the chief of his house, and Elkanah the king's deputy.


text:
And the children of Israel took captive of their brothers three hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters, and they plundered them of much property, and brought the spoils to Samaria.


text:
<n>Israel Returns the Captives</n> And there was a prophet of the Lord there whose name <i>was </i>Oded. And he went out to meet the army that was coming to Samaria, and said to them, “Behold, the wrath of the Lord God of your fathers <i>is </i>upon Judah, and He has delivered them into your hands, but you have killed them in wrath, and it has reached even to heaven.


text:
And now you talk of keeping the children of Judah and Jerusalem for servants and handmaidens. Behold, am I not with you to testify for the Lord your God?


text:
And now listen to me, and restore the prisoners of your brothers whom you have taken: for the fierce anger of the Lord <i>is </i>upon you.”


text:
And the chiefs of the sons of Ephraim rose up, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, against those that came from the war,


text:
and said to them, “You shall not bring the prisoners here to us, for our sins against the Lord <i>are already </i>upon us, <i>and </i>you mean to add to our sins, and to our trespass: for our sin <i>is </i>great, and the fierce anger of the Lord <i>is </i>upon Israel.”


text:
And the men who were called by name rose up, and took hold of the prisoners, and clothed all the naked from the spoils, and gave them garments and shoes, and gave them <i>food </i>to eat, and <i>oil </i>to anoint themselves <i>with</i>, and they let everyone that was weak <i>to ride on </i>donkeys, and placed them in Jericho, the city of palm trees, with their brothers; and they returned to Samaria.


text:
<n>Assyria Refuses to Help Judah</n> At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria to help him, and on this occasion,


text:
Also the Philistines had made an attack on the cities of the plain country, and the cities of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, and (the things in the house of the Lord, and the things in the house of the king, and of the princes, and they gave <i>these </i>to the king) Aijalon, Gederoth, Sochoh and her villages, Timnah and her villages, and Gimzo and her villages. And they dwelt there.


text:
For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Judah, because he grievously departed from the Lord.


text:
<n>Apostasy and Death of Ahaz</n> And Ahaz took the things <i>that were </i>in the house of the Lord, and the things in the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave them to the king of Assyria; but he was no help to him,


text:
but only <i>troubled him </i>in his affliction. And he departed yet again from the Lord, and King Ahaz said,


text:
“I will seek after the gods of Damascus that attack me.” And he said, “Forasmuch as the gods of the king of Syria themselves strengthen them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, and they will help me.” But they became a stumbling block to him, and to all Israel.


text:
And Ahaz removed the vessels of the house of the Lord, and cut them in pieces, and shut the doors of the house of the Lord, and made for himself altars in every corner in Jerusalem.


text:
And in every single city in Judah he made high places to burn incense to strange gods. And they provoked the Lord God of their fathers.


text:
And the rest of his acts and his deeds, the first and the last, behold, <i>they are </i>written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.


text:
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David; for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.


text:
<n>Hezekiah Reigns in Judah</n> And Hezekiah began to reign at the age of twenty-five years, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah.


text:
<n>Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple</n> And it came to pass, when he was established over his kingdom, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them.


text:
and said to them, “Hear, you Levites: Now sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and cast out the impurity from the holy places.


text:
For our fathers have revolted, and done that which was evil before the Lord our God, and have forsaken Him, and have turned away their face from the tabernacle of the Lord, and have turned <i>their </i>back.


text:
And they have shut up the doors of the temple, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense, and have not offered burnt offerings in the holy <i>place </i>to the God of Israel.


text:
And the Lord was very angry with Judah and Jerusalem, and made them an astonishment, and a desolation, and a hissing, as you see with your eyes.


text:
And behold, your fathers have been struck with the sword, and your sons and your daughters and your wives are in captivity in a land not their own, as it is even now.


text:
Therefore it is now in my heart to make a covenant, a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that He may turn away His fierce wrath from us.


text:
And now, do not be negligent in<i> your duty</i>, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him to minister, and to be ministers and burners of incense to Him.”


text:
Then the Levites rose up, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of Kohath: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel; and of the sons of Gershon, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Joadam: these <i>were </i>the sons of Joah.


text:
And of the sons of Elizaphan: Shimri, and Jehiel. And of the sons of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah;


text:
And they gathered their brothers, and they purified themselves according to the king's command by the order of the Lord, to purify the house of the Lord.


text:
And the priests entered into the house of the Lord, to purify <i>it</i>, and they cast out all the uncleanness that was found in the house of the Lord, even into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites received <i>it </i>to cast into the Brook of Kidron outside.


text:
And <i>Hezekiah </i>began on the first day, on the new moon of the first month, to purify, and on the eighth day of the month they entered into the temple of the Lord. And they purified the house of the Lord in eight days. And on the thirteenth day of the first month they finished <i>the work</i>.


text:
And they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have purified all the things in the house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering, and its vessels, and the table of showbread, and its vessels;


text:
and all the vessels which King Ahaz polluted in his reign, in his apostasy, we have prepared and purified; behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.”


text:
<n>Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship</n> And King Hezekiah rose early in the morning, and gathered the chief men of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord.


text:
And he brought seven calves, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven kids of goats for a sin-offering, for the kingdom, and for the holy things, and for Israel. And he told the priests, the sons of Aaron, to go up to the altar of the Lord.


text:
And they killed the calves, and the priests received the blood, and poured it on the altar. And they killed the rams, and poured the blood upon the altar. Also they killed the lambs, and poured the blood on the altar.


text:
And they brought the goats for a sin offering before the king and the congregation, and laid their hands upon them.


text:
And the priests killed them, and offered their blood as a propitiation on the altar; and they made atonement for all Israel; for the king said, “The burnt offering, and the sin offering <i>are </i>for all Israel.”


text:
And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, and lutes, and harps, according to the commandment of King David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet; for by the commandment of the Lord the order <i>was </i>in the hand of the prophets.


text:
And Hezekiah told <i>them </i>to offer up the burnt offering on the altar. And when they began to offer the burnt offering, they began to sing to the Lord, and the trumpets <i>accompanied </i>the instruments of David king of Israel.


text:
And all the congregation worshipped, and the psalm-singers <i>were </i>singing, and the trumpets sounding, until the whole burnt sacrifice had been completely offered.


text:
And when they had done offering <i>it</i>, the king and all that were present bowed down and worshipped.


text:
And King Hezekiah and the princes told the Levites to sing hymns to the Lord in the words of David, and of Asaph the prophet. And they sang hymns with gladness, and fell down and worshipped.


text:
Then Hezekiah answered and said, “Now <i>that </i>you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, bring near and offer sacrifices of praise in the house of the Lord.” And the congregation brought sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord; and everyone who was ready in his heart <i>brought </i>burnt offerings.


text:
And the number of the burnt offerings which the congregation brought, was seventy calves, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these <i>were </i>for a burnt offering to the Lord.


text:
But the priests were few, and could not slay the burnt offering, so their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished, and until the priests had purified themselves; for the Levites <i>more </i>zealously purified <i>themselves </i>than the priests.


text:
And the burnt offering <i>was </i>abundant, with the fat of the complete peace offering, and the drink offerings of the whole burnt sacrifice. So the service was established in the house of the Lord.


text:
And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced, because God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.


text:
<n>Hezekiah Keeps the Passover</n> And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come into the house of the Lord to Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel.


text:
For the king, and the princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, designed to keep the Passover in the second month.


text:
For they could not keep it at that time, because a sufficient number of priests had not purified themselves, and the people were not gathered to Jerusalem.


text:
And they established a decree that a proclamation should go through all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come and keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem; for the multitude had not done it lately according to the Scripture.


text:
And the posts went with the letters from the king and the princes to all Israel and Judah, according to the command of the king, saying, “Children of Israel, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and bring back them that have escaped, <i>even </i>those that were left of the hand of the king of Assyria.


text:
And do not be as your fathers and your brothers, who revolted from the Lord God of their fathers, and He gave them up to desolation, as you see.


text:
And now do not harden your hearts, as your fathers <i>did</i>; give glory to the Lord God, and enter into His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the Lord your God, and He shall turn away <i>His </i>fierce anger from you.


text:
For when you turn to the Lord, your brothers and your children shall be pitied before all that have carried them captives, and He will restore <i>you </i>to this land; for the Lord our God is merciful and gracious, and will not turn away His face from you, if we return to Him.”


text:
So the posts went through from city to city in Mount Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun; and they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.


text:
But the men of Asher, and <i>some </i>of Manasseh and of Zebulun, were ashamed, and came to Jerusalem and Judah.


text:
And the hand of the Lord was <i>present </i>to give them one heart to come, to do according to the commands of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord.


text:
And a great multitude were gathered to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great congregation.


text:
And they arose, and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all on which they burnt incense to false <i>gods </i>they tore down and cast into the Brook Kidron.


text:
Then they killed the Passover <i>lambs </i>on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites repented, and purified <i>themselves</i>, and brought burnt offerings into the house of the Lord.


text:
And they stood at their post, according to their ordinance, according to the commandment of Moses the man of God; and the priests received the blood from the hand of the Levites.


text:
For a great part of the congregation was not sanctified; and the Levites were <i>ready </i>to kill the Passover for everyone who could not sanctify himself to the Lord.


text:
For the greatest part of the people of Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not purified <i>themselves</i>, but ate the Passover contrary to the Scripture. On this account also Hezekiah prayed concerning them, saying,


text:
“The good Lord be merciful with regard to every heart that sincerely seeks the Lord God of their fathers, and <i>is </i>not <i>purified </i>according to the purification of the sanctuary.”


text:
And the children of Israel who were present in Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great joy; and they continued to sing hymns to the Lord daily, and the priests and the Levites <i>played </i>on instruments to the Lord.


text:
And Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites, and those that had good understanding of the Lord, and they completely kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days, offering peace offerings, and confessing to the Lord God of their fathers.


text:
And the congregation purposed together to keep another seven days. And they kept <i>another </i>seven days with gladness.


text:
For Hezekiah set apart for Judah, <i>even </i>for the congregation, a thousand calves and seven thousand sheep; and the princes set apart for the people a thousand calves and ten thousand sheep, and the holy things of the priests abundantly.


text:
And all the congregation rejoiced, the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation of Judah, and those that were present of Jerusalem, and the strangers that came from the land of Israel, and those that dwelt in Judah.


text:
And there was great joy in Jerusalem. From the days of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not such a feast in Jerusalem.


text:
Then the priests the Levites rose up and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came <i>up </i>to His holy dwelling place, <i>even </i>into heaven.


text:
<n>The Reforms of Hezekiah</n> And when all these things were finished, all Israel that were found in the cities of Judah went out, and broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the groves, and tore down the high places and the altars out of all Judea and Benjamin, also of Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. And all Israel returned, everyone to his inheritance, and to their cities.


text:
And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites, and the courses of each one according to his ministry, to the priests and to the Levites, for the burnt offering, and for the peace offering, and to praise, and to give thanks, and to minister in the gates, <i>and </i>in the courts of the house of the Lord.


text:
And the king's proportion out of his substance <i>was appointed </i>for the burnt offerings, the morning and the evening <i>offering</i>, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the feasts that were ordered in the Law of the Lord.


text:
And they told the people who dwelt in Jerusalem, to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be strong in the ministry of the house of the Lord.


text:
And as he gave the command, Israel brought abundantly their firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and every fruit of the field. And the children of Israel and Judah brought tithes of everything abundantly.


text:
And those who dwelt in the cities of Judah themselves also brought tithes of calves and sheep, and tithes of goats, and consecrated them to the Lord their God, and they brought them and laid them in heaps.


text:
And Azariah the priest, the chief over the house of Zadok, spoke to him, and said, “From the time that the firstfruits began to be brought into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and drunk, and have plenty left; for the Lord has blessed His people, and we have this great amount left.”


text:
And Hezekiah told them yet farther to prepare chambers for the house of the Lord; and they prepared <i>them</i>,


text:
and they brought there the firstfruits and the tithes faithfully. And Cononiah the Levite was superintendent over them, and Shimei his brother was next.


text:
And Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah and his sons, were appointed by Cononiah and Shimei his brother, as Hezekiah the king, and Azariah who was over the house of the Lord commanded.


text:
And Kore, the <i>son </i>of Imnah the Levite, the porter eastward, <i>was </i>over the gifts, to distribute the firstfruits of the Lord, and the most holy things,


text:
by the hand of Eden, Benjamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, by the hand of the priests faithfully, to give to their brothers according to the courses, to the great as well as the small;


text:
besides the increase of males from three years old and upward, to everyone entering into the house of the Lord, <i>a portion </i>according to a daily rate, for service in the daily courses of their order.


text:
This <i>is </i>the distribution of the priests according to the houses of their families; and the Levites in their daily courses from twenty years old and upward <i>were </i>in <i>their </i>order,


text:
to assign stations for all the increase of their sons and their daughters, for the whole number, for they faithfully sanctified the holy place.


text:
As for the sons of Aaron that executed the priests' office–even those from their cities, the men in each several city who were named expressly–<i>were appointed </i>to give a portion to every male among the priests, and to everyone reckoned among the Levites.


text:
And Hezekiah did so through all Judah, and did that which was good and right before the Lord his God.


text:
And in every work which he began in service in the house of the Lord, and in the law, and in the ordinances, he sought his God with all his soul, and wrought, and prospered.


text:
<n>Sennacherib Boasts Against the Lord</n> And after these things and this faithful dealing, Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came to Judah, and he encamped against the fortified cities, and intended to take them for himself.


text:
And Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and <i>that </i>his face <i>was set </i>to fight against Jerusalem.


text:
And he took counsel with his elders and his mighty <i>men </i>to stop the wells of water which were outside the city; and they helped him.


text:
And he collected many people, and stopped the wells of water, and the river that flowed through the city, saying, “Lest the king of Assyria come, and find much water, and strengthen <i>himself</i>.”


text:
And Hezekiah strengthened <i>himself</i>, and built all the wall that had been pulled down, and the towers, and another wall outside, and fortified the strong place of the City of David, and prepared arms in abundance.


text:
And he appointed captains of war over the people, and they were gathered to <i>meet </i>him to the open place of the gate of the valley, and he encouraged them, saying,


text:
“Be strong and courageous, and do not fear, neither be dismayed before the king of Assyria, and before all the nation that <i>is </i>with him: for <i>there are </i>more with us than with him.


text:
With him <i>are </i>arms of flesh, but with us <i>is </i>the Lord our God to save <i>us</i>, and to fight our battle.” And the people were encouraged at the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.


text:
And afterward Sennacherib king of the Assyrians sent his servants to Jerusalem; and <i>he went </i>himself against Lachish, and all his army with him, and sent to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah that <i>was </i>in Jerusalem, saying,


text:
“Thus says Sennacherib king of the Assyrians: ‘On what do you trust, that you will remain in the siege in Jerusalem?


text:
Does not Hezekiah deceive you, to deliver you to death and famine and thirst, saying, “The Lord our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?”


text:
Is not this Hezekiah who has taken down his altars and his high places and has spoken to Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, “You shall worship before this altar and burn incense upon it?”


text:
Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the nations of the countries? Could the gods of the nations of all the earth rescue their people out of my hand?


text:
Who is there among all the gods of those nations whom my fathers utterly destroyed, <i>worthy of trust</i>? Could they deliver their people out of my hand, that your God should deliver you out of my hand?


text:
Now then, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and let him not make you confident in any way, and do not believe him, for no god of any kingdom or nation is in any way able to deliver his people out of my hand, or the hand of my fathers; therefore your God shall not deliver you out of my hand.’”


text:
And he wrote a letter to reproach the Lord God of Israel, and spoke concerning Him, saying, “As the gods of the nations of the earth have not delivered their people out of my hand, so the God of Hezekiah shall by no means deliver His people out of my hand.”


text:
And he cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language to the people of Jerusalem on the wall, <i>calling them </i>to assist them, and pull down <i>the walls</i>, that they might take the city.


text:
And he spoke against the God of Jerusalem, even as against the gods of the nations of the earth, the works of the hands of men.


text:
<n>Sennacherib’s Defeat and Death</n> And King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz prayed concerning these things, and they cried to heaven.


text:
And the Lord sent an angel, and He destroyed every mighty man and warrior, and leader and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria; and he returned with shame of face to his own land and came into the house of his god. And <i>some </i>of his own offspring killed him with the sword.


text:
So the Lord delivered Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem out of the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria, and out of the hand of all <i>his enemies</i>, and gave them rest round about.


text:
And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah; and he was exalted in the eyes of all the nations after these things.


text:
<n>Hezekiah Humbles Himself</n> In those days Hezekiah was sick, even unto death, and he prayed to the Lord. And <i>God</i> heeded him, and gave him a sign.


text:
But Hezekiah did not recompense the Lord according to the favor shown him, but his heart was lifted up. And wrath came upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.


text:
And Hezekiah humbled himself after the exaltation of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.


text:
And Hezekiah had wealth and very great glory. And he made for himself treasuries of gold, silver, and precious stones, also for spices and stores for arms, and for precious vessels;


text:
and cities for the produce of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls and mangers for every <i>kind of </i>cattle, and folds for flocks;


text:
and cities which he built for himself, and store of sheep and oxen in abundance, for the Lord gave him a very great store.


text:
The same Hezekiah stopped up the course of the water of Upper Gihon, and brought the water down straight south of the City of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.


text:
Notwithstanding, in regard to the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who were sent to him, to inquire of him <i>concerning </i>the wonders which came upon the land, the Lord left him, to test him, to know what was in his heart.


text:
<n>Death of Hezekiah</n> And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his kindness, behold, they are written in the prophecy of Isaiah the son of Amoz the prophet, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.


text:
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in a high place among the tombs of the sons of David. And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem gave him glory and honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.


text:
<n>Manasseh Reigns in Judah</n> Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.


text:
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord destroyed from before the face of the children of Israel.


text:
And he returned and built the high places, which his father Hezekiah had pulled down, and set up images to the Baals, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.


text:
And he built altars in the house of the Lord, concerning which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem shall be My name forever.”


text:
He also caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the Son of Hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, divination, and sorceries, and appointed those who had divining spirits, and enchanters, and wrought abundant wickedness before the Lord, to provoke Him.


text:
And he set the graven <i>image</i>, the molten <i>statue</i>, the idol which he made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever;


text:
and I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land which I gave to their fathers, if only they will take heed to do all things which I have commanded them, according to all the law and the ordinances and the judgments <i>given </i>by the hand of Moses.”


text:
So Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do evil beyond all the nations which the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel.


text:
<n>Manasseh Restored</n> And the Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they would not listen.


text:
And the Lord brought upon them the captains of the armies of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in fetters, and brought him to Babylon.


text:
And when he was afflicted, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and was greatly humbled before the face of the God of his fathers;


text:
and he prayed to Him. And He heeded him, and listened to his cry, and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord <i>was</i> God.


text:
And afterward he built a wall outside the City of David, from the southwest southward in the valleys and at the entrance through the Fish Gate, as men go out by the gate round about, even as far as Ophel. And he raised it much, and set captains of the army in all the fortified cities in Judah.


text:
And he removed the strange gods, and the graven <i>image </i>out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars which he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and outside the city.


text:
And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and offered upon it a sacrifice of peace offering and thank offering, and he told Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.


text:
<n>Death of Manasseh</n> And the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to God, and the words of the seers that spoke to him in the name of the God of Israel,


text:
behold, <i>they are </i>in the account of his prayer. And <i>God </i>listened to <i>his prayer</i>. And all his sins, and his backslidings, and the spots on which he built the high places, and set there groves and graven images, before he repented, behold, they are written in the books of the seers.


text:
And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the garden of his house; and Amon his son reigned in his place.


text:
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. And Amon sacrificed to all the idols which his father Manasseh had made, and served them.


text:
And he was not humbled before the Lord as his father Manasseh was humbled; for his son Amon abounded in transgression.


text:
And the people of the land killed the men who had conspired against King Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.


text:
<n>Josiah Reigns in Judah</n> Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.


text:
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David, and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.


text:
And in the eighth year of his reign, and he still <i>being</i> a youth, he began to seek the Lord God of his father David. And in the twelfth year of his reign he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the ornaments for the altars, and the molten images.


text:
And he pulled down the altars of the Baals that were in his presence, and the high places that were above them; and he cut down the groves, and the graven images, and broke in pieces the molten images, and reduced them to powder, and cast <i>it </i>upon the surface of the tombs of those who <i>had </i>sacrificed to them.


text:
And <i>he did so </i>in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and Naphtali, and the places round about them.


text:
And he pulled down the altars and the groves, and he cut the idols in small pieces, and cut off all the high places from all the land of Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.


text:
<n>Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law</n> And in the eighteenth year of his reign, after having cleansed the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.


text:
And they came to Hilkiah the high priest, and gave the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites who kept the gate collected of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of the princes, and of everyone that was left in Israel, and of the children of Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


text:
And they gave it into the hand of the workmen, who were appointed in the house of the Lord, and they gave it to the workmen who wrought in the house of the Lord, to repair and strengthen the house.


text:
They gave <i>it </i>also to the carpenters and builders, to buy squared stones, and timber for beams to cover the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.


text:
And the men <i>were </i>faithfully <i>engaged </i>in the works. And over them were superintendents, Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of Kohath, <i>appointed </i>to oversee; and every Levite, and everyone that understood <i>how </i>to play on musical instruments.


text:
And <i>overseers were </i>over the burden bearers, and over all the workmen in the respective works; and of the Levites <i>were appointed </i>scribes, judges, and porters.


text:
And when they brought forth the money that had been brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found <i>the</i> Book of the Law of the Lord <i>given </i>by the hand of Moses.


text:
Then Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found <i>the</i> Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.


text:
And Shaphan brought in the book to the king, and moreover he gave an account to the king, <i>saying, </i>“<i>This is </i>all the money given into the hand of your servants that work.


text:
And they have collected the money that was found in the house of the Lord, and given it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of them that do the work.”


text:
And Shaphan the scribe brought word to the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.


text:
And the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king, saying,


text:
“Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for everyone that is left in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that was found; for great is the wrath of the Lord <i>which </i>has been kindled amongst us, because our fathers have not heeded the words of the Lord, to do according to all the things written in this book.”


text:
And Hilkiah went, and <i>the others </i>whom the king told, to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum, son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, who kept the commandments. And she dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second <i>Quarter</i>: and they spoke to her accordingly.


text:
Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I bring evil upon this place, <i>even </i>all the words that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah;


text:
because they have forsaken Me, and burnt incense to strange gods, that they might provoke Me by all the works of their hands; and My wrath is kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.”


text:
And concerning the king of Judah, who sent you to seek the Lord, thus shall you say to him; Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “<i>As for </i>the words which you have heard,


text:
forasmuch as your heart was ashamed, and you were humbled before Me when you heard My words against this place, and against the inhabitants of it, and you were humbled before Me, and you tore your clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard, says the Lord.


text:
Behold, I <i>will </i>gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not look upon all the evils which I am bringing upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of it.”’” And they brought back word to the king.


text:
<n>Josiah Restores True Worship</n> And the king sent and gathered the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.


text:
And the king went up to the house of the Lord, <i>he </i>and all Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people great and small; and he read in their ears all the words of the Book of the Covenant that were found in the house of the Lord.


text:
And the king stood at a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk before the Lord, to keep His commandments and testimonies, and His ordinances, with all <i>his </i>heart and with all <i>his </i>soul, so as to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.


text:
And he caused all that were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand; and the inhabitants of Jerusalem made a covenant in the house of the Lord God of their fathers.


text:
And Josiah removed all the abominations out of the whole land which belonged to the children of Israel, and caused all that were found in Jerusalem and in Israel, to serve the Lord their God all his days. He did not depart from following the Lord God of his fathers.


text:
<n>Josiah Keeps the Passover</n> And Josiah kept a Passover to the Lord his God; and sacrificed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.


text:
And he appointed the priests at their charges, and encouraged them for the services of the house of the Lord.


text:
And he told the Levites that were able <i>to act </i>in all Israel, that they should consecrate themselves to the Lord. And they put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built. And the king said, “You must not carry anything on your shoulders; now then minister to the Lord your God, and to His people Israel.


text:
And prepare yourselves according to the houses of your families, and according to your daily courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and <i>the order </i>by the hand of his son Solomon.


text:
And stand in the house according to the divisions of the houses of your families for your brothers the sons of the people; <i>so </i>also let there be for the Levites a division of the house of their family.


text:
And kill the Passover <i>lamb</i>, and prepare <i>it </i>for your brothers, to do according to the word of the Lord, by the hand of Moses.”


text:
And Josiah gave as an offering to the children of the people, sheep, lambs, and kids of the young of the goats, all for the Passover, <i>even for </i>all that were found, in number <i>amounting to </i>thirty thousand, and three thousand calves, these <i>were </i>of the substance of the king.


text:
And his princes gave an offering to the people, and to the priests, and to the Levites: and Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel the chief men gave to the priests of the house of God, they even gave for the Passover sheep, lambs, and kids, two thousand six hundred, and three hundred calves.


text:
And Conaniah, Benaiah, Shemaiah, Nethaneel his brother, Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, heads of the Levites, gave an offering to the Levites for the Passover, of five thousand sheep and five hundred calves.


text:
And the service was duly ordered, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their divisions, according to the command of the king.


text:
And they killed the Passover <i>offerings</i>, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hand, and the Levites skinned <i>the animals</i>.


text:
And they prepared the burnt offering to give to them, according to the division by the houses of families, <i>even </i>to the sons of the people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the Book of Moses.


text:
And thus <i>they did </i>till the morning. And they roasted the Passover with fire according to the ordinance; and boiled the holy <i>pieces </i>in copper vessels and caldrons, and <i>the feast </i>went on well, and they quickly served all the children of the people.


text:
And after they had prepared for themselves and for the priests, for the priests <i>were engaged </i>in offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night, then the Levites prepared for themselves, and for their brothers the sons of Aaron.


text:
And the sons of Asaph the psalm-singers <i>were </i>at their post according to the commands of David, and Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the prophets of the king. Also, the chiefs and the porters of the several gates—it was not for them to stir from the service of the holy things, for their brothers the Levites prepared for them.


text:
So all the service of the Lord was duly ordered and prepared in that day, for keeping the Passover, and offering the whole burnt sacrifices on the altar of the Lord, according to the command of King Josiah.


text:
And the children of Israel that were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.


text:
And there was no Passover like it in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet, or any king of Israel; they did not keep such a Passover as Josiah, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, kept to the Lord.


text:
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept, after all these things that Josiah did in the house. And King Josiah burnt those who had in them a divining spirit, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and the sodomites which were in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law that were written in the book which Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. There was no <i>king </i>like him before him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, and all his soul, and all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses, and after him there rose up none like him. Nevertheless the Lord did not turn from the anger of His fierce wrath, wherewith the Lord was greatly angry against Judah, for all the provocations in which Manasseh had provoked Him. And the Lord said, “I will even remove Judah also from My presence, as I have removed Israel, and I have rejected the city which I chose, <i>even </i>Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, ‘My name shall be there.’”


text:
<n>Josiah Dies in Battle</n> And Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up against the king of the Assyrians to the River Euphrates, and King Josiah went to meet him.


text:
And he sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, O king of Judah? I have not come today to war against you; and God has told me to make haste; beware of the God that is with me, lest He destroy you.”


text:
However, Josiah did not turn his face from him, but <i>rather </i>strengthened himself to fight against him, and did not listen to the words of Necho by the mouth of God, and he came to fight in the plain of Megiddo.


text:
And the archers shot at King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am severely wounded.”


text:
And his servants lifted him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot which he had, and brought him to Jerusalem. And he died, and was buried with his fathers; and all Judah and Jerusalem lamented over Josiah.


text:
And Jeremiah mourned over Josiah, and all the chief men and chief women uttered a lamentation over Josiah until this day. And they made it an ordinance for Israel, and behold, it is written in the lamentations.


text:
And his acts, the first and the last, behold, <i>they are </i>written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.


text:
<n>The Reign and Captivity of Jehoahaz</n> And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king over Jerusalem in the place of his father.


text:
Jehoahaz <i>was </i>twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Amital, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done. And Pharaoh Necho bound him in Diblath in the land of Emath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem.


text:
And the king brought him over to Egypt, and imposed a tribute on the land, a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.


text:
And Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king over Judah in the place of his father Josiah, and changed his name <i>to </i>Jehoiakim. And Pharaoh Necho took his brother Jehoahaz and brought him into Egypt, and he died there; but <i>he </i>had given the silver and gold to Pharaoh. At that time the land began to be taxed to give the money at the command of Pharaoh; and everyone as he could borrowed the silver and the gold of the people of the land, to give to Pharaoh Necho.


text:
<n>The Reign and Captivity of Jehoiakim</n> Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name <i>was </i>Zechora, daughter of Neriah of Ramah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers did. In his days came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon into the land, and he served him three years, and <i>then </i>revolted from him. And the Lord sent against them the Chaldeans, and plundering parties of Syrians, and plundering parties of the Moabites, and of the children of Ammon, and of Samaria. But after this they departed, according to the word of the Lord by the hand of His servants the prophets. Nevertheless the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah, so that they should be removed from His presence, because of the sins of Manasseh in all that he did, and for the innocent blood which Jehoiakim shed, for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; yet the Lord would not utterly destroy them.


text:
And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him away to Babylon.


text:
And he carried away a part of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon, and put them in his temple in Babylon.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, behold, <i>are </i>not these things written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers; and Jeconiah his son reigned in his place.


text:
<n>The Reign and Captivity of Jeconiah</n> Jeconiah <i>was </i>eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.


text:
And at the turn of the year, King Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the precious vessels of the house of the Lord, and made Zedekiah his father's brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.


text:
<n>Zedekiah Reigns in Judah</n> Zedekiah <i>was </i>twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.


text:
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God; he was not ashamed before the prophet Jeremiah, nor because of the word of the Lord;


text:
in that he rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, which he adjured him by God <i>not to do</i>; but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart, so as not to return to the Lord God of Israel.


text:
And all the great men of Judah, and the priests, and the people of the land transgressed abundantly in the abominations of the heathen, and polluted the house of the Lord which <i>was </i>in Jerusalem.


text:
<n>The Fall of Jerusalem</n> And the Lord God of their fathers sent by the hand of His prophets; rising early and sending His messengers, for He had compassion on His people, and His sanctuary.


text:
Nevertheless they sneered at His messengers, and despised His words, and mocked His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose up against His people, till there was no remedy.


text:
And He brought the king of the Chaldeans against them, and killed their young men with the sword in the house of His sanctuary, and did not spare Zedekiah, and had no mercy upon their virgins, and they led away their old men; He delivered all things into their hands.


text:
And all the vessels of the house of God, the great and the small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and all the treasures of the king and the great men; he brought all to Babylon.


text:
And he burned the house of the Lord, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned its palaces with fire, and <i>utterly destroyed </i>every beautiful vessel.


text:
And he carried away the remnant to Babylon; and they were servants to him and to his sons until <i>the establishment of </i>the kingdom of the Medes,


text:
that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, until the land should enjoy its Sabbaths in resting, <i>and </i>Sabbath keeping all the days of its desolation, till the accomplishment of seventy years.


text:
<n>The Proclamation of Cyrus</n> In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, after the fulfillment of the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians, and told him to make proclamation in writing throughout all his kingdom, saying,


text:
“Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians to all the kingdoms of the earth: The Lord God of heaven has given me <i>power</i>, and He has commanded me to build a house to Him in Jerusalem, in Judea. Who <i>is there </i>among you of all His people? His God shall be with him, and let him go up.”


text:
<n>End of the Babylonian Captivity</n> Now in the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians, and he issued a proclamation through all his kingdom, and that in writing, saying,


text:
“Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians: The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has given me a command to build Him a house in Jerusalem that is in Judea.


text:
Who <i>is</i> there among you of all His people? For his God shall be with him, and he shall go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and let him build the house of the God of Israel: He <i>is</i> the God that is in Jerusalem.


text:
And <i>let</i> every <i>Jew</i> that is left <i>go</i> from every place where he sojourns, and the men of his place shall help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, together with the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”


text:
Then the chiefs of the families of Judah and Benjamin arose, and the priests, and the Levites, all whose spirit the Lord stirred up to go up to build the house of the Lord that <i>is</i> in Jerusalem.


text:
And all that were round about strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with livestock, and with presents, besides the freewill offerings.


text:
And King Cyrus brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem, and put in the house of his god.


text:
And Cyrus king of the Persians brought them out by the hand of Mithradath the treasurer, and he numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the chief man of Judah.


text:
And this <i>is</i> their number: thirty gold platters, and a thousand silver platters, twenty-nine knives, thirty golden goblets,


text:
All the gold and silver vessels were five thousand four hundred, <i>even</i> all that went up with Sheshbazzar from the <i>place of</i> transportation, from Babylon to Jerusalem.


text:
<n>List of the Returned Exiles</n> And these <i>are</i> the people of the land that went up, of the number of prisoners who were removed, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried away to Babylon, and they returned to Judah and Jerusalem, every man to his city.


text:
<i>Those </i>who came with Zerubbabel <i>were</i>: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, <i>and </i>Baanah. The number of the people of Israel:


text:
the children of Pahath-Moab, belonging to the sons of Jeshua <i>and</i> Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve;


text:
The children of the gatekeepers, the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-nine <i>in</i> all.


text:
The children of the servants of Solomon: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,


text:
the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth, the children of Zebaim, the children of Ami.


text:
And these <i>are</i> they that went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they were not able to identify the house of their fathers, and their descendants, whether they were of Israel;


text:
the children of Delaiah, the children of Bua, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred and fifty-two.


text:
And of the children of the priests, the children of Labeia, the children of Akkus, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name.


text:
These sought their genealogy <i>as though</i> they had been reckoned, but they were not found; and they were removed from the priesthood, <i>as defiled.</i>


text:
And the Tirshatha told them that they should not eat of the most holy things, until a priest should arise with the Urim and Thummim.


text:
besides their male and female servants, <i>and</i> these were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. And <i>among</i> these were two hundred men and women singers.


text:
And <i>some</i> of the chiefs of families, when they went into the house of the Lord that was in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God, to establish it on its prepared place.


text:
According to their ability they gave into the treasury of the work pure gold, sixty-one thousand pieces, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.


text:
So the priests, the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.


text:
<n>Worship Restored at Jerusalem</n> And the seventh month came, and the children of Israel <i>were</i> in their cities, and the people assembled as one man at Jerusalem.


text:
Then stood up Jeshua the <i>son</i> of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the <i>son</i> of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer upon it burnt offerings, according to the things that were written in the law of Moses the man of God.


text:
And they set up the altar on its place, for there was a fear upon them because of the people of the land. And the burnt offerings was offered up upon it to the Lord morning and evening.


text:
And they kept the Feast of Tabernacles, according to that which was written, and <i>offered</i> burnt offerings daily, in number according to the ordinance, the exact daily rate.


text:
And after this the perpetual burnt offering, and <i>offering</i> for the season of new moon, and for all the hallowed feasts to the Lord, and for everyone that offered a freewill offering to the Lord.


text:
On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, but the foundation of the house of the Lord was not laid.


text:
And they gave money to the stone masons and carpenters, and food and drink, and oil, to the Sidonians, and Tyrians, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant of Cyrus king of the Persians to them.


text:
And in the second year of their coming to the house of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the <i>son</i> of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the <i>son</i> of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, and they appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, over the workmen in the house of the Lord.


text:
And Jeshua and his sons and brothers stood, <i>with </i>Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, over them that performed the works in the house of God; the sons of Henadad <i>with</i> their sons and their brothers the Levites.


text:
And they laid a foundation for building the house of the Lord; and the priests in their robes stood with trumpets and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the order of David king of Israel.


text:
And they answered <i>each other</i> with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, <i>saying</i>, “For <i>it is</i> good, for His mercy to Israel <i>endures</i> forever.” And all the people shouted with a loud voice to praise the Lord at the laying the foundation of the house of the Lord.


text:
But many of the priests and the Levites, and the elder men, heads of families, who had seen the former house on its foundation, and <i>who saw</i> this house with their eyes, wept with a loud voice; but the multitude shouted with joy to raise a song.


text:
And the people did not distinguish the voice of the glad shout from the voice of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud voice, and the voice was heard, even from far away.


text:
<n>Resistance to Rebuilding the Temple</n> And they that afflicted Judah and Benjamin heard, that the children of the captivity were building a house to the Lord God of Israel.


text:
And they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of families, and said to them, “We will build with you; for as you <i>do</i>, we seek <i>to serve</i> our God, and we do sacrifice to Him from the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.”


text:
Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel said to them, “<i>It is</i> not for us and you to build a house to our God, for we ourselves will build together to the Lord our God, as Cyrus the king of the Persians commanded us.”


text:
And the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and hindered them in building,


text:
and <i>continued</i> hiring <i>people</i> against them, plotting to frustrate their counsel, all the days of Cyrus king of the Persians, and until the reign of Darius king of the Persians.


text:
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, even in the beginning of his reign, they wrote a letter against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.


text:
And in the days of Artaxerxes, Tabel wrote peaceably to Mithradath and to the rest of his fellow servants: the tax collector wrote to Artaxerxes king of the Persians a writing in the Syrian tongue, and <i>the same</i> interpreted.


text:
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote an epistle against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes, <i>saying,</i>


text:
“Thus has judged Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of our fellow servants, the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the people of Persia, the Erech, the Babylonians, the Shushan, the Dehavites,


text:
and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper removed, and settled them in the cities of Samaria, and the rest <i>of them</i> beyond the river.”


text:
This <i>is</i> the contents of the letter which they sent to him: “To King Artaxerxes, from your servants the men <i>of the region </i>beyond the river:


text:
Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up to us from you, have come to Jerusalem, the rebellious and wicked city which they are building, and its walls are set in order, and they have established the foundations of it.


text:
Now then let it be known to the king, that if that city be built up, and its walls completed, you shall have no tribute, neither will they pay <i>any tribute</i>; and this <i>shall </i>hinder kings.


text:
And it is not lawful for us to see the dishonor of the king. Therefore have we sent and made known <i>the matter</i> to the king,


text:
that examination may be made in your fathers' book of record. And you shall find, and you shall know that this city <i>is</i> rebellious, and does harm to kings and countries, and there are in the midst of it from very old time refuges for <i>runaway</i> slaves. Therefore this city has been made desolate.


text:
We therefore declare to the king, that if this city is rebuilt, and its walls are set up, you shall have no peace.”


text:
Then the king sent to Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their fellow servants who dwelt in Samaria, and the rest beyond the river, <i>saying,</i> “Peace”; and he said,


text:
And a decree has been made by me, and we have examined, and found that city of old time exalts itself against kings, and that rebellions and desertions take place within it.


text:
And there were powerful kings in Jerusalem, and they ruled over all the <i>country</i> beyond the river, and abundant revenues and tribute were given to them.


text:
<i>See</i> that you be careful of the decree, <i>not</i> to be remiss concerning this matter, lest at any time destruction should abound to the harm of kings.”


text:
Then the tax collector of King Artaxerxes read <i>the letter</i> before Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and his fellow servants. And they went in haste to Jerusalem and through Judah, and caused them to cease with horses and an <i>armed</i> force.


text:
Thus the work of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it was at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.


text:
<n>Restoration of the Temple Resumed</n> And Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the <i>son</i> of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel.


text:
Then Zerubbabel the <i>son</i> of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jehozadak rose up, and began to build the house of God that was in Jerusalem, and with them <i>were</i> the prophets of God assisting them.


text:
At the same time Tattenai the governor on this side the river, and Shethar-Boznai, and their fellow servants came to them, and spoke thus to them: “Who has ordained a decree for you to build this house, and to <i>provide</i> this preparation?”


text:
But the eyes of God were upon the captivity of Judah, and they did not cause them to cease till the decree was brought to Darius; and then was sent by the tax collector concerning this.


text:
<i>This is</i> the copy of a letter which Tattenai, the governor of the part on this side the river, and Shethar-Boznai, and their fellow servants the Apharsachaeans, who were on this side of the river, sent to King Darius.


text:
Be it known to the king, that we went into the land of Judea, to the house of the great God; and it is building with choice stones, and they are laying beams in the walls, and that work is prospering, and goes on favorably in their hands.


text:
Then we asked those elders, and thus we said to them, ‘Who gave you the order to build this house, and to <i>provide</i> this preparation?’


text:
And we asked them their names, <i>in order</i> to declare <i>them</i> to you, so as to write to you the names of their leading men.


text:
And they answered us thus, saying, ‘We <i>are</i> the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we <i>are</i> building the house which had been built many years before this, and a great king of Israel built it, and established it for them.


text:
But after that our fathers provoked the God of heaven, <i>and </i>He gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, and he destroyed this house, and carried the people away captive to Babylon.


text:
And in the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be built.


text:
And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar brought out from the house that was in Jerusalem, and carried them into the temple of the king, those King Cyrus brought out from the temple of the king, and gave to Sheshbazzar the treasurer, who was over the treasury,


text:
and said to him, “Take all the vessels, and go, put them in the house that is in Jerusalem in their place.”


text:
Then that Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. And from that time even until now it has been building, and has not been finished.’


text:
And now, if it <i>seems</i> good to the king, let a search be made in the treasure house of the king at Babylon, that you may know whether <i>it is so</i>, that a decree was made by King Cyrus to build that house of God that was in Jerusalem, and let the king send to us when he has learned concerning this <i>matter</i>.”


text:
<n>The Decree of Darius</n> Then Darius the king made a decree, and caused a search to be made in the record offices, where the treasure is stored in Babylon.


text:
In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the holy house of God that was in Jerusalem, <i>saying</i>, “Let the house be built, and the place where they offer the sacrifices (Also he appointed its elevation, in height sixty cubits; its breadth was of sixty cubits).


text:
And <i>let there be</i> three strong layers of stone, and one layer of timber; and the expense shall be paid out of the house of the king.


text:
And the silver and the gold vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar carried off from the house that was in Jerusalem, and carried to Babylon, let them also be given, and be carried to the temple that is in Jerusalem, and put in the place where they were set in the house of God.


text:
Now, you rulers beyond the river, Shethar-Boznai, and their fellow servants the Apharsachaeans, who <i>are</i> on the other side of the river, give <i>these things</i>, keeping far from that place.


text:
Now let alone the work of the house of God; let the rulers of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build that house of God on its place.


text:
Also a decree has been given by me, to do through the elders of those Jews, to build that house of God: that is, out of the king's property, <i>even</i> the tributes beyond the river, let there be money to cover the expenses carefully granted to those men, so that they may not be hindered.


text:
And whatever need <i>there may be</i>, you shall give both the young of bulls and rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, <i>and </i>wheat, salt, wine, and oil—let it be given them according to the word of the priests that are in Jerusalem, day by day whatsoever they shall ask;


text:
that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and that they may pray for the life of the king and his sons.


text:
And a decree has been made by me, that every man who shall alter this word, timber shall be pulled down from his house, and let him be lifted up and slain upon it, and his house shall be confiscated.


text:
And may the God whose name dwells there, overthrow every king and people who shall stretch out his hand to alter or destroy the house of God which is in Jerusalem. I, Darius have made a decree; let it be diligently <i>attended to</i>.”


text:
<n>The Temple Completed and Dedicated</n> Then Tattenai the governor on this side beyond the river, Shethar-Boznai, and his fellow servants, according to that which King Darius sent, so they did diligently.


text:
And the elders of the Jews and the Levites built, at the prophecy of Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo; and they built up, and finished <i>it</i>, by the decree of the God of Israel, and by the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of the Persians.


text:
And they finished this house by the third day of the month <i>of </i>Adar, which is the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.


text:
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity kept the dedication of the house of God with gladness.


text:
And they offered for the dedication of the house of God a hundred calves, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, twelve kids of the goats for a sin offering for all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.


text:
And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their separate orders, for the services of God in Jerusalem, according to the writing of the Book of Moses.


text:
<n>The Passover Celebrated</n> And the children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.


text:
For the priests and Levites were purified, all were clean to a man, and they slaughtered the Passover <i>lambs </i>for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.


text:
And the children of Israel ate the Passover, <i>even</i> they that were of the captivity, and everyone who separated himself to them from the uncleanness of the nations of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel.


text:
And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with gladness, because the Lord made them glad, and He turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the works of the house of the God of Israel.


text:
<n>The Arrival of Ezra</n> Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, came up Ezra, the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,


text:
this Ezra came up out of Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. And the king granted him <i>leave</i>, for the hand of the Lord his God was upon him in all things which he sought.


text:
And <i>some</i> of the children of Israel, and <i>some</i> of the priests, and of the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, came up to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.


text:
For in the first <i>day</i> of the first month he began the going up from Babylon, and in the first day of the fifth month, they came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was upon him.


text:
For Ezra had determined in his heart to seek the law, and to do and teach the ordinances and judgments in Israel.


text:
<n>The Letter of Artaxerxes to Ezra</n> And this <i>is</i> the copy of the order which Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, of the book of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of His ordinances to Israel.


text:
“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra, the scribe of the law of the Lord God of heaven, Let the order and the answer be accomplished.


text:
A decree is made by me, that everyone who is willing in my kingdom of the people of Israel, and of the priests and Levites, to go to Jerusalem, <i>be permitted</i> to go with you.


text:
<i>One</i> has been sent from the king and his seven counselors, to visit Judea and Jerusalem, according to the law of their God which is in your hand.


text:
And for the house of the Lord <i>there has been sent</i> silver and gold, which the king and the counselors have freely given to the God of Israel, who dwells in Jerusalem.


text:
And all the silver and gold, whatsoever you shall find in all the land of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and the priests that offer freely for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.


text:
And as for everyone that arrives <i>there</i>, speedily order him by this letter <i>to bring</i> calves, rams, lambs, and their grain offerings, and their drink offerings; and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.


text:
And whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do as it is pleasing to your God.


text:
And deliver the vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of God, before God in Jerusalem.


text:
“And as to the rest of the needs of the house of your God, you shall give from the king's treasure houses,


text:
and from me, whatever seems <i>good</i> to you to give. I, King Artaxerxes have made a decree for all the treasuries that are in the <i>country</i> beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest and scribe of the God of heaven may require of you, let it be done diligently,


text:
to <i>the amount of</i> a hundred talents of silver, and a hundred measures of wheat, and a hundred baths of wine, and a hundred baths of oil, and salt without reckoning.


text:
Let whatever is in the decree of the God of heaven be done. Take heed lest anyone make an attack against the house of the God of heaven, lest at any time there shall be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons.


text:
Also this has been declared to you, with respect to all the priests, and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim and ministers of the house of God, let no tribute be <i>paid</i> to you; you shall not have power to oppress them.


text:
“And you, Ezra, as the wisdom of God <i>is</i> in your hand, appoint scribes and judges, that they may judge for all the people beyond the river, all that know the law of the Lord your God; and you shall make it known to him that does not know.


text:
And whosoever shall not obey the law of God, and the law of the king readily, judgment shall be taken upon him, whether for death or for chastisement, or for a fine of his property, or casting into prison.”


text:
“Blessed <i>be</i> the Lord God of our fathers, who has put it thus into the heart of the king, to glorify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem;


text:
and has given me favor in the eyes of the king, and of his counselors, and all the rulers of the king, the exalted ones.” And I was strengthened according to the good hand of God upon me, and I gathered chief men of Israel to go up with me.


text:
<n>Heads of Families Who Returned with Ezra</n> And these <i>are</i> the heads of their families, the leaders that went up with me in the reign of Artaxerxes the king of Babylon:


text:
Of the sons of Shecaniah, and the sons of Parosh; Zechariah; and with him a company <i>of</i> a hundred and fifty <i>men</i>.


text:
And of the sons of Adonikam <i>were the</i> last, and these <i>were</i> their names, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males.


text:
<n>Servants for the Temple</n> And I gathered them to the river that comes to Ahava, and we encamped there three days. And I reviewed the people and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there.


text:
And I sent men of understanding to Eliezar, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, Meshullam, Joiarib, and to Elnathan.


text:
And I forwarded them to the rulers with the money of the place, and I put words in their mouth to speak to their brothers the Nethinim with the money of the place, that they should bring us singers for the house of our God.


text:
And they came to us, as the good hand of our God was upon us, even a man of understanding of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and at the commencement came his sons and his brothers, eighteen <i>men</i>.


text:
And of the Nethinim; whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, <i>there were</i> two hundred and twenty Nethinim; all were gathered by <i>their</i> names.


text:
<n>Fasting and Prayer for Protection</n> And I proclaimed there a fast, at the River Ahava, that <i>we</i> should humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us, and for our children, and for all our property.


text:
For I was ashamed to ask of the king a guard and horsemen to save us from the enemy in the way; for we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God <i>is</i> upon all that seek Him, for good; but His power and His wrath <i>are</i> upon all that forsake Him.”


text:
<n>Gifts for the Temple</n> And I gave charge to twelve of the chiefs of the priests, to Sherebiah, to Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them.


text:
And I weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of the firstfruits of the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his princes, and all Israel that were found, had dedicated.


text:
I even weighed into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and a hundred silver vessels, and a hundred talents of gold;


text:
and twenty golden bowls, <i>weighing</i> about a thousand drachmas, and superior vessels of fine shining brass, <i>precious</i> as gold.


text:
And I said to them, “You <i>are</i> holy to the Lord; and the vessels <i>are</i> holy; and the silver and the gold are freewill offerings to the Lord God of our fathers.


text:
Be watchful and keep them, until you weigh <i>them</i> before the chief priests and the Levites, and the chiefs of families in Jerusalem, at the chambers of the house of the Lord.”


text:
So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring to Jerusalem into the house of our God.


text:
<n>The Return to Jerusalem</n> And we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to come to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and adversary in the way.


text:
And it came to pass on the fourth day that we weighed the silver and the gold and the vessels in the house of our God, into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him <i>was</i> Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levites.


text:
At that time the children of the banishment that came from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve calves for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, twelve goats for a sin offering; all burnt offerings to the Lord.


text:
And they gave the king's mandate to the king's lieutenants, and the governors beyond the river: and they honored the people and the house of God.


text:
<n>Intermarriage with Pagans</n> And when these things were finished, the princes drew near to me, saying, “The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands in their abominations, <i>even</i> the Cannanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, the Ammonite, the Moabite, and the Moserite and the Amorite.


text:
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and their sons, and the holy seed has passed among the nations of the lands, and the hand of the rulers <i>has been</i> first in this transgression.”


text:
And when I heard this thing, I tore my clothes, and trembled, and plucked <i>some</i> of the hairs of my head and of my beard, and sat down mourning.


text:
Then there assembled to me all that followed the word of the God of Israel, on account of the transgression of the captivity; and I remained mourning until the evening sacrifice.


text:
And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my humiliation; and when I had tore my clothes, then I trembled, and I bowed myself on my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord God,


text:
and I said, “O Lord, I am ashamed and confounded, O my God, to lift up my face to You; for our transgressions have abounded over our head, and our trespasses have increased even to heaven.


text:
From the days of our fathers we have been in a great trespass until this day; and because of our iniquities we, and our kings, and our children, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the Gentiles by the sword, by captivity, by spoil, and with shame of our face, as at this day.


text:
And now our God has dealt mercifully with us, so as to leave us <i>a remnant </i>to escape, and to give us an establishment in the place of His sanctuary, to enlighten our eyes, and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.


text:
For we are slaves, yet in our bondage the Lord our God has not deserted us; and He has extended favor to us in the sight of the kings of the Persians, to revive us, that they should raise up the house of our God, and restore the desolate places of it, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.


text:
which You have given us by the hand of Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land, into which you go to inherit it, is a land subject to disturbance by the removal of the people of the nations for their abominations, wherewith they have filled it from one end to the other by their impurity.


text:
And now do not give your daughters to their sons, and do not take of their daughters for your sons, neither shall you ever seek their peace or their goods, that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and allot it as an inheritance to your children forever.’


text:
And after all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds, and our great trespass, <i>it is clear</i> that there is none such as our God, for You have lightly visited our iniquities, and have given us deliverance;


text:
whereas we have repeatedly broken Your commandments, and intermarried with the people of the lands. Be not very angry with us to <i>our</i> utter destruction, so that there should be no remnant or survivor.


text:
O Lord God of Israel, You <i>are</i> righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Behold, we <i>are</i> before You in our trespasses, for we cannot stand before You on this account.”


text:
<n>Confession of Improper Marriages</n> So when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and praying before the house of God, a very great assembly of Israel came together to him, men and women and youths; for the people wept, and wept aloud.


text:
And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, “We have broken covenant with our God, and have taken strange wives of the nations of the land. Yet now there is patience <i>of hope </i>to Israel concerning this thing.


text:
Now then let us make a covenant with our God, to put away all the wives, and their offspring, as you advise:


text:
arise, and alarm them with the commands of our God; and let <i>it</i> be done according to the law. Rise up, for the matter <i>is</i> upon you; and we <i>are</i> with you. Be strong and do it.”


text:
Then Ezra arose, and caused the rulers, the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. And they swore.


text:
And Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went to the treasury of Johanan the son of Eliashib. And when he came there, he ate no bread, and drank no water, for he mourned over the unfaithfulness <i>of those</i> of the captivity.


text:
And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should assemble at Jerusalem, <i>saying</i>,


text:
“Everyone who shall not arrive within three days, as <i>is</i> the counsel of the rulers and the elders, all his belongings shall be forfeited, and he shall be separated from the congregation of the captivity.”


text:
So all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. This <i>was</i> the ninth month. On the twentieth day of the month all the people sat down in the street of the house of the Lord, because of their alarm concerning the word, and because of the storm.


text:
And Ezra the priest arose, and said to them, “You have broken covenant, and have taken strange wives, to add to the trespass of Israel.


text:
Now therefore give praise to the Lord God of our fathers, and do that which is pleasing in His sight, and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the strange wives.”


text:
But the people <i>are</i> numerous, and the season <i>is</i> stormy, and there is no power to stand outside, and the work is more than enough for <i>just </i>one day or for two; for we have greatly sinned in this matter.


text:
Let now our rulers stand, and for all those in our cities who have taken strange wives, let them come at appointed times, and with them elders from every city, and judges, to turn away the fierce wrath of our God from us concerning this matter.


text:
Only Jonathan the son of Asahel, and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah <i>were</i> with me concerning this; and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.”


text:
And the children of the captivity did thus. And Ezra the priest, and heads of families according to <i>their</i> house were separated, and all by their names, for they returned in the first day of the tenth month to search out the matter.


text:
And they made an end with all the men who had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.


text:
<n>Pagan Wives Put Away</n> And there were found <i>some</i> of the sons of the priests who had taken strange wives: of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadek, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.


text:
And they pledged themselves to put away their wives, and <i>offered</i> a ram of the flock for a trespass offering because of their trespass.


text:
Also of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchiah, Mejamin, Eleazar, Asabia, and Benaiah.


text:
And of the sons of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.


text:
<n>Nehemiah Prays for His People</n> The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month of Chislev, of the twentieth year, that I was in Shushan the palace.


text:
And Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and <i>some</i> men of Judah; and I asked them concerning those that had escaped, who had been left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.


text:
And they said to me, “The remnant, <i>even</i> those that are left of the captivity, <i>are</i> there in the land, in great distress and reproach; and the walls of Jerusalem <i>are</i> thrown down, and its gates are burned with fire.”


text:
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, <i>that</i> I sat down and wept, and mourned for <i>several</i> days, and continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.


text:
And I said, “I pray, O Lord God of heaven, the mighty <i>One</i>, the great and terrible, keeping Your covenant and mercy to them that love Him, and to those that keep His commandments.


text:
Let now Your ear be attentive, and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant, which I pray before You at this time, <i>both </i>this day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and make confession for the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against You—both I and the house of my father have sinned.


text:
We have altogether broken <i>our covenant</i> with You, and we have not kept the commandments, and the ordinances, and the judgments, which You commanded Your servant Moses.


text:
Remember, I pray, the word in which You charged Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you break <i>your </i>covenant <i>with Me</i>, I will disperse you among the nations.


text:
But if you turn again to Me, and keep My commandments, and do them; if you should be scattered to the uttermost <i>parts</i> of heaven, yet will I gather them from there, and I will bring them into the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’


text:
Now they <i>are</i> Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your mighty hand.


text:
Do not <i>turn away</i>, I pray, O Lord, but let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants, who desire to fear Your name, and prosper Your servant this day, and cause him to find mercy in the sight of this man.” (For I was the king's cupbearer).


text:
<n>Nehemiah Sent to Judah</n> And it came to pass in the month of Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that the wine was before me. And I took the wine, and gave <i>it</i> to the king; and there was not another before him.


text:
And the king said to me, “Why is your countenance sad, and you do not control yourself? And now this is nothing but sadness of heart.” Then I was very much alarmed,


text:
and I said to the king, “Let the king live forever. Why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, even the home of the tombs of my fathers, has been laid waste, and her gates have been devoured with fire?”


text:
And I said to the king, “If <i>it pleases</i> the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, <i>I ask</i> that <i>you</i> would send him into Judah, to the city of the tombs of my fathers; then will I rebuild it.”


text:
And the king, and his concubine that sat next to him, said to me, “For how long will your journey be, and when will you return?” And <i>the proposal</i> was pleasing before the king, and he sent me away, and I appointed him a time.


text:
And I said to the king, “If <i>it pleases</i> the king, let him give me letters to the governors beyond the river, so as to permit me to pass, till I come to Judah;


text:
and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the garden which belongs to the king, that he may give me timber to cover the gates, and for the wall of the city, and for the house into which I shall enter.” And the king gave to me, according as the good hand of God <i>was upon me</i>.


text:
And I came to the governors beyond the river, and I gave them the king's letters. (Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen).


text:
And Sanballat the Horonite heard <i>it</i>, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and it was grievous to them that a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.


text:
And I rose up by night, I and a few men with me; and I told no man what God put into my heart to do with Israel; and there was no beast with me, except the beast which I rode upon.


text:
And I went forth by the gate of the valley by night, and to the mouth of the Well of Fig Trees, and to the Refuse Gate; and I mourned over the wall of Jerusalem which they were destroying, and her gates were devoured with fire.


text:
And I passed on to the Fountain Gate, and to the king's pool; and there was no room for the beast to pass under me.


text:
And I went up by the wall of the brook by night, and mourned over the wall, and passed through the gate of the valley, and returned.


text:
And the sentinels did not know why I went, nor what I was doing; and until that time I did not tell it to the Jews, or to the priests, or to the nobles, or to the captains, or to the rest <i>of the men</i> who did the work.


text:
Then I said to them, “You see this evil, in which we are, how Jerusalem is desolate, and her gates have been set on fire. Come, and let us build throughout the wall of Jerusalem, and we shall no longer be a reproach.”


text:
And I told them of the hand of God which was good upon me, also about the words of the king which he spoke to me. And I said, “Let us arise and build.” And their hands were strengthened for the good <i>work</i>.


text:
And Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Gesham the Arabian, heard <i>it</i>, and they laughed us to scorn, and came to us, and said, “What <i>is</i> this thing that you are doing? Are you revolting against the king?”


text:
And I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven, He shall prosper us, and we His servants are pure, and we will build; but you have no part, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.”


text:
<n>Rebuilding the Wall</n> Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and built the Sheep Gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even to the Tower of the Hundred they sanctified <i>it</i>, to the Tower of Hananel.


text:
And <i>they built</i> by the side of the men of Jericho, and by the side of the sons of Zacchur, the son of Imri.


text:
And the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they roofed it, and covered in its doors, and bolts, and bars.


text:
And next to them <i>the order</i> reached to Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz, and next to them Meshullam son of Berechiah the son of Meshezebel took <i>his</i> place; and next to them Zadok the son of Baana took <i>his</i> place.


text:
And next to them the Tekoites took <i>their</i> place; but the Adorim did not put their shoulders to their service.


text:
And Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam son of Besodeiah, repaired the old gate; they covered it in, and set up its doors, and its bolts, and its bars.


text:
And next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and Mizpah, made repairs to the throne of the governor on this side the river.


text:
And next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah of the smiths, carried on the repairs. And next to them Hananiah the son of one of the perfumers made repairs, and they finished Jerusalem to the broad wall.


text:
And next to them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district round about Jerusalem.


text:
And next to them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, and <i>that</i> in front of his house. And next to him repaired Hattush son of Hashabniah.


text:
And next <i>to him</i> repaired Malchijah son of Harim, and Hashub son of Pahath-Moab, even to the Tower of the Ovens.


text:
And next to him repaired Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district round about Jerusalem, he and his daughters.


text:
Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the gate of the valley; they built it, and set up its doors, and its bolts, and its bars, and a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Refuse Gate.


text:
And Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district round about Beth-Haccerem, repaired the Refuse Gate, he and his sons; and they covered it, and set up its doors, and its bolts, and its bars.


text:
But Shallun the son of Col-Hozeh repaired the gate of the fountain, the ruler of part of Mizpah. He built it, and covered it, and set up its doors and its bars, and the wall of the pool of the skins by the meadow of the king, and as far as the steps that lead down from the City of David.


text:
After him repaired Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district round about Beth Zur, as far as the garden of David's Tomb, and as far as the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men.


text:
After him repaired the Levites, <i>even</i> Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him repaired Hashabiah, ruler of half the district round about Keilah, in his district.


text:
And after him repaired his brothers, Bavai son of Henadad, ruler of half the district round about Keilah.


text:
And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, another portion of the tower of ascent, where it meets the corner.


text:
After him repaired Baruch the son of Zabbai, a second portion, from the corner as far as the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.


text:
After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz, a second part from the door of the house of Eliashib, to the end of the house of Eliashib.


text:
And after him repaired Benjamin and Hasshub over against their house. And after him repaired Azariah son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah, <i>the parts</i> near to his house.


text:
After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad, another portion from the house of Azariah as far as the corner and to the turning,


text:
of Palal the son of Uzai, opposite the corner, and <i>where is</i> also the tower that projects from the king's house, even the upper one of the prison house. And after him <i>repaired</i> Pedaiah the son of Parosh.


text:
And the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel, as far as the garden of the Water Gate eastward, and <i>there is</i> the projecting tower.


text:
And after them the Tekoites repaired, another portion opposite the great projecting tower, even as far as the wall of Ophel.


text:
And after him Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. And after him repaired Shemaiah son of Shechaniah, keeper of the East Gate.


text:
After him repaired Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, another portion. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired over against his treasury.


text:
After him repaired Malchijah the son of Sarephi as far as the house of the Nethinim, and the merchants over against the Gate of Miphkad, and as far as the steps of the corner.


text:
<n>Hostile Plots Thwarted</n> Now it came to pass, when Sanaballat heard that we were building the wall, that it was grievous to him, and he was very angry, and railed against the Jews.


text:
And he said before his brothers (that is, the army of the Samaritans), “<i>Is it true</i> that these Jews are building their city? Do they indeed offer sacrifices? Will they prevail? And will they restore the stones this day, after they have been burned and made a heap of rubbish?”


text:
And Tobiah the Ammonite came near to him, and said to them, “Do they sacrifice or eat in their place? Shall not a fox go up and pull down their wall of stones?


text:
“Hear, O our God, for we have become a scorn; and return their reproach upon their own heads, and make them a scorn in a land of captivity,


text:
But it came to pass, when Sanaballat and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, heard that the building of the walls of Jerusalem was advancing, and that the breaches began to be stopped, that it appeared very grievous to them.


text:
And Judah said, “The strength of the enemies is broken, yet <i>there is</i> much rubbish, and we shall not be able to build the wall.


text:
And they that afflicted us said, ‘They shall not know, and they shall not see, until we come into the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.’”


text:
And it came to pass, when the Jews who lived near them came, that they said to us, “They are coming up against us from every quarter.”


text:
So I set <i>men</i> in the lowest part of the place behind the wall in the secret places, I even set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.


text:
And I looked, and arose, and said to the nobles, and to the captains, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them; remember our great and terrible God, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”


text:
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was made known to us, and God had frustrated their counsel, that we all returned to the wall, <i>every</i> man to his work.


text:
So it was, from that day on, <i>that </i>half of them that had been driven forth, did the work, and half of them kept guard; and <i>there were</i> spears, shields, bows, and breastplates, and rulers behind the whole house of Judah,


text:
even of them that were building the wall. And those who carried the burdens <i>were</i> under arms: <i>each</i> with one hand performing his work, and with the other held his weapon.


text:
And the builders <i>worked with</i> each man having his sword girded at his side, and so they built; and the trumpeter with his trumpet next to him.


text:
And I said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, “The work <i>is</i> great and abundant, and we are dispersed upon the wall, each at a great distance from his brother.


text:
In whatever place you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, gather yourselves to us there; and our God shall fight for us.”


text:
So we <i>continued</i> laboring at the work. And half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared.


text:
And at that time I said to the people, “Let every man with his servant stay at night in the midst of Jerusalem, and let the night be a watch-time to you, and the day a work-time.”


text:
And I was <i>there</i>, and the watchmen behind me, and there was not a man of us that put off his garments.


text:
<n>Nehemiah Deals with Oppression</n> And the cry of the people and their wives <i>was</i> great against their brothers the Jews.


text:
And some said, “We <i>are</i> numerous with our sons and our daughters; so we will take grain, and eat, and live.”


text:
And some said, “<i>As to</i> our fields and vineyards and houses, let us pledge <i>them</i>, and we will take grain, and eat.”


text:
And some said, “We have borrowed money for the king's tributes—our fields, and our vineyards, and houses <i>are pledged</i>.


text:
And now our flesh <i>is</i> as the flesh of our brothers, our children <i>are</i> as their children. Yet behold, we are reducing our sons and our daughters to slavery, and some of our daughters are enslaved; and there is no power of our hands, for our fields and our vineyards <i>belong</i> to the nobles.”


text:
And my heart took counsel within me, and I contended against the nobles, and the princes, and I said to them, “Should every man demand of his brother what you demand?” And I appointed against them a great assembly,


text:
and I said to them, “We of our free will have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the Gentiles; and do you sell your brothers? And shall they be delivered to us?” And they were silent, and found no answer.


text:
And I said, “The thing which you do is not good; you will not so walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the Gentiles our enemies.


text:
Both my brothers, and my acquaintances, and I, have lent them money and grain. Let us now leave off this usury!


text:
Restore to them, I pray, as at this day, their fields, and their vineyards, and their olive yards, and their houses, and bring forth to them grain and wine and oil of the money.”


text:
And they said, “We will restore, and we will not exact of them; we will do thus as you say.” Then I called the priests, and bound them by oath to do according to this word.


text:
And I shook out my garment, and said, “So may God shake out every man who shall not keep to this word, from his house, and from his labors, he shall be even thus shaken out, as an outcast and empty.” And all the congregation said, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord; and the people did this thing.


text:
<n>The Generosity of Nehemiah</n> From the day that he charged me to be their ruler in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the <i>provisions</i> extorted from them.


text:
But as for the former acts of extortion in which <i>those who were</i> before me oppressed them, they even took of them their last money, forty shekels for bread and wine; and the <i>very</i> outcasts of them exercised authority over the people; but I did not so, because of the fear of God.


text:
Also in the work of the wall I did not treat them with rigor, I did not buy land; and all that were gathered together <i>came</i> there to the work.


text:
And the Jews, to <i>the number of</i> a hundred and fifty men, besides those coming to us from the nations round about, <i>were</i> at my table.


text:
And there came <i>to me</i> for one day one calf, and I had six choice sheep and a goat; and every ten days wine in abundance of all sorts. Yet with these I did not require the bread of extortion, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.


text:
<n>Conspiracy Against Nehemiah</n> Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and <i>that</i> there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not set up the doors on the gates),


text:
that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they <i>were</i> plotting to do me harm.


text:
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, and I shall not be able to come down, lest the work should cease; as soon as I have finished it, I will come down to you.”


text:
And in it was written, “It has been reported among the Gentiles that you and the Jews are planning to revolt. Therefore you are building the wall, and you will be a king to them.


text:
And moreover you have appointed prophets to yourself, that you might dwell in Jerusalem as a king over Judah; and now these words will be reported to the king. Now then, come, let us take counsel together.”


text:
And I sent to him, saying, “It has not happened according to these words, <i>even</i> as you say, for you frame them falsely out of your own heart.”


text:
For all were trying to alarm us, saying, “Their hands shall be weakened from this work, and it shall not be done.” Now therefore I have strengthened my hands.


text:
And I came into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the Son of Mehetabel, and he was shut up; and he said, “Let us assemble together in the house of God, in the midst of it, and let us shut the doors of it; for they are coming by night to slay you.”


text:
And I observed, and behold, God had not sent him, for the prophecy was a fable <i>devised</i> against me:


text:
and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired a multitude against me, that I might be frightened, and do this, and sin, and become to them an ill name, that they might reproach me.


text:
Remember, O God, Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their deeds, and the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets who tried to alarm me.


text:
<n>The Wall Completed</n> So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.


text:
And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard <i>of it</i>, that all the nations round about us feared, and great alarm fell upon them, and they knew that it was of our God that this work should be finished.


text:
And in those days letters came to Tobiah from many nobles of Judah, and those of Tobiah came to them.


text:
For many in Judah were bound to him by oath, because he was son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and Jehohanan his son had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah for a wife.


text:
And they reported his words to me, and carried out my words to him: and Tobiah sent letters to terrify me.


text:
And it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,


text:
that I gave charge to my brother, and Hanani the ruler of the palace, over Jerusalem; for he was a true man, and one that feared God beyond many.


text:
And I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem shall not be opened till sunrise; and while they are still watching, let the doors be shut, and bolted; and set watches of them that dwell in Jerusalem, <i>every</i> man at his post, and <i>every</i> man over against his house.”


text:
<n>The Captives Who Returned to Jerusalem</n> Now the city <i>was</i> wide and large, and the people <i>were</i> few in it, and the houses were not built.


text:
And God put <i>it</i> into my heart, and I gathered the nobles and the rulers and the people into companies; and I found a register of the company that came up first, and I found written in it as follows:


text:
Now these <i>are</i> the children of the country, that came up from captivity, of the number which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried away, and they returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, <i>every</i> man to his city.


text:
Those who came with Zerubbabel <i>were</i> Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Ezra, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah, and Masphar, men of the people of Israel.


text:
The children of Pahath-Moab, with the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand six hundred and eighteen.


text:
The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-eight.


text:
The children of the servants of Solomon: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,


text:
the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth, the children of Zebaim the children of Amon.


text:
All the Nethinim, and children of the servants of Solomon, <i>were</i> three hundred and ninety-two.


text:
And these went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not declare the houses of their families, or their descendants, whether they were of Israel.


text:
And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, for they took wives of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and they were called by their name.


text:
These sought the pedigree of their company, and it was not found, and they were removed <i>as polluted</i> from the priesthood.


text:
And the governor said that they should not eat of the most holy things, until a priest should stand up to give light.


text:
besides their male and female servants, these were seven thousand three hundred and thirty seven. And the men and women singers <i>were</i> two hundred and forty-five.


text:
And some of the heads of families gave into the treasury to Nehemiah for the work a thousand pieces of gold, fifty bowls, and thirty priests' <i>garments</i>.


text:
And <i>some</i> of the heads of families gave into the treasuries of the work, twenty thousand pieces of gold, and two thousand three hundred pounds of silver.


text:
And the rest of the people gave twenty thousand pieces of gold, and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver, and sixty-seven priests' <i>garments</i>.


text:
And the priests, and Levites, and porters, and singers, and <i>some</i> of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities.


text:
<n>Ezra Reads the Law</n> And the seventh month arrived, and the children of Israel <i>were settled</i> in their cities. And all the people were gathered as one man to the broad place before the Water Gate, and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord commanded Israel.


text:
So Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and everyone who had understanding <i>was present</i> to hear, on the first day of the seventh month.


text:
And he read in it from sunrise until midday, before the men and the women; and they understood <i>it</i>, and the ears of all the people <i>were attentive</i> to the Book of the Law.


text:
And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden stage, and there stood next to him Mattithiah, Shema, Hanani, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and at his left <i>stood </i>Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.


text:
And Ezra opened the book before all the people, for he was above the people; and it came to pass when he had opened it, <i>that</i> all the people stood.


text:
And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God; and all the people answered, and said, “Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their face to the ground.


text:
And Jeshua, Bani and Sherebiah instructed the people in the law, and the people <i>stood</i> in their place.


text:
And they read in the Book of the Law of God, and Ezra taught, and instructed them distinctly in the knowledge of the Lord, and the people understood from the reading.


text:
And Nehemiah and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites, and they that instructed the people, spoke and said to all the people, “It is a holy day to the Lord our God; do not mourn, nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law.


text:
And <i>the governor</i> said to them, “Go, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them that have nothing; for this day is holy to our Lord: and faint not, for the Lord is our strength.”


text:
And the Levites caused all the people to be silent, saying, “Be silent, for <i>it is</i> a holy day, and do not be grieved.”


text:
So all the people departed to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, for they understood the words which he made known to them.


text:
And on the second day the heads of families assembled with all the people, <i>also</i> the priests and Levites, to Ezra the scribe, to attend to all the words of the Law.


text:
And they found written in the law which the Lord commanded Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths, in the feast in the seventh month,


text:
and that they should sound with trumpets in all their cities, and in Jerusalem. And Ezra said, “Go forth to the mountain, and bring olive branches, and branches of cypress trees, and branches of myrtle, and branches of palm trees, and branches of <i>every</i> thick tree, to make booths, according to that which was written.”


text:
And the people went forth, and brought <i>them</i>, and made booths for themselves, each one upon his roof, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the streets of the city, and as far as the gate of Ephraim.


text:
And all the congregation who had returned from the captivity made booths, and dwelt in booths, for the children of Israel <i>had</i> not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day. And there was great joy.


text:
And <i>Ezra</i> read in the Book of the Law of God daily, from the first day even to the last day; and they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day <i>was </i>a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.


text:
<n>The People Confess Their Sins</n> Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel assembled with fasting, and in sackcloth, and with ashes on their head.


text:
And the children of Israel separated themselves from every stranger, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.


text:
And they stood in their place, and read in the Book of the Law of the Lord their God; and they confessed <i>their sins</i> to the Lord, and worshipped the Lord their God.


text:
<i>And</i> there stood upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and the sons of Kadmiel, Shebaniah the son of Sarabia, sons of Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God.


text:
And the Levites, Jeshua and Kadmiel, said, “Rise up, bless the Lord our God forever and ever; and let them bless Your glorious name, and exalt it with all blessing and praise.”


text:
And Ezra said, “You are the only true Lord; You have made the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and everything in it, the seas, and everything in them; and You give life to all things, and the hosts of heaven worship You.


text:
You are the Lord God, You chose Abram, and brought him out of the land of the Chaldeans, and gave him the name of Abraham.


text:
And You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give to him and to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites; and You have confirmed Your words, for You <i>are</i> righteous.


text:
And You showed signs and wonders in Egypt, on Pharaoh and all his servants, and on all the people of his land; for You knew that they behaved insolently against them; and You made Yourself a name, as it is this day.


text:
And You divided the sea before them, and they passed through the midst of the sea on dry land; and You cast them that were about to pursue them into the deep, as a stone into the mighty waters.


text:
And You guided them by day by a pillar of cloud, and by night by a pillar of fire, to light the way for them in which they should walk.


text:
Also You came down upon Mount Sinai, and You spoke to them out of heaven, and gave them right judgments, and laws of truth, ordinances, and good commandments.


text:
And You made known to them Your holy Sabbath; You enjoined upon them commandments, and ordinances, and a law, by the hand of Your servant Moses.


text:
And You gave them bread from heaven for their food, and You brought them water from a rock for their thirst; and You told them to go in to inherit the land over which You stretched out Your hand to give to them.


text:
“But they and our fathers behaved proudly, and hardened their neck, and did not heed Your commandments,


text:
and refused to listen, and did not remember Your wonders which You worked among them. And they hardened their neck, and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You, O God, <i>are</i> merciful and compassionate, longsuffering, and abundant in mercy, and You did not forsake them.


text:
And still farther they even made for themselves a molded calf, and said, ‘These <i>are</i> the gods that brought us up out of Egypt’; and they worked great provocations.


text:
Yet You in Your great mercy did not forsake them in the wilderness; You did not turn away from them the pillar of the cloud by day, to guide them in the way, nor the pillar of fire by night, to enlighten for them the way in which they should walk.


text:
And You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, and You did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, and gave them water in their thirst.


text:
And You sustained them forty years in the wilderness; You did not allow anything to fail them. Their garments did not wear out, and their feet were not bruised.


text:
Moreover, You gave them kingdoms, and divided nations to them; and they inherited the land of Sihon, king of Hesbron, and the land of Og king of Bashan.


text:
And You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land of which You spoke to their fathers;


text:
And they inherited it; and You destroyed from before them the inhabitants in the land of the Canaanites, and You gave into their hands them and their kings, and the nations of the land, to do unto them as it pleased them.


text:
And they took lofty cities, and inherited houses full of all good things, wells <i>already </i>dug, vineyards and olive yards, and every fruit tree in abundance. So they ate, and were filled, and grew fat, and delighted themselves in Your great goodness.


text:
“But they turned, and revolted from You, and cast Your law behind their backs; and they killed Your prophets, who testified against them to turn them back to You, and they worked great provocations.


text:
Then You gave them into the hand of them that afflicted them, and they did afflict them. And they cried to You in the time of their affliction, and You heard them from heaven, and in Your great mercy You gave them deliverers, and saved them from the hand of them that afflicted them.


text:
But when they rested, they did evil again before You, so You left them in the hands of their enemies, and they ruled over them; and they cried again to You, and You heard from heaven, and delivered them in Your great mercy.


text:
And You testified against them, to bring them back to Your law; but they did not listen, and sinned against Your commandments and Your judgments, which if a man does, he shall live in them; and they turned their back, and hardened their neck, and did not hear.


text:
Yet You had patience with them for many years, and testified to them by Your Spirit by the hand of Your prophets: but they did not hear; so You gave them into the hand of the nations of the land.


text:
But You in Your many mercies did not appoint them to destruction, and did not forsake them; for You are strong, and merciful, and compassionate.


text:
“And now, O our God, the powerful, the great, the mighty, and the terrible, keeping Your covenant and Your mercy, let not all this trouble seem little in Your sight which has come upon us, and our kings, and our princes, and our priests, and our prophets, and our fathers, and upon all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria even to this day.


text:
For You <i>are</i> righteous in all the things that come upon us; and You have dealt faithfully, but we have greatly sinned.


text:
And our kings, and our princes, and our priests, and our fathers, have not performed Your law, and have not given heed to Your commandments, and <i>have not kept </i>Your testimonies which You testified to them.


text:
And they did not serve You in Your kingdom, and in Your great goodness which You gave to them, and in the large and fat land which You furnished before them, and they did not turn from their evil ways.


text:
Behold, we are servants this day, and <i>as for</i> the land which You gave to our fathers, to eat the fruit of it and the good things of it, behold, we are servants upon it;


text:
and its produce <i>is</i> abundant for the kings whom You appointed over us because of our sins; and they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, as it pleases them, and we are in great affliction.


text:
“And in regard to all these circumstances we make a covenant, and write <i>it</i>, and our princes, our Levites, <i>and</i> our priests, set their seal to <i>it</i>.”


text:
<n>The People Who Sealed the Covenant</n> And over them that sealed were Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,


text:
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and everyone who drew off from the nations of the land to the law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and understanding,


text:
were urgent with their brothers, and bound them under a curse, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in the law of God, which was given by the hand of Moses, the servant of God; to keep and to do all the commandments of the Lord, and His judgments, and His ordinances.


text:
And that “We will not,” <i>they said</i>, “give our daughters to the people of the land, nor will we take their daughters to our sons.


text:
And <i>as for</i> the people of the land who bring wares and all <i>manner of</i> merchandise to sell on the Sabbath day, we <i>will</i> not buy from them on the Sabbath or on the holy day; and we will leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.


text:
“And we will impose ordinances upon ourselves, to levy on ourselves a third of a shekel yearly for the service of the house of our God;


text:
the showbread, and the continual grain offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the Sabbaths, of the new moon, for the feast, and for the holy things, and the sin offerings, to make atonement for Israel, and for the works of the house of our God.


text:
And we cast lots for the office of wood-bearing, <i>we</i> the priests, and the Levites, and the people, to bring <i>wood</i> into the house of our God, according to the house of our families, at certain set times, year by year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law;


text:
and to bring the firstfruits of our land, and the firstfruits of the fruit of every tree, year by year, into the house of the Lord;


text:
the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, for the priests that minister in the house of our God.


text:
And the firstfruits of our grain, and the fruit of every tree, of wine, and of oil, will we bring to the priests to the treasury of the house of God; and a tithe of our land to the Levites; for the Levites themselves shall receive tithes in all the cities of the land we cultivate.


text:
And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites in the tithe of the Levite: and the Levites shall bring up <i>their</i> tithe to the house of our God, into the treasuries of the house of God.


text:
For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring into the treasuries the firstfruits of the grain, and wine, and oil; to where the holy vessels <i>are</i>, and the priests, and the ministers, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.”


text:
<n>The People Dwelling in Jerusalem</n> And the chiefs of the people dwelt in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots, to bring one of <i>every</i> ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine-tenths in the <i>other</i> cities.


text:
Now these <i>are</i> the chiefs of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah; <i>every</i> man dwelt in his possession in their cities: Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the children of the servants of Solomon.


text:
And there dwelt in Jerusalem <i>some</i> of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, and <i>some</i> of the sons of Perez;


text:
and Maaseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-Hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joarib, son of Zechariah, son of Shiloni.


text:
And these <i>were</i> the children of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah.


text:
And Joel son of Zichri <i>was</i> overseer over them: and Judah son of Senuah was second in the city.


text:
Seraiah, son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Maraioth, son of Ahitub, was over the house of God.


text:
And their brothers doing the work of the house were eight hundred and twenty-two; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah,


text:
and his brothers, chiefs of families, two hundred and forty-two: and Amashai son of Azarel, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer,


text:
and his brothers, mighty men of war, a hundred and twenty-eight: and <i>their</i> overseer <i>was</i> Zabdiel son of <i>one of the</i> great men.


text:
And the overseer of the Levites <i>was</i> the son of Bani, son of Uzzi, son of Hashabiah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph the singers <i>some were</i> over the house of God,


text:
and with regard to villages in their country district. And <i>some</i> of the children of Judah dwelt in Kirjath Arba,


text:
<n>The Priests and Levites</n> Now these <i>are</i> the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,


text:
And the Levites <i>were:</i> Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, <i>and </i>Mattaniah, who <i>was</i> over the bands,


text:
And in the days of Joiakim, his brothers the priests and the heads of families <i>were</i>: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;


text:
The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Joa, Johanan, and Jaddua, <i>were</i> recorded heads of families. Also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian.


text:
And the sons of Levi, heads of families, <i>were</i> written in the Book of the Chronicles, even to the days of Johanan son of Eliashib.


text:
And the heads of the Levites <i>were</i> Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua; and the sons of Kadmiel, and their brothers over against them, were to sing hymns of praise, according to the commandment of David the man of God, course by course.


text:
<i>it was</i> in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, son of Josadak, and in the days of Nehemiah; and Ezra the priest <i>was</i> the scribe.


text:
<n>Nehemiah Dedicates the Wall</n> And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep a feast of dedication and gladness with thanksgiving, and they sounded cymbals with songs, and <i>had</i> psalteries and harps.


text:
And the sons of the singers were assembled both from the neighborhood round about to Jerusalem, and from the villages,


text:
And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people, and the porters, and the wall.


text:
And they brought up the princes of Judah on the wall, and they appointed two great <i>companies</i> for thanksgiving, and they passed on the right hand on the wall of the Refuse Gate.


text:
And <i>some</i> of the sons of the priest with trumpets, Zechariah son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Matthaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zacchur, son of Asaph:


text:
and his brothers, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nathanel, Judah, and Hanani, to praise with the hymns of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe <i>was</i> before them,


text:
at the gate, to praise before them, and they went up by the steps of the City of David, in the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, even to the Water Gate


text:
And in that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced; for God had made them very joyful: and their wives and their children rejoiced; and the joy in Jerusalem was heard from afar off.


text:
<n>Temple Responsibilities</n> And in that day they appointed men over the treasuries, for the treasures, the firstfruits, and the tithes, and <i>for</i> the chiefs of the cities who were assembled among them, <i>to furnish</i> portions for the priests and Levites; for <i>there was</i> joy in Judah over the priests and over the Levites that waited.


text:
And they kept the charges of their God, and the charges of the purification, and <i>ordered</i> the singers and the porters, according to the commandments of David and his son Solomon.


text:
For in the days of David, Asaph was originally first of the singers, and <i>they sang</i> hymns and praises to God.


text:
And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, a daily rate; and consecrated them to the Levites, and the Levites consecrated them to the sons of Aaron.


text:
In that day they read in the Book of Moses in the ears of the people; and it was found written in it, that the Ammonites and Moabites should not enter into the congregation of God forever;


text:
because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing.


text:
And it came to pass, when they heard the law, that they were separated, <i>even</i> every alien in Israel.


text:
<n>The Reforms of Nehemiah</n> And before this time Eliashib the priest dwelt in the treasury of the house of our God, connected with Tobiah;


text:
and he made himself a great treasury, and there they were formerly in the habit of bestowing the offerings, and the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithe of the grain, and the wine, and the oil, the ordered portion of the Levites, and singers, and porters; and the firstfruits of the priests.


text:
But in all this <i>time</i> I was not in Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king, and after a certain time I made my request of the king;


text:
and I came to Jerusalem, and I understood the evil which Eliashib had done in the case of Tobiah, in making for him a treasury in the court of the house of God.


text:
And it appeared very evil to me; so I cast forth all the furniture of the house of Tobiah from the treasury.


text:
And I gave orders, and they purified the treasuries; and I restored the vessels into the house of God, <i>and</i> the offerings, and the frankincense.


text:
And I understood that the portion of the Levites had not been given; and they had fled everyone to his field, the Levites and the singers doing the work.


text:
And I contended with the commanders, and said, “Why has the house of God been abandoned?” And I assembled them, and set them in their place.


text:
to the charge of Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites. And next to them <i>was</i> Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Matthaniah; for they were accounted faithful. <i>It was</i> their office to distribute to their brothers.


text:
Remember me, O God, in this, and let not my kindness be forgotten which I have wrought in <i>regard to</i> the house of the Lord God.


text:
In those days I saw in Judah <i>men</i> treading wine-presses on the Sabbath, and carrying sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and every <i>kind of</i> burden, and bringing them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.


text:
And I testified in the day of their sale. Also there dwelt in it <i>men</i> bringing fish, and selling every <i>kind of</i> merchandise to the children of Judah and in Jerusalem on the Sabbath.


text:
And I strove with the free children of Judah, and said to them, “What <i>is</i> this evil thing which you do, and profane the Sabbath day?


text:
Did not your fathers <i>commit</i> this same <i>trespass,</i> and our God brought upon them and upon us and upon this city all these evils? And do you bring additional wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath?”


text:
And it came to pass, when the gates were set up in Jerusalem, before the Sabbath, that I spoke, and they shut the gates; and I gave orders that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath. And I set <i>some</i> of my servants at the gates, that none should bring <i>in</i> burdens on the Sabbath day.


text:
Then I testified against them, and said to them, “Why do you lodge in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will stretch out my hand upon you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath.


text:
And I told the Levites who were purifying themselves, and came and kept the gates, that they should sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O God, for these things, and spare me according to the abundance of Your mercy.


text:
And their children spoke half in the language of Ashdod, and did not know how to speak in the Jewish language.


text:
And I strove with them and cursed them; and I struck some of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, <i>saying,</i> “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, and you shall not take of their daughters to your sons.


text:
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin thus? Yet there was no king like him among many nations, and he was beloved of God, and God made him king over all Israel; yet strange women turned him aside.


text:
So we will not hearken to you to do all this evil, to break covenant with our God, to marry strange wives.”


text:
And Elishub the high priest, <i>one</i> of the sons of Joiada, son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, I chased away from me.


text:
Remember them, O God, for their <i>false</i> connection with the priesthood, and <i>the breaking</i> the covenant of the priesthood, and <i>for defiling</i> the Levites.


text:
So I purged them from all foreign connection, and established courses for the priests and the Levites, <i>every</i> man according to his work.


text:
And the offering of the wood-bearers <i>was</i> at certain set times, and in the <i>times of the</i> firstfruits. Remember me, O <i>my</i> God, for good.


text:
<n>Mordecai’s Dream</n> And it came to pass after these things in the days of Artaxerxes (this Artaxerxes ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India),


text:
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for his friends, and the other nations, and to the nobles of the Persians and Medes, and the chief of the satraps.


text:
And after this, after he had shown to them the wealth of his kingdom, and the abundant glory of his wealth during a hundred and eighty days,


text:
when the days of the marriage feast were completed, the king made a banquet for the nations who were present in the city six days, in the court of the king's house,


text:
<i>which was</i> adorned with <i>hangings</i> of fine linen and flax on cords of fine linen and purple, fastened to golden and silver studs, on pillars of Parian marble and stone. <i>There were</i> golden and silver couches on a pavement of emerald stone, and of pearl, and of Parian stone, and open-worked coverings variously flowered, <i>having</i> roses worked round about;


text:
gold and silver cups, and a small cup of carbuncle set out of the value of thirty thousand talents, abundant and sweet wine, which the king himself drank.


text:
And this banquet was not according to the appointed law; but so the king would have it: and he charged the stewards to perform his will and that of the company.


text:
Also Vashti the queen made a banquet for the women in the palace where King Artaxerxes <i>dwelt</i>.


text:
<n>The King Deposes Queen Vashti</n> Now on the seventh day the king, being merry, told Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Zethar, Abagtha, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs, servants of King Artaxerxes,


text:
to bring the queen in to him, to enthrone her, and crown her with the diadem, and to show her to the princes, and her beauty to the nations, for she was beautiful.


text:
But Queen Vashti would not heed the word to come with the chamberlains; so the king was grieved and angered.


text:
And he said to his friends, “Thus has Vashti spoken: pronounce therefore upon this <i>case</i> law and judgment.”


text:
So Carshena, Shethar, and Malisear, the princes of the Persians and Medes, who were near the king, who sat chief <i>in rank</i> by the king, drew near to him,


text:
and reported to him according to the laws how it was proper to do to Queen Vashti, because she had not done the things commanded of the king by the eunuchs.


text:
And Memucan said to the king and to the princes, “Queen Vashti has not wronged the king only, but also all the king's rulers and princes;


text:
for he has told them the words of the queen, and how she disobeyed the king. As then, <i>he said</i>, she refused <i>to obey</i> King Artaxerxes,


text:
so this day shall the other women of the chiefs of the Persians and Medes, having heard what she said to the king, dare in the same way to dishonor their husbands.


text:
If then it seem good to the king, let him make a royal decree, and let it be written according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, and let him not alter <i>it</i>. And let not the queen come in to him anymore, and let the king give her royalty to a woman better than she.


text:
And let the law of the king which he shall have made, be widely proclaimed in his kingdom. And so shall all the women give honor to their husbands, from the poor, even to the rich.”


text:
and sent into all his kingdom through the several provinces, according to their language, in order that men might be feared in their own houses.


text:
<n>Esther Becomes Queen</n> And after this the king's anger subsided, and he no longer made mention of Vashti, bearing in mind what she had said, and how he had condemned her.


text:
Then the servants of the king said, “Let there be sought for the king chaste <i>and</i> beautiful young virgins.


text:
And let the king appoint local governors in all the provinces of his kingdom, and let them select fair <i>and</i> chaste young women, <i>and bring them</i> to the city Susa, into the women's apartment, and let them be consigned to the king's eunuch, the keeper of the women. And let things for purification and other attendance be given <i>to them</i>.


text:
And let the woman who shall please the king be queen instead of Vashti.” And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.


text:
Now there was a Jew in the city Susa, and his name was Mordecai, the <i>son</i> of Jair, <i>the son</i> of Shimei, <i>the son</i> of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin;


text:
who had been brought a prisoner from Jerusalem, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried into captivity.


text:
And he had a foster child, daughter of Aminadab his father's brother, and her name <i>was</i> Esther. And when her parents were dead, he brought her up for a wife for himself. And the woman was beautiful.


text:
And because the king's ordinance was published, many young women were gathered to the city Susa under the hand of Hegai; and Esther was brought to Hegai the keeper of the women.


text:
Now the young woman pleased him, and she found favor in his sight; and he hastened to give her the things for purification, and her portion, and the seven maidens appointed her out of the palace. And he treated her and her maidens well in the women's apartment.


text:
Now this was the time for a virgin to go into the king, when she should have fulfilled twelve months; for so are the days of purification fulfilled, six months while they are anointing themselves with oil of myrrh, and six months with spices and women's purifications.


text:
And then <i>the young woman</i> goes in to the king; and <i>the officer</i> to whoever he shall give the command, will bring her to come in with him from the women's apartment to the king's chamber.


text:
She enters in the evening, and in the morning she departs to the second women's apartment, where Hegai the king's eunuch <i>is</i> keeper of the women. And she does not go in to the king again, unless she should be called by name.


text:
And when the time was fulfilled for Esther, the daughter of Aminadab, the brother of Mordecai's father to go in to the king, she neglected nothing which the eunuch, the women's keeper, commanded; for Esther found grace in the sight of all that looked upon her.


text:
So Esther went in to King Artaxerxes in the twelfth month, which is Adar, in the seventh year of his reign.


text:
And the king loved Esther, and she found favor beyond all the <i>other</i> virgins, and he put on her the queen's crown.


text:
And the king made a banquet for all his friends and great men for seven days, and he highly celebrated the marriage of Esther; and he made a release to those who were under his dominion.


text:
Now Esther had not revealed her relatives; for so Mordecai commanded her, to fear God, and perform His commandments, as when she was with him: and Esther did not change her manner of life.


text:
And two of the king’s eunuchs, the chiefs of the bodyguard, were grieved, because Mordecai was promoted; and they sought to kill King Artaxerxes.


text:
And the matter became known to Mordecai, and he made it known to Esther, and she declared to the king the matter of the conspiracy.


text:
And the king examined the two eunuchs, and hanged them. And the king gave orders to make a note for a memorial in the royal records of the good offices of Mordecai, as a commendation.


text:
<n>Haman’s Conspiracy</n> And after this King Artaxerxes highly honored Haman, <i>son</i> of Hammedatha, the Agagite, and exalted him, and set his seat above all his friends.


text:
And everyone in the palace bowed down to him, for so the king had given orders to do; but Mordecai did not bow down to him.


text:
And those in the king's palace said to Mordecai, “Mordecai, why do you transgress the commands of the king?”


text:
<i>Thus</i> they spoke daily to him, but he did not listen to them; so they told it to Haman that Mordecai resisted the commands of the king; and Mordecai had shown to them that he was a Jew.


text:
And he made a decree in the twelfth year of the reign of Artaxerxes, and cast lots daily and monthly, to slay in one day the race of Mordecai. And the lot fell on the fourteenth <i>day </i>of the month, which is Adar.


text:
And he spoke to King Artaxerxes, saying, “There is a nation scattered among the nations in all your kingdom, and their laws differ from <i>those of</i> all the <i>other</i> nations; and they disobey the laws of the king. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them alone.


text:
If it seems good to the king, let him make a decree to destroy them, and I will remit into the king's treasury ten thousand talents of silver.”


text:
And the king took off his ring, and gave it into the hands of Haman, to seal the decrees against the Jews.


text:
So the king's recorders were called in the first month, on the thirteenth <i>day</i>, and they wrote as Haman commanded to the captains and governors in every province, from India even to Ethiopia, to a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, and to the rulers of the nations according to their <i>many</i> languages, in the name of King Artaxerxes.


text:
And <i>the message</i> was sent by posts throughout the kingdom of Artaxerxes, to utterly destroy the race of the Jews on the first day of the twelfth month, which is Adar, and to plunder their goods. And the following is the copy of the letter: “The great King Artaxerxes writes thus to the rulers and inferior governors of a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India even to Ethiopia, who hold authority under <i>him</i>. Ruling over many nations, and having obtained dominion over the whole world, I was minded, (not elated by the confidence of power but ever conducting <i>myself</i> with great moderation and with gentleness) to make the lives of <i>my</i> subjects continually tranquil, desiring both to maintain the kingdom quite and orderly to <i>its</i> utmost limits, and to restore the peace desired by all men. But when I had inquired of my counselors how this should be brought to pass, Haman, who excels in sound judgment among us, and has been manifestly well inclined without wavering and with unshaken fidelity, and has obtained the second post in the kingdom, informed us that a certain ill-disposed people is mixed up with all the tribes throughout the world, opposed in their laws to every <i>other</i> nation, and continually neglecting the commands of the kings, so that the united government blamelessly administered by us is not quietly established. “Having then conceived that this nation alone <i>of all others</i> is continually set in opposition to every man, introducing as a change a foreign code of laws, and injuriously plotting to accomplish the worst of evils against our interests, and against the happy establishment of the monarchy; we have accordingly appointed those who are signified to you in the letters written by Haman, who is set over <i>the public</i> affairs and is our second governor, to utterly destroy them all with their wives and children by the swords of the enemies, without pitying or sparing any, on the fourteenth day of the twelfth month (which is Adar) of the present year; that the people aforetime and now ill-disposed <i>to us</i> having been violently consigned to death in one day, may hereafter secure to us continually a well- constituted and quiet <i>state of</i> affairs.”


text:
And the copies of the letters were published in every province; and an order was given to all the nations to be ready against that day.


text:
And the business was hastened, and <i>that</i> at Susa. And the king and Haman began to drink, but the city was troubled.


text:
<n>Esther Agrees to Help the Jews</n> But Mordecai, having perceived what was done, tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth, and sprinkled dust upon himself. And having rushed forth through the open street of the city, he cried with a loud voice, “A nation that has done no wrong is going to be destroyed!”


text:
And he came to the king's gate, and stood; for it was not lawful for him to enter into the palace, wearing sackcloth and ashes.


text:
And in every province where the letters were published, <i>there was</i> crying and lamentation and great mourning on the part of the Jews: they spread for themselves sackcloth and ashes.


text:
And the queen's maids and chamberlains went in and told her: and when she had heard what was done, she was disturbed; and she sent to clothe Mordecai, and take away his sackcloth; but he would not consent.


text:
So Esther called for her eunuch Hathach, who waited upon her; and she sent to learn the truth from Mordecai.


text:
And Mordecai showed him what was done, and the promise which Haman had made the king of ten thousand talents <i>to be paid</i> into the treasury, that he might destroy the Jews.


text:
And he gave him the copy <i>of the writing</i> that was published in Susa concerning their destruction, to show to Esther. And he told him to command her to go in and make supplication to the king, and to beg him for the people, “remembering,” <i>he said</i>, “the days of your low estate, how you were nursed by my hand—because Haman, who holds the next place to the king, has spoken against us for death. Call upon the Lord, and speak to the king concerning us, to deliver us from death!”


text:
‘All the nations of the empire know, that whoever, man or woman, shall go in to the king into the inner court uncalled, that person cannot live. Only to whomsoever the king shall stretch out <i>his</i> golden scepter, he shall live; and I have not been called to go into the king, for these thirty days.’”


text:
Then Mordecai said to Hathach, “Go, and say to her, ‘Esther, do not say to yourself that you alone will escape in the kingdom, more than all the <i>other</i> Jews.


text:
For if you shall refuse to heed on this occasion, help and protection will be to the Jews from another quarter; but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows if you have been made queen for this <i>very</i> occasion.’”


text:
“Go and assemble the Jews that are in Susa, and fast for me, and do not eat or drink for three days, night and day. And I also and my maidens will fast, and then I will go in to the king, contrary to the law, even if I must die.”


text:
So Mordecai went and did all that Esther commanded him. And he sought the Lord, making mention of all the works of the Lord; and he said, “Lord God, <i>great </i>King that rules over all <i>people</i>, for all things are in Your power, and there is no one that shall oppose You in Your purpose to save Israel. For You have made the heaven and the earth, and every wonderful thing in the <i>earth</i> under heaven. And You are Lord of all, and there is no one who shall resist You, the Lord. You know all things: You know, O Lord, that it is not in the insolence, nor haughtiness, nor love of glory, that I have done this, to refuse to bow down to the haughty Haman. For I would gladly have kissed the soles of his feet for the safety of Israel. “But I have done this, that I might not set the glory of man above the glory of God: and I will not worship anyone except You, my Lord, and I will not do these things in haughtiness. “And now, O Lord God, O King, the God of Abraham, spare Your people, for <i>our enemies</i> are looking upon us for <i>our</i> destruction, and they have desired to destroy Your ancient inheritance. Do not overlook Your peculiar people, whom you have redeemed for Yourself out of the land of Egypt. Hearken to my prayer, and be propitious to Yours in gladness, that we may live and sing praises to Your name, O Lord; and do not utterly destroy the mount of them that praise You, O Lord.” And all Israel cried with <i>all</i> their might, for their death <i>was</i> before their eyes. And Queen Esther found refuge in the Lord, being taken, <i>as it were,</i> in the agony of death. And having taken off her glorious apparel, she put on garments of distress and morning. And instead of grand perfumes, she put dung and ashes on her head, and she greatly brought down her body, and she filled every place of her glad adorning with the <i>torn</i> curls of her hair. And she sought the Lord God of Israel, and said, “O my Lord, You alone are our king. Help me, <i>I who am</i> destitute, and have no helper but You, for my danger <i>is </i>close at hand. I have heard from my birth, in the tribe of my kindred, that You, O Lord, took Israel out of all the nations, and our fathers out of all their kindred for a perpetual inheritance, and have wrought for them all that You have said. And now we have sinned before You, and You have delivered us into the hands of our enemies, because we honored their gods. You are righteous, O Lord. But now they have not been contented with the bitterness of our slavery, but have laid their hands on the hands of their idols, <i>in order</i> to abolish the decree of Your mouth, and to utterly destroy Your inheritance, and to stop the mouth of them that praise You, and to extinguish the glory of Your house and Your altar, and to open the mouth of the Gentiles, to <i>speak</i> the praises of vanities, and <i>in order</i> that a mortal king should be admired forever. “O Lord, do not resign Your scepter to them that are not, and let them not laugh at our fall, but turn their counsel against themselves, and make an example of him who has begun <i>to injure</i> us. Remember <i>us</i>, O Lord, manifest Yourself in the time of our affliction, and encourage me, O King of gods, and ruler of all dominion. Put harmonious speech into my mouth before the lion, and turn his heart to hate him that fights against us, to the utter destruction of him and of them that consent with him. But deliver us by Your hand, and help I <i>who am</i> destitute, and have no one but You, O Lord. You know all things, and know that I hate the glory of transgressors, and that I abhor the manners of the uncircumcised, and of every stranger. You know my necessity, for I abhor the symbol of my proud station, which is upon my head in the days of my splendor. I abhor it as a menstrual cloth, and I wear it not in the days of my tranquility. And Your maid has not eaten <i>at</i> the table of Haman, and I have not honored the banquet of the king, neither have I drunk the wine of libations. Neither has Your maid rejoiced since the day of my promotion until now, except in You, O Lord God of Abraham. O God, who has power over all, listen to the voice of the desperate, and deliver us from the hand of them that devise mischief, and deliver me from my fear.”


text:
<n>Mordecai’s PrayerEsther’s PrayerEsther’s Banquet</n> And it came to pass on the third day, when she had ceased praying, that she put off her mean dress, and put on her glorious apparel. And being splendidly arrayed, <i>and</i> having called upon God the Overseer and Preserver of all things, she took her two maids, and she leaned upon one, as a delicate female, and the other followed bearing her train. And she <i>was</i> blooming in the perfection of her beauty; and her face <i>was</i> cheerful and benevolent, but her heart <i>was</i> straitened for fear. And having passed through all the doors, she stood before the king. And he was sitting upon his royal throne, and he had put on all his glorious apparel, <i>covered</i> all over with gold and precious stones, and was very terrible. And having raised his face resplendent with glory, he looked with intense anger. And the queen fell, and changed her color as she fainted; and she bowed herself upon the head of the maid that went before <i>her</i>. But God changed the spirit of the king’s demeanor, and in intense feeling he sprang from off his throne, and took her into his arms, until she recovered. And he comforted her with peaceable words, and said to her, “What is <i>the matter</i>, Esther? I <i>am</i> your brother; be of good cheer, you shall not die, for our command is openly declared <i>to you;</i> Draw near.”


text:
And having raised the golden scepter he laid it upon her neck, and embraced her, and said, “Speak to me.” And she said to him, “I saw you, <i>my</i> lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of your glory; for you, <i>my</i> lord, are to be wondered at, and your face <i>is</i> full of grace.” And while she was speaking, she fainted and fell. Then the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her.


text:
And the king said, “What do you wish, Esther? And what is your request? <i>Ask</i> even to the half of my kingdom, and it shall be yours.”


text:
And Esther said, “Today is my great day: if then it seems good to the king, let both him and Haman come to the feast which I will prepare this day.”


text:
And the king said, “Bring Haman here quickly, that we may perform the word of Esther.” So they both came to the feast of which Esther had spoken.


text:
And at the banquet the king said to Esther, “What is <i>your request</i>, Queen Esther? <i>Speak</i>, and you shall have all that you require.”


text:
if I have found favor in the sight of the king, let the king and Haman come again tomorrow to the feast which I shall prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do the same.”


text:
So Haman went out from the king very glad <i>and</i> merry; but when Haman saw Mordecai the Jew in the court, he was greatly enraged.


text:
And he showed them his wealth, and the glory with which the king had invested him, and how he had caused him to take precedence and bear chief rule in the kingdom.


text:
And Haman said, “The queen has called no one to the feast with the king but me, and I am invited tomorrow.


text:
And Zeresh his wife and his friends said to him, “Let there be a gallows made for you of fifty cubits, and in the morning speak to the king, and let Mordecai be hanged on the gallows. But go in to the feast with the king, and be merry.” And the saying pleased Haman, and the gallows was prepared.


text:
<n>The King Honors Mordecai</n> But the Lord removed sleep from the king that night; and he told his servant to bring in the books, the registers of daily events, to read to him.


text:
And he found the records written concerning Mordecai, how he had told the king concerning the two eunuchs of the king, when they were keeping guard, and sought to lay hands on Artaxerxes.


text:
And the king said, “What honor or favor have we done for Mordecai?” And the king's servants said, “You have not done anything for him.”


text:
And while the king was inquiring about the kindness <i>shown to</i> Mordecai, behold, Haman <i>was</i> in the court. And the king said, “Who <i>is</i> in the court?” Now Haman had come in to speak to the king, that he should hang Mordecai on the gallows, which he had prepared.


text:
And the king said to Haman, “What shall I do to the man whom I wish to honor?” And Haman said within himself, “Whom would the king honor but myself?”


text:
let the king's servants bring the robe of fine linen which the king puts on, and the horse on which the king rides,


text:
and let him give <i>it</i> to one of the king's noble friends, and let him array the man whom the king loves. And let him mount him on the horse, and proclaim through the streets of the city, saying, ‘Thus shall it be to every man whom the king honors.’”


text:
Then the king said to Haman, “You have well said: so do to Mordecai the Jew, who waits in the palace, and let not a word of what you have spoken be neglected.”


text:
So Haman took the robe and the horse, and clothed Mordecai, and mounted him on the horse, and went through the street of the city, and proclaimed, saying, “Thus shall it be to every man whom the king wishes to honor.”


text:
And Haman related the events that had befallen him to Zeresh his wife, and to <i>his</i> friends. And his friends and his wife said to him, “If Mordecai <i>is</i> of the race of the Jews, <i>and </i>you have begun to be humbled before him, you will surely fall, and you will not be able to withstand him, for the living God <i>is</i> with him.”


text:
While they were yet speaking, the eunuchs arrived, and hastened to bring Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.


text:
And the king said to Esther at the banquet on the second day, “What is it, Queen Esther? And what <i>is</i> your request, and what <i>is</i> your petition? And it shall be <i>done</i> for you, up to half of my kingdom.”


text:
And she answered and said, “If I have found favor in the sight of the king, let <i>my</i> life be granted to my petition, and my people to my request.


text:
For both I and my people have been sold for destruction, and pillage, and slavery; <i>both</i> we and our children as bondmen and bondwomen. And I did not consent to it, for the slanderer <i>is</i> not worthy of the king's palace.”


text:
And Esther said, “The adversary <i>is</i> Haman, this wicked man.” Then Haman was troubled before the king and the queen.


text:
And the king rose up from the banquet to go into the garden. And Haman began to plead with the queen; for he saw that harm was determined against him.


text:
And the king returned from the garden; and Haman had fallen upon the bed, begging the queen. And the king said, “Will you even force <i>my</i> wife in my house?” And when Haman heard it, his countenance changed.


text:
And Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Behold, Haman has also prepared a gallows for Mordecai, who spoke concerning the king, and a gallows of fifty cubits high has been set up on Haman’s premises.” And the king said, “Let him be hanged on it!”


text:
So Haman was hanged on the gallows that had been prepared for Mordecai; and then the king's wrath was appeased.


text:
<n>Esther Saves the Jews</n> And in that day King Artaxerxes gave to Esther all that belonged to Haman the slanderer. And Mordecai was called by the king; for Esther had shown that he was related to her.


text:
And the king took the ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over all that had been Haman's.


text:
And she spoke yet again to the king, and fell at his feet, and beseeched <i>him</i> to do away with the evil plan of Haman, and all that he had done against the Jews.


text:
And Esther said, “If it seems good to you, and <i>if </i>I have found favor <i>in your sight</i>, let an order be sent that the letters sent by Haman may be reversed, that were written for the destruction of the Jews, who are in your kingdom.


text:
For how shall I be able to look upon the affliction of my people, and how shall I be able to survive the destruction of my relatives?”


text:
And the king said to Esther, “If I have given and freely granted you all that was Haman's, and hanged him on a gallows, because he laid his hands upon the Jews, what do you yet further seek?


text:
Write also in my name, as it seems good to you, and seal <i>it</i> with my ring; for whatever <i>orders</i> are written at the command of the king, and sealed with my ring, it is not lawful to revoke them.”


text:
So the scribes were called in the first month, which is Nisan, on the twenty-third day of the same year. And <i>orders</i> were written concerning the Jews, whatever <i>the king had</i> commanded to the local governors and chiefs of the satraps, from India even to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven satraps, according to the several provinces, according to their dialects.


text:
And they were written by order of the king, and sealed with his ring, and they sent the letters by couriers.


text:
In it he charged them to use their <i>own</i> laws in every city, and to help each other, and to treat their adversaries, and those who attacked them, as they pleased,


text:
on one day in all the kingdom of Artaxerxes, on the thirteenth <i>day</i> of the twelfth month, which is Adar.


text:
<n>The King’s Letter</n> And the following is the copy of the letter of the orders: “The great King Artaxerxes sends greeting to the rulers of <i>the </i>provinces <i>in</i> a hundred and twenty-seven satraps, from India to Ethiopia, even to those who are faithful to our interests. Many who have been frequently honored by the most abundant kindness of their benefactors have conceived ambitious designs, and not only endeavor to hurt our subjects, but moreover, not being able to bear prosperity, they also endeavor to plot against their own benefactors. “And they not only would utterly abolish gratitude from among men, but also, elated by the boastings of men who are strangers to all that is good, they suppose that they shall escape the sin-hating vengeance of the ever-seeing God. And oftentimes <i>evil</i> exhortation has made partakers of the guilt of shedding innocent blood, and has involved in irremediable calamities, many of those who were appointed to offices of authority, who had been entrusted with the management of their friends' affairs. While <i>men</i>, by the false sophistry of an evil disposition, have deceived the simple candor of the ruling powers. And it is possible to see <i>this</i>, not so much from more ancient traditionary accounts, as it is immediately in your power <i>to see it</i> by examining what things have been wickedly perpetrated by the baseness of men holding power in an unworthy manner. And <i>it is right</i> to take heed with regard to the future, that we may maintain the government in undisturbed peace for all men, adopting <i>needful</i> changes, and ever judging those cases which come under <i>our</i> notice, with truly equitable decision. For whereas Haman, a Macedonian, the son of Hammedatha, in reality an alien from the blood of the Persians, and differing widely from our mild course of government, having been hospitably entertained by us, obtained so large a share of our universal kindness, as to be called our father, and to continue the person next to the royal throne, reverenced by all. “<i>He, however,</i> overcome by the pride <i>of his station</i>, endeavored to deprive us of our dominion, and our life; having by various and subtle artifices demanded for destruction both Mordecai, our deliverer and perpetual benefactor, and Esther, the blameless consort of <i>our</i> kingdom, with their whole nation. For by these methods, the thought, having surprised us in a defenseless rate, to transfer the dominion of the Persians to the Macedonians. “But we find that the Jews, who have been consigned to destruction by the most abominable of men, are not malefactors, but living according to the most just laws, and being the sons of the living God, the Most High and Mighty, who maintains the kingdom, to us as well as to our forefathers, in the most excellent order. “You will therefore do well in refusing to obey the letters sent by Haman the son of Hammedatha, because he that has done these things has been hanged with his whole family at the gates of Susa, Almighty God having swiftly returned to him a worthy recompense. “<i>We beseech you</i>, therefore, having openly published a copy of this letter in every place, to give the Jews permission to use their own lawful customs, and to strengthen them, that on the thirteenth <i>day </i>of the twelfth month <i>of </i>Adar, on that same day, they may defend themselves against those who attacked them in a time of affliction. For in the place of the destruction of the chosen race, Almighty God has granted them this <i>time of</i> gladness. Therefore you also among your <i>notable</i> feasts, keep a distinct day with all festivity, that both now and hereafter it may be a day of deliverance to us and those who are well disposed toward the Persians, but to those that plotted against us a memorial of destruction. And every city and province collectively, which shall not do accordingly, shall be consumed with vengeance by spear and fire. It shall be made not only inaccessible to men, but also most hateful to wild beasts and birds forever. And let the copies be posted in conspicuous places throughout the kingdom, and let all the Jews be ready against this day, to fight against their enemies.”


text:
So the horsemen went forth with haste to perform the king's commands; and the ordinance was also published in Susa.


text:
<n>Mordecai Honored</n> And Mordecai went forth clothed in the royal apparel, and wearing a golden crown, and a diadem of fine purple linen. And the people in Susa saw <i>it</i> and rejoiced.


text:
in every city and province wherever the ordinance was published: wherever the proclamation took place, the Jews had joy and gladness, feasting and mirth. And many of the Gentiles were circumcised, and became Jews, for fear of the Jews.


text:
<n>Destruction of the Enemies of the Jews</n> Now in the twelfth month, on the thirteenth day of the month which is Adar, the letters written by the king arrived.


text:
For the chiefs of the satraps, and the princes and the royal scribes honored the Jews; for the fear of Mordecai was upon them.


text:
the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews, and they plundered <i>their property</i> on the same day.


text:
And the king said to Esther, “The Jews have slain five hundred men in the city Susa. And what have they done in the rest of the country? What then is your petition, that it may be <i>done</i> for you?”


text:
And Esther said to the king, “Let it be granted to the Jews so to treat them tomorrow as to hang the ten sons of Haman.”


text:
And he permitted it to be so done; and he gave up to the Jews of the city the bodies of the sons of Haman, to hang.


text:
And the Jews assembled in Susa on the fourteenth <i>day</i> of Adar, and killed three hundred men, but plundered no property.


text:
And the rest of the Jews who were in the kingdom assembled, and helped one another, and obtained rest from their enemies; for they destroyed fifteen thousand of them on the thirteenth <i>day</i> of Adar, but took no spoil.


text:
And they rested on the fourteenth of the same month, and kept it as a day of rest with joy and gladness.


text:
<n>The Feast of Purim</n> And the Jews in the city Susa assembled also on the fourteenth <i>day</i> and rested; and they kept also the fifteenth with joy and gladness.


text:
Because of this the Jews dispersed in every foreign land to keep the fourteenth of Adar <i>as</i> a holy day with joy, sending portions each to his neighbor.


text:
And Mordecai wrote these things in a book, and sent them to the Jews, as many as were in the kingdom of Artaxerxes, both them that were near and them that were afar off,


text:
for on these days the Jews obtained rest from their enemies. And <i>as to</i> the month, which was Adar, in which a change was made for them, from mourning to joy, and from sorrow to a good day, to spend the whole of it <i>in</i> good days of feasting and gladness, sending portions to their friends, and to the poor.


text:
<i>showing</i> how Haman the son of Hammedatha the Macedonian fought against them, how he made a decree and cast lots to utterly destroy them;


text:
also how he went in to the king, telling <i>him</i> to hang Mordecai. But all the calamities he tried to bring upon the Jews came upon himself, and he was hanged, and his children.


text:
Therefore these days were called Purim, because of the name Pur; (for in their language they are called Phrurae) because of the words of this letter, and <i>because of</i> all they suffered on this account, and all that happened to them.


text:
And <i>Mordecai</i> established it, and the Jews took upon themselves, and upon their descendants, and upon those that were joined to them <i>to observe it,</i> neither would they on any account behave differently. But these days <i>were to be</i> a memorial kept in every generation, and city, and family, and province.


text:
“And these days of the Phrurae,” <i>they said,</i> “shall be kept forever, and their memorial shall not fail in any generation.”


text:
And Queen Esther, the daughter of Aminadab, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote all that they had done, and the confirmation of the letter of Purim.


text:
And Mordecai and Esther the queen appointed <i>a fast</i> for themselves privately, even at that time also having formed their plan against their own health.


text:
And <i>as for</i> his strength and valor, and the wealth and glory of his kingdom, behold, they are written in the book of the Persians and Medes, for a memorial.


text:
And Mordecai was second to King Artaxerxes, and was a great man in the kingdom, and honored by the Jews, and passed his life beloved of all his nation. And Mordecai said, “These things have been done by God. For I remember the dream which I had concerning these matters. For not one particular of them has failed. There was the little fountain, which became a river, and there was a light, and the sun, and much water. The river is Esther, whom the king married, and made queen. And the two serpents are Haman and myself. And the nations are those that combined to destroy the name of the Jews. But <i>as for</i> my nation, this is Israel, <i>even</i> they that cried to God, and were delivered: for the Lord delivered His people, and the Lord rescued us out of all these calamities; and God wrought such signs and great wonders as have not been done among the nations.” Therefore did He ordain two lots, one for the people of God, and one for all the <i>other</i> nations. And these two lots came for an appointed season, and for a day of judgment before God, and for all the nations. And God remembered His people, and vindicated His inheritance. And they shall observe these days, in the month <i>of </i>Adar, on the fourteenth and on the fifteenth day of the month, with an assembly, and joy and gladness before God, throughout the generations forever among His people Israel. In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said that he was a priest and a Levite, and Ptolemy his son, brought in the published letter of Purim, which they said existed, and <i>which</i> Lysimachus the son of Ptolemy who was in Jerusalem, had interpreted.


text:
<n>Job and His Family</n> There was a certain man in the land of Uz, whose name <i>was</i> Job; and that man was true, blameless, righteous, and godly, abstaining from everything evil.


text:
And his possessions consisted of seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys in the pastures, and a very great household, and he had a great many servants on the earth; and that man was <i>most</i> noble of the men of the east.


text:
And his sons, visiting one another, prepared a banquet every day, taking with them also their three sisters to eat and drink with them.


text:
And when the days of the banquet were completed, Job sent and purified them, having risen up in the morning, and offered sacrifices for them, according to their number, and one calf for a sin offering for their souls; for Job said, “Lest perhaps my sons have thought evil, and cursed God in their minds.” Thus, then Job did continually.


text:
<n>Satan Attacks Job’s Character</n> And it came to pass one day, that behold, the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came with them.


text:
And the Lord said to the devil, “From where have you come?” And the devil answered the Lord and said, “I have come from compassing the earth, and walking up and down in the world.”


text:
And the Lord said to him, “Have you diligently considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on <i>all </i>the earth, a blameless man, true, godly, abstaining from everything evil?”


text:
Have You not made a hedge about him, and about his household, and all his possessions round about? And have You not blessed the works of his hands, and multiplied his possessions upon the land?


text:
But put forth Your hand, and touch all that he has, and he will <RF q=7>7 &#61541;&#61557;&#61548;&#61551;&#61543;&#61544;&#61555;&#61541;&#61545;,Gk.The Greek word actually means to bless. E.W. Bullinger, the Hebrew scholar says of this: “One of the 18 emendations of the Sopherim, by which the primitive Hebrew text, kalal (to curse), was changed to barak (to bless). Dr. Daniel Wallace concurs: “The Hebrew verb is <i>barak</i>, which means ‘to bless.’ Here is a case where the writer or a scribe has substituted the word ‘curse’ with the word ‘bless,’ to avoid having the expression ‘curse God.’”</n>curse You to <i>Your</i> face.”


text:
Then the Lord said to the devil, “Behold, I give all that he has into your hand, but touch not himself.” So the devil went out from the presence of the Lord.


text:
<n>Job Loses His Property and Children</n> And it came to pass on a certain day, that Job’s sons and his daughters were drinking wine in the house of their elder brother.


text:
And behold, there came a messenger to Job, and said to him, “The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys were feeding near them;


text:
when the spoilers came and took them for prey, and killed the servants with the sword; and I alone have escaped, <i>and have</i> come to tell you.”


text:
While he was yet speaking, there came another messenger, and said to Job, “Fire has fallen from heaven, and burned up the sheep, and likewise have devoured the shepherds; and I alone have escaped, <i>and have</i> come to tell you.”


text:
While he was yet speaking, there came another messenger, and said to Job, “The horsemen formed three companies against us, and surrounded the camels, and took them for prey, and killed the servants with the sword; and I alone have escaped, <i>and have</i> come to tell you.”


text:
While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said to Job, “While your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking with their older brother,


text:
suddenly a great wind came from across the desert, and caught the four corners of the house, and the house fell upon your children, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped, <i>and have </i>come to tell you.”


text:
and said, “I myself came forth naked from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away. As it seemed good to the Lord, so has it come to pass; blessed be the name of the Lord.”


text:
In all these events that befell him, Job did not sin before the Lord, and did not impute wrong to God.


text:
<n>Satan Attacks Job’s Health</n> And it came to pass on a certain day, that the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came among them to stand before the Lord.


text:
And the Lord said to the devil, “From where have you come?” Then the devil said to the Lord, “I have come from going throughout the world, and walking about the whole earth.”


text:
And the Lord said to the devil, “Have you then observed My servant Job, that there is none like him upon the earth, a harmless, true, blameless, and godly man; abstaining from all evil? And yet he cleaves to innocence, although you have incited <i>Me</i> to destroy his substance without cause?”


text:
And the devil answered and said to the Lord, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give as a ransom for his life.


text:
Ah, but put forth Your hand, and touch his bones and his flesh—surely he will curse You to <i>Your</i> face!”


text:
So the devil went out from the Lord, and struck Job with sore boils from <i>his</i> feet to <i>his</i> head.


text:
And when much time had passed, his wife said to him, “How long will you hold out, saying, ‘Behold, I wait yet a little while, expecting the hope of my deliverance?’ For behold, your memorial is abolished from the earth, even your sons and daughters, the pangs and pains of my womb which I bore in vain with sorrows; and you yourself sit down to spend the nights in the open air among the corruption of worms, and I am a wanderer and a servant from place to place and house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labors, and my pangs which now beset me: but curse the Lord, and die.”


text:
But he looked at her, and said to her, “You have spoken like one of the foolish women. If we have received good things of the hand of the Lord, shall we not endure evil things?” In all these things that happened to him, Job did not sin with his lips before God.


text:
<n>Job’s Three Friends</n> Now his three friends, having heard of all the evil that had come upon him, came to him each from his own country: Eliphaz the king of the Temans, Bildad sovereign of the Shuhites, and Zophar, king of the Minaeans. And they came to him with one accord, to comfort <i>him,</i> and to visit him.


text:
And when they saw him from a distance they did not know him; and they cried with a loud voice, and wept, and everyone tore his garment, and sprinkled dust upon their heads,


text:
and they sat down beside him seven days and seven nights, and not one of them spoke; for they saw that his affliction was dreadful, and very great.


text:
<n>Job Deplores His Birth</n> After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day <i>of his birth</i>,


text:
Let that night be darkness, and let not the Lord regard it from above, neither let light come upon it.


text:
Let that day and night be cursed, let darkness carry them away; let it not come into the days of the year, neither let it be numbered with the days of the months.


text:
Let the stars of that night be darkened; let it remain <i>dark</i>, and not come into light; and let it not see the morning star arise:


text:
because it did not shut up the gates of my mother’s womb, for so it would have removed sorrow from my eyes.


text:
or I <i>should have been</i> as an untimely birth proceeding from his mother’s womb, or as infants who never saw light.


text:
Accordingly, as I have seen men plowing barren places, and they that sow them will reap sorrows for themselves.


text:
They shall perish by the command of the Lord, and shall be utterly consumed by the breath of His wrath.


text:
The strength of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the exulting cry of serpents are quenched.


text:
“But if there had been any truth in your words, none of these evils would have come upon you. Shall not my ear receive excellent <i>revelations</i> from Him?


text:
I arose and did not perceive it. I looked, and there was no form before my eyes: but I only heard a breath and a voice, saying,


text:
But as <i>for</i> them that dwell in houses of clay, of whom we also are formed of the same clay, He strikes them like a moth.


text:
And from the morning to evening they no longer exist—they have perished, because they cannot help themselves.


text:
<n>Job Is Corrected by God</n> “But call, if anyone will listen to you, or if you shall see any of the holy angels.


text:
Let their children be far from safety, and let them be crushed at the doors of vile men, and let there be no deliverer.


text:
For what they have collected, the just shall eat; but they shall not be delivered out of calamities—let their strength be utterly exhausted.


text:
who does great and untraceable things, glorious things also, and marvelous, of which there is no number:


text:
But blessed is the man whom the Lord has reproved; and do not reject the chastening of the Almighty,


text:
In famine He shall deliver you from death, and in war He shall free you from the power of the sword.


text:
Then shall you know that your house shall be at peace, and the provision for your tabernacle shall not fail.


text:
And you shall know that your descendants <i>shall be</i> abundant, and your children shall be like the herbs of the field.


text:
And you shall come to the grave like ripe grain reaped in its season, or as a sheaf of grain collected in its season.


text:
Behold, we have thus sought out these matters; these are what we have heard—but reflect within yourself, if you have done anything <i>wrong</i>.”


text:
“Oh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, and take up my grief in a balance together!


text:
And surely they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.


text:
For the arrows of the Lord are in my body, whose violence drinks up my blood: whenever I am going to speak, they pierce me.


text:
What then? Will the wild donkey bray for nothing, if he is not seeking food? Or again, will the ox low at the manger, when he has <i>his</i> fodder?


text:
Oh, that He would grant <i>my desire</i>, and my petition might come, and the Lord would grant my hope!


text:
Let the grave be my city, upon the walls of which I have leaped: I will not shrink from it, for I have not denied the holy words of my God.


text:
My nearest relations have not regarded me, they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.


text:
Neither will your reproof cause me to cease my words, for neither will I endure the sound of your speech.


text:
<n>Job: My Suffering Is Without End</n> “Is not the life of man upon earth a state of trial? And his existence as that of a hireling by the day?


text:
Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? Or as a hireling waiting for his pay?


text:
Whenever I lie down, I say, ‘When <i>will it be</i> day?’ And whenever I rise up, again <i>I say</i>, ‘When <i>will it be</i> evening?’ And I am full of pains from evening to morning.


text:
And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.


text:
I <i>am</i> as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man should go down to the grave, he shall not come up again.


text:
“Then neither will I refrain my mouth; I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.


text:
If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O You that understand the mind of men? why have You made me as Your accuser, and why am I a burden to You?


text:
Why have You not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? But now I shall depart to the earth, and in the morning I am no more.”


text:
“How long will you speak these things, <i>how long shall</i> the breath of your mouth be abundant in words?


text:
If you are pure and true, He will listen to your supplication, and will restore to you the habitation of righteousness.


text:
When it is yet on the root, and <i>though</i> it has not been cut down, does not any herb wither before it has received moisture?


text:
If he should prop up his house, it shall not stand: and when he has taken hold of it, it shall not remain.


text:
For the Lord will by no means reject the harmless man; but He will not receive any gift of the ungodly.


text:
But their adversaries shall clothe themselves with shame; and the habitation of the ungodly shall perish.”


text:
For if he would enter into judgment with Him, <i>God</i> would not listen to him, so that he should answer to one of His charges of a thousand.


text:
If ever He should go beyond me, I shall not see Him: if He should pass by me, neither thus have I known it.


text:
For though I should seem righteous, my mouth will be profane, and though I should seem blameless, I shall be proved perverse.


text:
For they are delivered into the hands of the unrighteous man: He covers the faces of the judges <i>of the earth</i>: but if it is not He, who else could it be?


text:
Or again, is there a trace of <i>their</i> path <i>left</i> by ships? Or is there one of the flying eagle as it seeks its prey?


text:
Would that <i>He</i> our mediator were <i>present</i>, and a reprover, and one who should hear <i>the cause</i> between both.


text:
<n>Job: I Loathe My Life</n> Weary in my soul, I will pour my words with groans upon Him: I will speak in the bitterness of my soul, being constrained.


text:
Is it good before You if I am unrighteous? For You have disowned the work of Your hands, and attended to the counsel of the ungodly.


text:
Having these things in Yourself, I know that You can do all things; for nothing is impossible for You.


text:
Or if I should be ungodly, woe is me: and if I should be righteous, I cannot lift myself up, for I am full of dishonor.


text:
For I am hunted like a lion for slaughter; for again You have changed and are terribly destroying me;


text:
renewing against me my torture: and You have dealt with me in great anger, and You have brought trials upon me.


text:
before I go to where I shall not return, to a land of darkness and gloominess; to a land of perpetual darkness, where there is no light, neither <i>can anyone</i> see the life of mortals.”


text:
“He that speaks much, should also listen in turn: or does the fluent speaker think himself to be righteous? Blessed is the short-lived offspring of woman.


text:
Then shall He declare to you the power of wisdom, for it shall be double of that which is with you; and then shall you know, that a just recompense of your sins has come to you from the Lord.


text:
Will you find out the traces of the Lord? Or have you come to the end of that which the Almighty has made?


text:
Heaven is high, and what will you do? And there are deeper things than those in hell; what do you know?


text:
But man vainly buoys himself up with words, and a mortal born of woman is like a donkey in the desert.


text:
if there is any iniquity in your hands, put if far from you, and do not let injustice dwell in your tents.


text:
For thus shall your countenance shine again as pure water; and you shall divest yourself of uncleanness, and shall not fear.


text:
And your prayer <i>shall be</i> as the morning star, and life shall arise to you as from the noonday.


text:
And you shall be confident, because you have hope, and peace shall dawn to you from out of anxiety and care.


text:
For you shall be at ease, and there shall be no one to fight against you, and many shall charge, and make supplication to you.


text:
But safety shall fail them, for their hope is destruction, and the eyes of the ungodly shall waste away.”


text:
For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: however do not let anyone trust that, being evil, he shall be <i>held</i> guiltless,


text:
But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to you, and the birds of the air, if they may declare to you.


text:
If He should withhold the water, He will dry the earth: and if He should let it loose, He overthrows and destroys it.


text:
Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them away.


text:
Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth, and He causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, <i>saying</i>,


text:
Let them grope <i>in</i> darkness, and <i>let there be</i> no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.


text:
For <i>it would be</i> good if He would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things <i>in your power</i> you should attach yourselves to Him,


text:
And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body <i>like a body</i> of clay.


text:
Though the Mighty One should lay <i>His </i>hand upon me, forasmuch as He has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before Him.


text:
<n>Job’s Despondent Prayer</n> “But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from Your face.


text:
Will You be startled <i>at me</i>, as <i>at</i> a leaf shaken by the wind? Or will You set Yourself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?


text:
And You have placed my foot in the stocks, and You have watched all my works, and have penetrated my heels.


text:
if even his life should be <i>but</i> one day upon the earth, and his months are numbered by him: You have appointed <i>him</i> for a time, and he shall by no means exceed it.


text:
For there is hope for a tree, even if it should be cut down, <i>that</i> it shall blossom again, and its branch shall not fail.


text:
And man that has lain down <i>in death</i> shall certainly not rise again till the heaven be dissolved, and they shall not awake from their sleep.


text:
“Oh that You had kept me in the grave, and had hidden me until Your wrath should cease, and You should set me a time in which You would remember me!


text:
For if a man should die, shall he live again, having accomplished the days of his life? I will wait till I live again.


text:
And You have sealed up my transgressions in a bag, and marked if I have been guilty of any transgression unawares.


text:
The waters wear the stones, and waters falling headlong <i>overflow</i> a heap of the earth; so You destroy the hope of man.


text:
“Will a wise man give for an answer a <i>mere</i> breath of wisdom? And does he fill up the pain of his belly,


text:
Or have you heard the ordinance of the Lord? Or has God used you as <i>His</i> counselor? Has wisdom come <i>only</i> to you?


text:
that you have vented <i>your</i> rage before the Lord, and delivered such words from <i>your</i> mouth?


text:
For who, being a mortal, <i>is such</i> that he shall be blameless? Or <i>who that is</i> born of a woman, that he should be just?


text:
All the life of the ungodly <i>is spent</i> in care, and the years granted to the oppressor are numbered.


text:
Let him not trust that he shall return from darkness, for he has been already made over to the power of the sword.


text:
And he has been appointed to be food for vultures, and he knows within himself that he is doomed to be a carcass: and a dark day shall carry him away as with a whirlwind.


text:
For he has lifted his hands against the Lord, and he has hardened his neck against the Almighty Lord.


text:
And let him lodge in desolate cities, and enter into houses without inhabitant: and what they have prepared, others shall carry away.


text:
Neither shall he grow rich, nor shall his substance remain: he shall not cast a shadow upon the earth.


text:
And he shall by no means escape the darkness: let the wind blast his blossom, and let his flower fall off.


text:
And let him be gathered as the unripe grape before the time, and let him fall as the blossom of the olive.


text:
For death is the witness of an ungodly man, and fire shall burn the houses of them that receive gifts.


text:
I also will speak as you do—if indeed your soul were in my <i>soul’s</i> place, then would I insult you with words, and I would shake my head at you!


text:
“For if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound, and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded any less?


text:
In His anger He has cast me down; He has gnashed His teeth upon me: the weapons of His robbers have fallen upon me.


text:
He has attacked me with the keen glances of His eyes; with His sharp <i>spear</i> He has struck me <i>down</i> upon my knees, and they have run upon me with one accord.


text:
When I was at peace He distracted me: He took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: He set me up as a mark.


text:
They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing me they poured out my gall upon the ground.


text:
But my years are numbered and <i>their end</i> has come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.


text:
<n>Job Prays for Relief</n> “I perish, carried away by the wind, and I seek for burial, and do not obtain it.


text:
He shall promise mischief to <i>his</i> companions: but <i>their</i> eyes have failed for their children.


text:
Anger has possessed you: for what if you should die; would <i>the earth</i> under heaven be desolate? Or shall the mountains be overthrown from their foundations?


text:
His light <i>shall be</i> darkness in <i>his</i> habitation, and his lamp shall be put out with him.


text:
And let health be utterly banished from his tent, and let distress seize upon him with a charge from the king.


text:
But strangers shall dwell in his possessions: the last groaned for him, and wonder seized the first.


text:
“How long will you torment my soul, and destroy me with words? Only know that the Lord has dealt with me thus.


text:
Surely I have erred in truth, (but the error abides with myself) in having spoken words which it was not right <i>to speak</i>; and my words err, and are unreasonable.


text:
Know then that it is the Lord that has troubled <i>me</i>, and He has raised up high His fortress against me.


text:
“My brothers have stood far from me; they have acknowledged strangers <i>rather</i> than me: and my friends have become pitiless.


text:
<i>and</i> to raise up upon the earth my skin that endures these <i>sufferings</i>: for these things have been accomplished to me of the Lord;


text:
which I am conscious of in myself, which my eye has seen, and not another, but all have been fulfilled to me in my bosom.


text:
But if you shall also say, ‘What shall we say before him,’ and so find the root of the matter in him?


text:
Beware of deceit for yourselves; for wrath will come upon transgressors; and then shall they know where their substance is.”


text:
<n>Zophar Speaks: Wickedness Receives Just Retribution</n> Then Zophar the Minaean answered and said,


text:
But the rejoicing of the ungodly <i>is</i> death, and the joy of transgressors <i>is</i> destruction:


text:
For when he shall seem to be established, then he shall utterly perish, and those that knew him shall say, ‘Where is he?’


text:
The eye has looked upon him, but shall not <i>see him</i> again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.


text:
His bones have been filled with the <i>vigor of</i> his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.


text:
<i>His</i> wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger of <i>wrath</i> shall drag him out of his house.


text:
He has labored unprofitably and in vain, for wealth of which he shall not taste: it is as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he cannot swallow.


text:
For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men, and he has plundered a house, though he did not build it.


text:
But when he shall seem to be satisfied, he shall be afflicted; and all distress shall come upon him.


text:
If by any means he would fill his belly, let <i>God</i> send upon him the fury of wrath; let Him bring a torrent of pains upon him.


text:
And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.


text:
And let all darkness wait for him: an unfanned fire shall consume him, and let a stranger plague his house.


text:
This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods <i>appointed him</i> by the all-seeing <i>God</i>.”


text:
Their cow does not cast her calf, and their <i>beast</i> with young is safe, and does not miscarriage.


text:
And they remain as an unfailing flock, and their children play before <i>them</i>, taking up the psaltery and harp;


text:
What is the Mighty One, that we should serve Him? And what profit is there that we should approach Him?


text:
“Nevertheless, the lamp of the ungodly also shall be put out, and destruction shall come upon them, and pangs of vengeance shall seize them.


text:
Let his substance fail to <i>supply</i> his children: God shall recompense him, and he shall know it.


text:
so that you will say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? And where is the covering of the tabernacles of the ungodly?’


text:
For the wicked hastens to the day of destruction: they shall be led away for the day of His vengeance.


text:
The stones of the valley have been sweet to him, and every man shall depart after him, and <i>there are</i> innumerable <i>ones</i> before him.


text:
For what does it matter to the Lord, if you were blameless in your works? Or is it profitable that you should perfect your way?


text:
And you have taken <i>the </i>security of your brothers for nothing, and have taken away the clothing of the naked.


text:
And you have accepted the persons of some; and you have established those <i>that were already settled</i> on the earth.


text:
Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their <i>property</i>.


text:
And if you shall turn and humble yourself before the Lord, you have thus removed unrighteousness far from your habitation.


text:
You shall lay up for yourself <i>treasure</i> in a heap on the rock; and Ophir <i>shall be</i> as the rock of the torrent.


text:
So the Almighty shall be your helper from enemies, and He shall bring you forth <i>as </i>pure as silver that has been tried by fire.


text:
And He shall establish to you again a habitation of righteousness, and there shall be light upon your paths.


text:
Because you have humbled yourself, and you shall say, ‘Man has behaved proudly, but He shall save him that is of lowly eyes.’


text:
And I would know the remedies which He would speak to me, and I would perceive what He would tell me.


text:
For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know <i>concerning</i> the latter end?


text:
When He worked on the left hand, then I did not observe it: His right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see it.


text:
And I will go forth according to His commandments, for I have kept His ways; and I shall not turn aside from His commandments,


text:
And if He too has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for He has both willed a thing and done it.


text:
Therefore am I troubled at Him; and when I was reproved, I thought of Him. Therefore let me take good heed before Him: I will consider, and be terrified of Him.


text:
They have turned aside the weak from the right way, and the meek of the earth have hidden themselves together.


text:
And they have departed like donkeys in the field, having gone forth on my account according to their own order. His bread is sweet to His little ones.


text:
They have reaped a field that was not their own before the time; the poor have labored in the vineyards of the ungodly without pay and without food.


text:
They have caused many naked to sleep without clothes, and they have taken away the covering of their body.


text:
They are wet with the showers of the mountains; they have embraced the rock, because they had no shelter.


text:
And they have wrongfully caused <i>others</i> to sleep without clothing, and taken away the morsel of the hungry.


text:
Who have cast forth the poor from the city and their own houses, and the soul of the children has groaned aloud.


text:
“Why then has He not visited these? Forasmuch as they were upon the earth, and took no notice, and they knew not the way of righteousness, neither have they walked in their <i>appointed</i> paths?


text:
But having known their works, He delivered them into darkness; and in the night one will be as a thief.


text:
And the eye of the adulterer has watched for the darkness, saying, ‘Eye shall not see me, and he puts a covering on his face.’


text:
In darkness he digs through houses; by day they conceal themselves securely; they do not know the light.


text:
For the morning is to them all as the shadow of death, for each will be conscious of the terror of the shadow of death.


text:
He is swift on the face of the water; let his portion be cursed on the earth, and let their plants be laid bare.


text:
Then is his sin brought to remembrance, and he vanishes like a vapor of dew; but let what he has done be recompensed to him, and let every unrighteous one be crushed like rotten wood.


text:
“And in wrath he has overthrown the helpless; therefore when he has arisen, a man will not feel secure of his own life.


text:
For his exaltation has hurt many; but he has withered as mallows in the heat, or as an ear of corn falling off of itself from the stalk.


text:
For let none think that there is a respite for robbers: and upon whom will there not come a snare from Him?


text:
For how shall a mortal be righteous before the Lord? Or who that is born of a woman shall purify himself?


text:
“To whom do you attach yourself, or who are you going to assist? Is it not He that has much strength, and He who has a strong arm?


text:
To whom have you given counsel? Is it not to Him who has all wisdom? Who will you follow? Is it not the One who has the greatest power?


text:
He has encompassed the face of the water by an appointed ordinance, until the end of light and darkness.


text:
He has calmed the sea with <i>His</i> might, and by <i>His</i> wisdom the whale has been overthrown.


text:
Behold, these are parts of His way; and we will hearken to Him at the least intimation of His word: but who knows the strength of His thunder, when He shall employ it?”


text:
but holding fast to my righteousness, I will by no means let it go: for I am not conscious to myself of having done anything amiss.


text:
But on the contrary, let my enemies be as the overthrow of the ungodly, and they that rise up against me as the destruction of transgressors.


text:
For what is the hope of the ungodly, that he holds to it? Will he indeed trust in the Lord and be saved?


text:
Yet now I will tell you what is in the hand of the Lord: I will not lie concerning the things which are with the Almighty.


text:
“This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of oppressors shall come upon them from the Almighty.


text:
And a burning wind shall catch him, and he shall depart, and it shall utterly drive him out of his place.


text:
And <i>God</i> shall cast <i>trouble</i> upon him, and not spare: he flees desperately from out of His hand.


text:
<n>Job’s Discourse on Wisdom</n> “For there is a place for the silver, where it comes, and a place for the gold, where it is refined.


text:
He has set a bound to darkness, and he searches out every limit: a stone is darkness, and the shadow of death.


text:
There is a cutting off the torrent by reason of dust, so they that forget the right way are weakened; they are removed from among men.


text:
When He made <i>them</i>, thus He saw and numbered them, and made a way for the pealing of the thunder.


text:
I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.


text:
“But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn; now they reprove me in their turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy <i>to be with</i> my shepherd dogs.


text:
<i>One is</i> childless from want and famine, <i>such as</i> they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.


text:
Who compass the salty places on the sounding <i>shore</i>, who had salt <i>herbs</i> for their food, and were dishonorable and of no repute, in need of every good thing; who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.


text:
<i>They are</i> sons of fools and vile men, <i>whose</i> name and glory <i>are</i> quenched from off the earth.


text:
For He has opened His quiver and afflicted me: they also have cast off the restraint of my presence.


text:
They have risen up against me on the right hand of their offspring; they have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction.


text:
With great force <i>my disease</i> has taken hold of my garment—it has compassed me as the collar of my coat.


text:
For I know that death will destroy me: for the earth is the house <i>appointed</i> for every mortal.


text:
Now what portion has God given from above? And is there an inheritance given from the Mighty One from on high?


text:
if my foot has turned aside out of the way, or if my heart has followed my eye, and if I too have touched gifts with my hands;


text:
what then shall I do if the Lord should try me? And if also He should at all visit me, can I make an answer?


text:
Were not they formed too, as I also was formed in the womb? Indeed, we were formed in the same womb.


text:
But the helpless did not miss whatever need they had, and I did not cause the eye of the widow to fail.


text:
and if I also rejoiced when my wealth was abundant, and if I laid my hand on innumerable <i>treasures</i>


text:
(do we not see the shining sun eclipsed, and the moon waning? For they have not <i>power</i> to <i>continue</i>);


text:
let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I <i>should</i> have lied against the Lord Most High.


text:
And if my handmaids have often said, ‘Oh that we might be satisfied with his flesh’ (whereas I was very kind:


text:
(for I did not stand in awe of a great multitude, so as not to declare boldly before them); and if I also permitted a poor man to go out of my door with an empty bosom—


text:
(Oh that I had a hearer!) And if I had not feared the hand of the Lord; and as to the written charge which I had against anyone,


text:
and if I ate its strength alone without price, and if I too grieved the heart of the owner of the soil, by taking from <i>him</i>,


text:
then let the thistles come up to me instead of wheat, and a bramble instead of barley.” And Job ceased speaking.


text:
<n>Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends</n> And his three friends also ceased any longer to answer Job, for Job was righteous before them.


text:
Then Elihu the son of Barachiel, the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, of the land of Uz, was angered: and he was very angry with Job, because he justified himself before the Lord.


text:
And he was also very angry with his three friends, because they were not able to return answers to Job, yet set him down for an ungodly man.


text:
And Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, and he was angered in his wrath.


text:
And Elihu the Buzite the son of Barachiel answered and said, “I am younger in age, and you are older, therefore I kept silent, fearing to declare to you my own knowledge.


text:
I have paid close attention to you; and behold, not one of you convinced Job, or answered his words—


text:
And my belly is as a skin of sweet wine, bound up and ready to burst; or as a blacksmith’s laboring bellows.


text:
My heart <i>shall be found</i> pure by my words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.


text:
The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty <i>is </i>that which teaches me.


text:
“But you have said in my ears, (I have heard the voice of your words) because you say, ‘I am pure,’ not having sinned;


text:
“For how do you say, ‘I am righteous, yet He has not listened to me?’ For He that is above mortals is eternal.


text:
<i>sending</i> a dream, or in the meditation of the night (as when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, while sleeping on the bed),


text:
“Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, not one of them shall wound him: if he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, and declare to man his fault, and show his folly;


text:
He will support him, that he should not perish, and will restore his body as <i>fresh</i> plaster upon a wall; and He will fill his bones with marrow.


text:
And He will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and He will restore him among men in his full strength.


text:
And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted by Him; he shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression <i>of</i> <i>praise</i>: for He will render to men their due.


text:
Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, ‘What kind of things have I done? And He has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins.


text:
And He has erred in my judgment: my wound is severe, apart from <i>any</i> unrighteousness of my own.’


text:
<i>Saying</i>, ‘I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity, to go with the ungodly.’


text:
For you should not say, ‘There shall be no visitation of a man,’ whereas <i>there is</i> a visitation on him from the Lord.


text:
“Therefore listen to me, you that are wise in heart: far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and to pervert righteousness before the Almighty.


text:
And do you think that the Lord will do wrong, or will the Almighty who made the earth pervert judgment?


text:
He is ungodly that says to a king, ‘You are a transgressor,’ <i>or that says</i> to princes, ‘O most ungodly one.’


text:
<i>Such a one</i> as would not reverence the face of an honorable man, neither knows how to give honor to the great, so that they should be respected.


text:
But it shall turn out <i>as </i>vanity to them, to cry and beseech a man; for they dealt unlawfully, the poor being turned aside <i>from their right</i>.


text:
For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number.


text:
And He will give quiet, and who will condemn? And He will hide His face, and who shall see Him? Whether it be done against a nation or against a man, also:


text:
“For there is one that says to the Mighty One, ‘I have received <i>blessings</i>; I will not take a pledge:


text:
Will He take vengeance for it on you, whereas you will put it far <i>from you</i>? For you shall choose, and not I; and whatever you know, speak thus.


text:
that we add not to our sins: for iniquity will be reckoned against us, if we speak many words before the Lord.”


text:
“What is this that you think is right? Who are you that you have said, ‘I am righteous before the Lord?’


text:
Those that are oppressed of a multitude will be ready to cry out; they will call for help because of the arm of many.


text:
He beholds them that perform lawless deeds, and He will save me: and do you plead before Him, if you can praise Him, as it is <i>possible</i> even now?


text:
He will not by any means preserve the life of the ungodly, and He will grant the judgment of the poor.


text:
He will not turn away His eyes from the righteous, but <i>they shall be</i> with kings on the throne, and He will establish them in triumph, and they shall be exalted.


text:
And He shall recount to them their works, and their transgressions, for such will act with violence.


text:
If they should hear and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in honor.


text:
But He does not preserve the ungodly; because they are not willing to know the Lord, and because, when reproved, they were disobedient.


text:
“And the hypocrites in heart will array wrath <i>against themselves</i>; they will not cry, because He has bound them.


text:
<i>there is</i> a deep gulf and a rushing stream beneath it, and your table came down full of fatness. Judgment shall not fail from the righteous,


text:
but there shall be wrath upon the ungodly, by reason of the ungodliness of the bribes which they received for iniquities.


text:
Behold, the Mighty One is great, and we shall not know <i>Him</i>: the number of His years is infinite.


text:
The ancient heavens shall flow, and the clouds overshadow innumerable mortals: He has fixed a time to cattle, and they know the order of rest. Yet by all these things your understanding is not astonished, neither is your mind disturbed in your body.


text:
The Lord will declare concerning this to His friend: <i>but there is</i> a portion also for unrighteousness.


text:
After Him shall be a cry with a loud voice; He shall thunder with the voice of His excellency, yet He shall not cause men to pass away, for one shall hear His voice.


text:
The Mighty One shall thunder wonderfully with His voice: for He has done great things which we did not know;


text:
for He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and the stormy rain, and the storm of the showers of His might.


text:
And from the breath of the Mighty One He will send frost; and He guides the water in whatever way He pleases.


text:
And He will carry round the encircling clouds by His governance, to perform their works: whatsoever He shall command them,


text:
this has been appointed by Him on the earth, whether for correction, or for His land, or if He shall find him <i>an object</i> for mercy.


text:
Will you establish with Him foundations for the ancient heavens? They are <i>as </i>strong as a cast iron mirror.


text:
But the light is not visible to all: it shines afar off in the heavens, as that which is from Him in the clouds.


text:
and we do not find another His equal in strength: as for Him that judges justly, do you not think that He listens?


text:
<n>The Lord Answers Job</n> And after Elihu had ceased from speaking, the Lord spoke to Job through the whirlwind and clouds, <i>saying</i>,


text:
“Who is this that hides counsel from Me, and confines words in <i>his</i> heart, and thinks to conceal <i>them</i> from Me?


text:
And I said to it, ‘To this point you shall come, but you shall not go beyond, but your waves shall be confined within you.’


text:
“Or did I order the morning light in your time; and did the morning star <i>then first</i> see his appointed place;


text:
Or did you take <i>the </i>clay of the ground, and form a living creature <i>with it</i>, and set it with the power of speech upon the earth?


text:
And do the gates of death open to you out of fear; and did the porters of hell quake when they saw you?


text:
And have you been instructed in the breadth of the <i>whole earth</i> under heaven? Tell me now, what is the extent of it?


text:
And is there a store of them, for you against the time of your enemies, for the day of wars and battle?


text:
And from where does the frost proceed? Or where is the south wind dispersed over the whole world under heaven?


text:
to rain upon the land where there is no man, the wilderness, where there is not a man in it; so as to feed the untrodden and uninhabited land,


text:
And will you send lightnings, and they shall go? And shall they say to you, ‘What is <i>your pleasure</i>?’


text:
And who has prepared food for the raven? For its young ones wander and cry to the Lord, in search of food.


text:
“<i>Say</i> if you know the time of the bringing forth of the wild goats of the rock, and if you have marked the birth pangs of the hinds:


text:
and if you have numbered the full months of their being with young, and if you have relieved their pangs:


text:
Their young will break forth; they will be multiplied with offspring: <i>their young</i> will go forth, and will not return to them.


text:
The peacock has a beautiful wing: if the stork and the ostrich conceive, <i>it is worthy</i> of notice,


text:
She has hardened herself against her young ones, so as to not bereave herself: she labors in vain without fear.


text:
And when the trumpet sounds, he says, ‘Aha!’ And afar off, he smells the war with prancing and neighing.


text:
And does the hawk remain steady by your wisdom, having spread out her wings unmoved, looking toward the region of the south?


text:
And his young ones roll themselves in blood, and wherever the carcasses may be, immediately they are found.”


text:
“Will <i>anyone</i> pervert judgment with the Mighty One? And he that reproves God, let him answer it.”


text:
“Why do I yet plead? Being rebuked even while reproving the Lord: hearing such things, whereas I am nothing: and what shall I answer to these <i>arguments</i>? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.


text:
Do not set aside My judgment: and do you think that I have dealt with you in any other way, than that you might appear to be righteous?


text:
If there should be a flood, he will not perceive it; he trusts that the Jordan will rush up into his mouth.


text:
And all the ships come together would not be able to bear the mere skin of his tail, neither <i>shall they carry</i> his head in fishing vessels.


text:
But you shall lay your hand upon him once, remembering the war that is waged by his mouth; and let it not be done anymore.


text:
The flesh also of his body is joined together: if one pours violence upon him, he shall not be moved.


text:
If spears should come against him, men will effect nothing, <i>neither with</i> the spear or the breast plate.


text:
His lair is <i>formed of</i> sharp points, and all the gold of the sea under him is an immense <i>quantity</i> of clay.


text:
For who is he that hides counsel from You? Or who keeps back his words, and thinks to hide them from You? And who will tell me what I did not know, great and wonderful things which I did not understand?


text:
And it came to pass after the Lord had spoken all these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “You have sinned, and your two friends, for you have not said anything true before Me, as My servant Job has.


text:
Now then take seven bulls, and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and he shall offer a burnt offering for you. And My servant Job shall pray for you, for I will only accept him: for but his sake, I would have destroyed you, for you have not spoken the truth against My servant Job.”


text:
So Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Minaean, went and did as the Lord commanded them: and He pardoned their sin for the sake of Job.


text:
And the Lord prospered Job. And when he prayed also for his friends, He forgave them <i>their</i> sin: and the Lord gave Job twice as much, even double of what he had before.


text:
And all his brothers and sisters heard all that had happened to him, and they came to him, and so did all that had known him from the first; and they ate and drank with him, and comforted him, and wondered at all that the Lord had brought upon him: and each one gave him a lamb, and four drachmas of gold, even of unstamped <i>gold</i>.


text:
And the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than the beginning: and his livestock consisted of fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys of the pastures.


text:
And there were not found in comparison with the daughters of Job, fairer <i>women</i> than they in all the world: and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.


text:
And Job lived after his affliction one hundred and seventy years: and all the years he lived were two hundred and forty: and Job saw his sons and his sons’ sons, <i>to </i>the fourth generation.


text:
And Job died, an old man and full of days. And it is written that he will rise again with those whom the Lord raises up. This man is described in the Syriac book as living in the land of Uz, on the borders of Edom and Arabia: and his name before was Jobab; and having taken an Arabian wife, he fathered a son whose name was Ennon. And he himself was the son of his father Zare, one of the sons of Esau, and of his mother Bosorrha, so that he was the fifth from Abraham. And these were the kings who reigned in Edom, which country he also ruled over: first, Balak, the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dennaba: but after Balak, Jobab, who is called Job, and after him Asom, who was governor out of the country of Teman: and after him Adad, the son of Barad, who destroyed Midian in the plain of Moab; and the name of his city was Gethaim. And his friends who came to him were Eliphaz, of the children of Esau, king of the Temanites, Bildad sovereign of the Sauchaeans, and Zophar king of the Minaeans.


text:
Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of evil men.


text:
And he shall be as a tree planted by the brooks of waters, which shall yield its fruit in its season, and its leaf shall not fall off; and whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.


text:
Not so <i>for </i>the ungodly—not so; but rather as the chaff which the wind scatters away from the face of the earth.


text:
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers gathered themselves together, against the Lord, and against His Christ;


text:
declaring the ordinance of the Lord: “The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.


text:
Ask of Me, and I shall give You the nations <i>for</i> Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth <i>for</i> Your possession.


text:
Accept correction, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you should perish from the righteous way. Whenever His wrath shall be suddenly kindled, blessed are all they that trust in Him.


text:
A Psalm of David, when he fled from the presence of his son Absalom. O Lord, why are they that afflict me multiplied? Many rise up against me.


text:
Arise, O Lord; deliver me, my God; for You have struck all who were my enemies without cause; You have broken the teeth of sinners.


text:
A Song of David among the Psalms. When I called upon <i>Him</i>, the God of my righteousness heard me; You have made room for me in tribulation; pity me, and hear my prayer.


text:
O you sons of men, how long <i>will you be</i> slow to hear? Why do you love vanity, and seek falsehood? Selah.


text:
But know that the Lord has done wondrous things for His holy one: the Lord will hear me when I cry to Him.


text:
Many say, ‘Who will show us good things?’ The light of Your countenance, O Lord, has been manifested towards us.


text:
You have put gladness into my heart: they have been satisfied with the fruit of their grain and wine and oil.


text:
Neither shall the transgressors continue in Your sight. You hate, O Lord, all them that work iniquity.


text:
But I will enter into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; I will worship in Your fear toward Your holy temple.


text:
For there is no truth in their mouth; their heart is vain; their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have used deceit.


text:
Judge them, O God; let them fail of their counsels: cast them out according to the abundance of their ungodliness; for they have provoked You, O Lord.


text:
But let all that trust in You be glad in You: they shall rejoice forever, and You shall dwell among them; and all that love Your name shall rejoice in You.


text:
A Psalm of David among the Hymns. O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, neither chasten me in Your anger.


text:
Let all my enemies be put to shame and greatly troubled: let them be turned back and grievously put to shame speedily.


text:
A Psalm of David, which he sang to the Lord because of the words of Cush the Benjamite. O Lord my God, in You have I trusted: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me,


text:
lest at any time <i>the enemy</i> seize my soul as a lion, while there is none to ransom, nor to save.


text:
if I have recompensed with evil those who recompensed me <i>with good</i>; may I then perish empty by means of my enemies.


text:
Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; and let him trample my life on the ground, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah.


text:
Arise, O Lord, in Your wrath; be exalted in the utmost boundaries of my enemies: awake, O Lord my God, according to the decree which You did command.


text:
The Lord shall judge the nations: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my innocence that is in me.


text:
Oh let the wickedness of sinners come to an end; and <i>then</i> You shall direct the righteous, O God that searches the hearts and minds.


text:
Behold, <i>the wicked</i> has travailed with unrighteousness; he has conceived trouble, and has brought forth iniquity.


text:
I will give thanks to the Lord according to His righteousness; I will sing to the name of the Lord Most High.


text:
A Psalm of David. O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Your name in all the earth! For Your magnificence is exalted above the heavens.


text:
Out of the mouth of babes and infants You have perfected praise, because of Your enemies; that You might put down the enemy and avenger.


text:
For I will regard the heavens, the work of Your fingers; the moon and stars, which You have established.


text:
the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, the <i>creatures</i> passing through the paths of the sea.


text:
A Psalm of David, concerning the secrets of the Son. I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will recount all Your wonderful works.


text:
You have rebuked the nations, and the ungodly one has perished; You have blotted out their name forever, even forever and ever.


text:
The swords of the enemy have failed utterly; and you have destroyed cities: their memorial has been destroyed with a noise,


text:
And let them that know Your name hope in You—for You, O Lord, have not failed them that diligently seek You.


text:
For He remembered them, <i>in</i> making inquisition for blood; He has not forgotten the supplication of the poor.


text:
Have mercy upon me, O Lord; look upon my affliction <i>which I suffer</i> from my enemies, You that lift me up from the gates of death:


text:
that I may declare all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in Your salvation.


text:
The heathen are caught in the destruction which they planned: in the very snare which they hid is their foot taken.


text:
For the poor shall not be forgotten forever; the patience of the needy ones shall not perish forever.


text:
While the ungodly one acts proudly, the poor is hotly pursued; <i>the wicked</i> are taken in the crafty counsels which they imagine.


text:
Because the sinner praises himself for the desires of his heart; and the unjust one blesses himself.


text:
The sinner has provoked the Lord: according to the abundance of his pride he will not seek after <i>Him</i>; God is not before him.


text:
His ways are profane at all times; Your judgments are removed from before him: he will gain the mastery over all his enemies.


text:
For he has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved,” <i>continuing</i> without adversity from generation to generation.


text:
He lies in wait with rich <i>men</i> in secret places, in order to slay the innocent: his eyes are set against the poor.


text:
He lies in wait in secret as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to ravish the poor, to ravish the poor when he draws him <i>after him</i>: he will bring him down in his snare.


text:
You see <i>it</i>; for You observe trouble and wrath, to deliver them into Your hands; the poor has been left to You; You are a helper to the orphan.


text:
A Psalm of David. In the Lord I have put my trust: how will you say to my soul, “Flee to the mountains as a sparrow?”


text:
For behold, the sinners have bent their <i>bow</i>, they have prepared their arrows for the quiver, to shoot secretly at the upright in heart.


text:
The Lord is in His holy temple; as for the Lord, His throne is in heaven: His eyes look upon the poor, His eyelids test the sons of men.


text:
He shall rain upon sinners snares, fire, and brimstone, and a stormy blast <i>shall be</i> the portion of their cup.


text:
A Psalm of David. Save me, O Lord; for the godly man has failed; for truth is diminished from among the children of men.


text:
Everyone has spoken vanity to his neighbor: their lips are deceitful, they have spoken with a double heart.


text:
“Because of the misery of the poor, and because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise,” says the Lord, “I will set <i>them</i> in safety; I will speak <i>to them</i> openly.”


text:
The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in the fire, proved <i>in</i> a furnace on the earth, purified seven times.


text:
A Psalm of David. How long, O Lord, will You forget me? Forever? How long will You turn away Your face from me?


text:
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, <i>having</i> sorrows in my heart daily? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?


text:
lest at any time my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”: my persecutors will exalt if ever I should be moved.


text:
I will sing to the Lord who has dealt bountifully with me, and I will sing psalms to the name of the Lord Most High.


text:
A Psalm of David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They have corrupted <i>themselves</i>, and have become abominable in their devices; there is none that does good, there is not so much as one.


text:
The Lord looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there were any that understood, or sought after God.


text:
They have all gone out of the way, they have together become corrupt, there is none that does good, no not one. Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have used deceit. The poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.


text:
Will not all the workers of iniquity know, who eat up my people as they would eat bread? They have not called upon the Lord.


text:
Who will bring the salvation of Israel out of Zion? When the Lord brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice, and Israel be glad.


text:
A Psalm of David. O Lord, who shall sojourn in Your tabernacle? And who shall dwell in Your holy mountain?


text:
Who has not spoken craftily with his tongue, neither has done evil to his neighbor, nor taken up a reproach against them that dwell nearest to him.


text:
In his sight an evil worker is set at nought, but he honors them that fear the Lord. He swears to his neighbor, and does not disappoint <i>him</i>.


text:
He has not lent his money on usury, and has not received bribes against the innocent. He that does these things shall never be moved.


text:
Their weaknesses have been multiplied; afterward they hastened. I will by no means assemble their bloody meetings, neither will I make mention of their names with my lips.


text:
The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: You are He that restores my inheritance to me.


text:
because You will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.


text:
You have made known to me the ways of life; You will fill me with joy with Your countenance: at Your right hand <i>there are</i> delights forever.


text:
A Prayer of David. Hearken, O Lord of my righteousness, attend to my petition; give ear to my prayer not <i>uttered</i> with deceitful lips.


text:
You have tested my heart; You have visited <i>me</i> in the night; You have tried me as with fire, and unrighteousness has not been found in me; <i>I am purposed</i> that my mouth shall not speak <i>amiss.</i>


text:
Keep me as the apple of Your eye from those that resist Your right hand; You shall screen me by the covering of Your wings,


text:
They have now cast me out and compassed me round about. They have set their eyes <i>so as</i> to bow them down to the ground.


text:
They laid wait for me as a lion ready for prey, and like a lion's whelp dwelling in secret <i>places</i>.


text:
Arise, O Lord, prevent them, and cast them down; deliver my soul from the ungodly; <i>draw</i> Your sword,


text:
because of the enemies of Your hand. O Lord, destroy them from the earth; scatter them in their life, though their belly has been filled with Your hidden <i>treasures</i>; they have been satisfied with uncleanness, and have left the remnant <i>of their possessions</i> to their babes.


text:
A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord; <i>the words</i> which he spoke to the Lord, <i>even</i> the words of this song, in the day in which the Lord delivered him out the hand of all his enemies, and out the hand of Saul. And he said: I will love You, O Lord, my strength.


text:
The Lord is my firm support, and my refuge, and my deliverer; my God is my helper, I will hope in Him; <i>He is</i> my defender, and the horn of my salvation, and my helper.


text:
And when I was afflicted I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: He heard my voice out of His holy temple, and my cry shall enter before Him, into His ears.


text:
Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains were disturbed, and were shaken, because God was angry with them.


text:
There went up a smoke in His wrath, and fire burst into a flame at His presence; coals were kindled at it.


text:
And He made darkness His secret place; round about Him was His tabernacle, <i>even</i> dark water in the clouds of the air.


text:
And He sent forth <i>His</i> weapons, and scattered them; and multiplied lightnings, and routed them.


text:
And the springs of waters appeared, and the foundations of the world were exposed, at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blasting of the breath of Your wrath.


text:
He will deliver me from my mighty enemies, and from them that hate me; for they are stronger than I.


text:
And the Lord shall recompense me according to my righteousness; even according to the purity of my hands shall He recompense me.


text:
And the Lord shall recompense me according to my righteousness, and according to the purity of my hands before His eyes.


text:
<i>As for</i> my God, His way is perfect: the oracles of the Lord are tried in the fire; He is a protector of all them that hope in Him.


text:
And You have made me secure in my salvation; and Your right hand has helped me, and Your correction has upheld me to the end; yes, Your correction itself shall instruct me.


text:
For You have girded me with strength for war; You have beaten down under me all that rose up against me.


text:
Deliver me from the strife of the people; You shall make me head of the Gentiles: a people whom I did not know served me,


text:
my deliverer from angry enemies; You shall set me on high above them that rise up against me; You shall deliver me from the unrighteous man.


text:
<i>God</i> magnifies the deliverances of His king; and deals mercifully with David His anointed, and His descendants, forever.


text:
A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands.


text:
In the sun He has set His tabernacle; and He came forth as a bridegroom out of His chamber; He will exalt as a giant to run His course.


text:
His going forth is from the extremity of heaven, and His circuit to the <i>other</i> end of heaven; and no one shall be hidden from His heat.


text:
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting souls; the testimony of the Lord is faithful, instructing babes.


text:
The ordinances of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is bright, enlightening the eyes.


text:
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever and ever: the judgments of the Lord are true, <i>and</i> justified altogether.


text:
And spare Your servant <i>from the attack</i> of strangers; if they do not gain the dominion over me, then shall I be blameless, and I shall be clear from great sin.


text:
So shall the sayings of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be pleasing continually before You, O Lord my helper, and my redeemer.


text:
A Psalm of David. May the Lord hear you in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend you.


text:
We will rejoice in Your salvation, and in the name of our God shall we be magnified: May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.


text:
Now I know that the Lord has saved His Christ; He shall hear Him from His holy heaven: the salvation of His right hand is mighty.


text:
Some <i>glory</i> in chariots, and some in horses: but we will glory in the name of the Lord our God.


text:
A Psalm of David. O Lord, the king shall rejoice in Your strength; and in Your salvation he shall greatly exalt.


text:
You have granted him the desire of his soul, and have not withheld from him the request of his lips. Selah.


text:
For You have blessed him with blessings of goodness; You have set upon his head a crown of precious stone.


text:
For You will give him a blessing forever and ever; You will gladden him with joy with Your countenance.


text:
You shall make them as a fiery oven at the time of Your presence; the Lord shall trouble them in His anger, and fire shall devour them.


text:
For they intended evil against You; they imagined a device which they shall by no means be able to perform.


text:
A Psalm of David. O God, my God, attend to me; why have You forsaken me? The account of my transgressions is far from my salvation.


text:
O my God, I will cry to You by day, but You will not hear; and by night, and <i>it shall</i> not <i>be reckoned</i> to me <i>as</i> folly.


text:
I am poured out like water, and all My bones are loosened; My heart in the midst of My belly has become like melting wax.


text:
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and My tongue is glued to My throat; and You have brought Me down to the dust of death.


text:
For many dogs have compassed Me; the assembly of the evildoers has enclosed Me; they pierced My hands and My feet.


text:
I will declare Your name to My brothers; in the midst of the congregation will I sing praise to You.


text:
You that fear the Lord, praise Him; all you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him; let all the house of Israel fear Him.


text:
For He has not despised nor been angry at the supplication of the poor; nor turned away His face from Me; but when I cried to Him, He heard Me.


text:
The poor shall eat and be satisfied; and they shall praise the Lord that seek Him; their heart shall live forever.


text:
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before Him.


text:
All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and worshipped; all that go down to the earth shall fall down before Him; my soul also lives to him.


text:
Yea, though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.


text:
You have prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; and Your cup cheers me like the best <i>wine</i>.


text:
Your mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.


text:
A Psalm of David on the first day of the week. The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness; the world, and all that dwell in it.


text:
He that is innocent in his hands and pure in his heart; who has not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbor.


text:
Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.


text:
Lift up your gates, you princes; and be lifted up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.


text:
O my God, I have trusted in You; let me not be confounded, neither let my enemies laugh me to scorn.


text:
For none of them that wait on You shall in any way be ashamed; let them be ashamed that transgress without cause.


text:
Lead me in Your truth, and teach me; for You are God my Savior; and I have waited on You all the day.


text:
Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor <i>my sins</i> of ignorance; remember me according to Your mercy, for Your goodness' sake, O Lord.


text:
The Lord is the strength of them that fear Him; and His covenant is to manifest <i>truth</i> to them.


text:
A Psalm of David. Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in my innocence; and hoping in the Lord I shall not be moved.


text:
A Psalm of David, before he was anointed. The Lord is my light and my Savior; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?


text:
When evildoers drew near against me to eat up my flesh, my persecutors and my enemies, they fainted and fell.


text:
Though an army should set itself in array against me, my heart shall not be afraid; Though war should rise up against me, in this am I confident.


text:
One thing have I asked of the Lord, this will I earnestly seek; that I should dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I should behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and survey His temple.


text:
For in the day of my afflictions He hid me in His tabernacle; He sheltered me in the secret place of His tabernacle; He set me high upon a rock.


text:
And now, behold, He has lifted up my head over my enemies; I went round and offered in His tabernacle the sacrifice of joy; I will sing, <i>I will</i> sing psalms unto the Lord.


text:
Do not turn Your face away from me, do not turn away from Your servant in anger; be my helper, O God my Savior, do not forsake me; do not overlook me.


text:
Do not deliver me over to the desire of them that afflict me; for unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and injustice has lied within herself.


text:
Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and let your heart be strengthened; yes, <i>I say,</i> wait on the Lord!


text:
A Psalm of David. To You, O Lord, have I cried; my God, do not be silent toward me; lest You be silent toward me, and so I should be likened to them that go down to the pit.


text:
Hear the voice of my supplication, when I pray to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy temple.


text:
Do not draw away my soul with sinners, and do not destroy me with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace with their neighbors, but evil are in their hearts.


text:
Give them according to their works, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors; give them according to the works of their hands; render to them what they deserve.


text:
Because they have not attended to the works of the Lord, even to the works of His hands, You shall pull them down, and shall not build them up.


text:
The Lord is my helper and my defender; my heart has hoped in Him, and I am helped; my flesh has revived, and willingly will I give praise to Him.


text:
Save Your people <i>O Lord</i>, and bless Your inheritance; take care of them, and lift them up forever.


text:
A Psalm of David, <i>on the occasion</i> of the solemn assembly of the Tabernacle. Bring to the Lord, you sons of God, bring to the Lord young rams; bring to the Lord glory and honor.


text:
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory has thundered; the Lord is upon many waters.


text:
And He will beat them small, <i>even</i> Lebanon itself, like a calf; and the beloved one is as a young unicorn.


text:
The voice of the Lord strengthens the deer, and will uncover the thickets; and in His temple everyone speaks <i>of His</i> glory.


text:
A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David. I will exalt You, O Lord; for You have lifted me up, and not caused my enemies to rejoice over me.


text:
O Lord, You have brought up my soul from Hades, You have delivered me from <i>among</i> them that go down to the pit.


text:
For anger is in His wrath, but life in His favor; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.


text:
O Lord, in Your good pleasure You added strength to my beauty; but You turned away Your face, and I was troubled.


text:
What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to destruction? Shall the dust give praise to You? Or shall it declare Your truth?


text:
You have turned my mourning into joy for me; You have removed my sackcloth, and have clothed me with gladness;


text:
that my glory may sing praise to You, and I may not be pierced <i>with sorrow</i>. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.


text:
A Psalm of David, <i>an utterance</i> of extreme fear. O Lord, I have hoped in You; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness and rescue me.


text:
Incline Your ear to me; make haste to rescue me; be to me my protecting God, and a fortress of defense to save me.


text:
For You are my strength and my refuge; and You shall guide me for Your name's sake, and maintain me.


text:
You shall bring me out of the snare which they have hidden for me; for You, O Lord, are my defender.


text:
I will exalt and be glad in Your mercy; for You have looked upon my affliction; You have saved my soul from distresses.


text:
For my life is spent with grief, and my years with groanings; my strength has been weakened through poverty, and my bones are troubled.


text:
I became a reproach among all my enemies, but exceedingly so to my neighbors, and a fear to my acquaintances; they that saw me outside fled from me.


text:
For I heard the slander of many that dwelt round about; when they were gathered together against me, they took counsel to take my life.


text:
O Lord, let me not be ashamed, for I have called upon You; let the ungodly be ashamed, and brought down to Hades.


text:
Let the deceitful lips become dumb, which speak iniquity against the righteous with pride and scorn.


text:
How abundant is the multitude of Your goodness, O Lord, which You have laid up for them that fear You! You have wrought <i>it</i> out for them that hope on You, in the presence of the sons of men.


text:
You will hide them in the secret of Your presence from the plots of man; You will screen them in a tabernacle from the strife of tongues.


text:
But I said in my extreme fear, “I am cast out from the sight of Your eyes”; therefore You listened, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication when I cried to You.


text:
Love the Lord, all you His saints; for the Lord seeks <i>those that are </i>truthful, and He recompenses them that deal very proudly.


text:
A Psalm of instruction by David. Blessed <i>are they</i> whose transgressions are forgiven, and who sins are covered.


text:
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; I became thoroughly miserable while a thorn was fastened in <i>me</i>. Selah.


text:
I acknowledged my sin, and hid not my iniquity; I said, I will confess my iniquity to the Lord; and You forgave the ungodliness of my heart. Selah.


text:
Therefore shall every holy one pray to You in a fit time; only in the deluge of many waters they shall not come near to Him.


text:
You are my refuge from the affliction that encompasses me; my joy, to deliver me from them that have compassed me. Selah.


text:
Be not as the horse and mule, which have no understanding; <i>but you must</i> constrain their jaws with bit and bridle, lest they should come near to you.


text:
Be glad in the Lord, and exalt, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you that are upright in heart!


text:
By the word of the Lord the heavens were established; and all the host of them by the breath of His <i>mouth</i>.


text:
The Lord frustrates the counsels of the nations; He brings to nought the reasonings of the people, and brings to nought the counsels of princes.


text:
But the counsel of the Lord endures forever, the thoughts of His heart from generation to generation.


text:
A king is not saved by reason of a great army; and a giant shall not be delivered by the greatness of his strength.


text:
A horse is a vain <i>hope </i>for safety; neither shall he be delivered by the greatness of his power.


text:
A Psalm of David, when he changed his countenance before Abimelech; and he let him go, and he departed. I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be continually in my mouth.


text:
The rich have become poor and hungry; but they that seek the Lord diligently shall not lack any good thing. Selah.


text:
but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to destroy their memorial from the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord listened to them,


text:
Bring forth a sword, and stop <i>the way</i> against them that persecute me; say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”


text:
Let them that seek my soul be ashamed and confounded; let them that devise evils against me be turned back and put to shame.


text:
For without cause they have hid for me their destructive snare; without a cause they have reproached my soul.


text:
Let a snare which they do not know come upon them; and the net which they hid take them; and let them fall into the very same snare.


text:
All my bones shall say, “O Lord, who is like You? Delivering the poor out of the hand of them that are stronger than he, yea, the poor and needy one from them that spoil him.”


text:
But I, when they troubled me, put on sackcloth, and humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer shall return to my <i>own</i> bosom.


text:
I behaved agreeably towards them as <i>if it had been</i> our neighbor <i>or</i> brother; I humbled myself as one mourning and sad of countenance.


text:
Yet they rejoiced against me, and plagues were plentifully brought against me, and I did not know <i>it</i>; they were scattered, but did not repent.


text:
O Lord, when will You look upon me? Deliver my soul from their mischief, my only begotten one from the lions.


text:
Let not them that are my enemies rejoice against me without a cause; who hate me for nothing, and wink with their eyes.


text:
You have seen <i>it</i>, O Lord; do not keep silence; O Lord, do not withdraw <i>Yourself</i> from me.


text:
Judge me, O Lord, according to Your righteousness, O Lord my God; and let them not rejoice against me.


text:
Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, aha, <i>it is pleasing</i> to our soul”; neither let them say, “We have devoured him.”


text:
Let them be confounded and ashamed together that rejoice at my afflictions; let them be clothed with shame and confusion that speak great swelling words against me.


text:
Let them that rejoice in my righteousness exalt and be glad; and let them say continually, “The Lord be magnified, who desires the peace of His servant.”


text:
A Psalm, by David the servant of the Lord. The transgressor, that he may sin, says within himself, <i>that</i> he has no fear of God.


text:
The words of his mouth are transgression and deceit; he is not inclined to understand <i>how</i> to do good.


text:
Your righteousness is as the mountains of God, Your judgments are as a great deep; O Lord, You will preserve men and beasts.


text:
How have You multiplied Your mercy, O God! So the children of men shall trust in the shelter of Your wings.


text:
They shall be fully satisfied with the fatness of Your house; and You shall cause them to drink of the full stream of Your delights.


text:
Submit yourself to the Lord, and make supplication to Him; do not fret because of him that prospers in his way, at the man that does unlawful deeds.


text:
And yet a little while, and the sinner shall not be, and you shall seek for his place, and shall not find <i>it</i>.


text:
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight <i>themselves </i>in the abundance of peace.


text:
Sinners have drawn their swords; they have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, <i>and</i> to slay the upright in heart.


text:
For the sinners shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord at the moment of their being honored and exalted have utterly vanished like smoke.


text:
For those that bless Him shall inherit the earth; and they that curse Him shall be utterly destroyed.


text:
I was <i>once</i> young, indeed I am now old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants seeking bread.


text:
For the Lord loves judgment, and will not forsake His saints; they shall be preserved forever; the blameless shall be avenged, but the descendants of the ungodly shall be utterly destroyed.


text:
Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you shall see <i>it</i>.


text:
But the transgressors shall be utterly destroyed together; the remnants of the ungodly shall be utterly destroyed.


text:
But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord; and He is their defender in the time of affliction.


text:
And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them; and He shall rescue them from sinners, and save them, because they have hoped in Him.


text:
A Psalm of David for remembrance concerning the Sabbath day. O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, neither chasten me in Your anger.


text:
For there is no health in my flesh because of Your anger; there is no peace to my bones because of my sins.


text:
For my transgressions have gone over my head; they have pressed heavily upon me like a weighty burden.


text:
My friends and my neighbors drew near before me, and stood still; and my nearest of kin stood afar off.


text:
While they pressed hard upon me that sought my soul; and they that sought my hurt spoke vanities, and devised deceits all the day.


text:
For I said, “Lest my enemies rejoice against me”; for when my feet were moved, they spoke boastfully against me.


text:
A Song of David, to Jeduthun. I said, “I will take heed to my ways, that I do not sin with my tongue”; I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.


text:
“O Lord, make me to know my end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack.


text:
Behold, You have made my days old; and my existence <i>is</i> as nothing before You; indeed, every man living <i>is</i> altogether vanity. Selah.


text:
Surely man walks in a shadow; surely he is disquieted in vain; he lays up treasures, and does not know for whom he shall gather them.


text:
And now what <i>is</i> my expectation? <i>Is it</i> not the Lord? And my ground <i>of hope</i> is with You. Selah.


text:
You chasten man with rebukes for iniquity, and You make his life to consume away like a spider's web; surely every man is disquieted in vain. Selah.


text:
O Lord, listen to my prayer and my supplication; attend to my tears; be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers <i>were</i>.


text:
A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; and He attended to me, and heard my supplication.


text:
And He brought me up out of a pit of misery, and from miry clay; and He set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.


text:
And He put a new song into my mouth, <i>even</i> a hymn to our God; many shall see <i>it</i> and fear, and shall hope in the Lord.


text:
Blessed <i>is</i> the man whose hope is in the name of the Lord, and <i>who</i> has not regarded vanities, nor turned aside to lies.


text:
O Lord my God, You have multiplied Your wonderful works, and in Your thoughts there is none who shall be likened to You; I declared and spoke <i>of them</i>; they exceeded in number.


text:
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; but a body You have prepared for me; burnt offering and <i>sacrifice</i> for sin You did not require.


text:
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation; lo! I will not refrain my lips; O Lord, You know my righteousness.


text:
I have not hid Your truth within my heart, and I have declared Your salvation; I have not hid Your mercy and Your truth from the great congregation.


text:
But You, O Lord, do not remove Your compassion far from me; Your mercy and Your truth have helped me continually.


text:
For innumerable evils have encompassed me; my transgressions have taken hold of me, and I could not see; they are multiplied more than the hairs of my head; and my heart has failed me.


text:
Let those that seek my soul, to destroy it, be ashamed and confounded together; let those that wish me evil be turned backward and put to shame.


text:
Let all those that seek You, O Lord, exalt and rejoice in You; and let them that love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!”


text:
But I am poor and needy; the Lord will take care of me; You are my helper, and my defender, O my God; do not delay.


text:
A Psalm of David. Blessed <i>is the man</i> who thinks on the poor and needy; the Lord shall deliver him in an evil day.


text:
May the Lord preserve him and keep him alive, and bless him on the earth, and not deliver him into the hands of his enemy.


text:
And if he came to see <i>me</i>, his heart spoke vainly; he gathered iniquity to himself; he went forth and spoke in like manner.


text:
They denounced a wicked word against me, <i>saying</i>, “Now that he lies, shall he not rise up again?”


text:
For even the man of my peace, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, lifted up <i>his</i> heel against me.


text:
A Psalm of instruction, for the sons of Korah. As the deer earnestly desires the fountains of water, so my soul earnestly longs for You, O God.


text:
I remembered these things, and poured out my soul in me, for I will go to the place of Your wondrous tabernacle, <i>even</i> to the house of God, with a voice of exaltation and thanksgiving and of the sound of those who keep festival.


text:
Why are you downcast, O my soul? And why do you trouble me? Hope in God; for I will give thanks to Him; <i>He is</i> the salvation of my countenance.


text:
O my God, my soul has been troubled within me; therefore will I remember You from the land of the Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the little hill.


text:
Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; all Your billows and Your waves have gone over me.


text:
By day the Lord will command His mercy, and manifest <i>it</i> by night; with me <i>is</i> prayer to the God of my life.


text:
I will say to God, “You are my helper; why have You forgotten me? Why do I mourn, while the enemy oppresses <i>me</i>?”


text:
While my bones were breaking, they that afflicted me reproached me; while they said to me daily, “Where is your God?”


text:
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why do you trouble me? Hope in God; for I will give thanks to Him; <i>He is</i> the health of my countenance, and my God.


text:
A Psalm of David. Judge me, O God, and plead my cause, against an ungodly nation; deliver me from the unjust and crafty;


text:
for You are my strength; why have You cast me off? And why do I go mourning, while the enemy oppresses <i>me</i>?


text:
Send forth Your light and Your truth; they have led me, and brought me to Your holy mountain, and to Your tabernacle.


text:
And I will go in to the altar of God, to God who gladdens my youth; I will give thanks to You on the harp, O God, my God.


text:
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why do you trouble me? Hope in God; for I will give thanks to Him, <i>who is</i> the health of my countenance, <i>and</i> my God.


text:
A Psalm for instruction, for the sons of Korah. O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, the deeds which You did in their days, in the days of old.


text:
Your hand utterly destroyed the heathen, and You planted them; You afflicted the nations, and cast them out.


text:
For they did not inherit the land by their <i>own</i> sword, and their <i>own</i> arm did not deliver them; but Your right hand, and Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You were well pleased with them.


text:
In You will we push down our enemies, and in Your name will we bring to nought them that rise up against us.


text:
All these things have come upon us; but we have not forgotten You, neither have we dealt unrighteously in Your covenant.


text:
If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have spread out our hands to a strange god; shall not God search these things out?


text:
<i>A Psalm</i> by the sons of Korah; for instruction, A song concerning the beloved. My heart has uttered a good matter; I declare my works to the king; my tongue is the pen of a quick writer.


text:
You are more beautiful than the sons of men; grace has been shed forth on Your lips; therefore God has blessed You forever.


text:
and bend <i>Your bow</i>, and prosper, and reign, because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and Your right hand shall guide You wonderfully.


text:
Your weapons are sharpened, O Mighty One, (the nations shall fall under You) <i>they are</i> in the heart of the king's enemies.


text:
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of Your kingdom is the scepter of righteousness.


text:
You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions.


text:
with which kings' daughters have gladdened You for Your honor; the queen stood by on Your right hand, clothed in vesture wrought with gold, and arrayed in many colors.


text:
And the daughter of Tyre shall adorn Him with gifts; the rich of the people of the land shall supplicate your favor.


text:
All her glory <i>is that</i> of the daughter of the king of Heshbon, robed in golden fringed garments,


text:
in embroidered <i>clothing</i>; virgins shall be brought to the king after her; her fellows shall be brought to You.


text:
They shall make mention of Your name from generation to generation; therefore shall the nations give thanks to You forever, even forever and ever.


text:
For the sons of Korah; A Psalm concerning secret things. God is our refuge and strength, a help in the afflictions that have come heavily upon us.


text:
Therefore will we not fear when the earth is troubled, and the mountains are removed into the depths of the seas.


text:
Putting an end to wars as to the ends of the earth; He will crush the bow, and break in pieces the weapon, and burn the bucklers with fire.


text:
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.


text:
A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with a voice of exaltation.


text:
The rulers of the people are assembled with the God of Abraham; for God's mighty ones of the earth have been greatly exalted.


text:
A Psalm of praise for the sons of Korah on the second <i>day</i> of the week. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain.


text:
The city of the great King is well planted <i>on</i> the mountains of Zion, with the joy of the whole earth, <i>on</i> the sides of the north.


text:
As we have heard, so have we also seen, in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God; God has founded it forever. Selah.


text:
According to Your name, O God, so is also Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.


text:
A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear these words, all you nations, give ear, all you that dwell upon the earth;


text:
My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall bring <i>forth</i> understanding.


text:
When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.


text:
And their tombs are their houses forever, <i>even</i> their tabernacles to all generations; they have called their lands after their own names.


text:
And man being in honor, does not understand; he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is likened unto them.


text:
They have laid <i>them</i> as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory.


text:
Man that is in honor, does not understand; he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is likened unto them.


text:
A Psalm of Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord, has spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its going down.


text:
God, our God, shall come manifestly, and shall not keep silent; a fire shall be kindled before Him, and round about Him there shall be a very great tempest.


text:
I will not reprove you on account of your sacrifices; for your burnt offerings are before Me continually.


text:
And call upon Me in the day of affliction; and I shall deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Selah.


text:
But to the sinner God has said, “Why do you declare My ordinances, and take up My covenant in your mouth?


text:
These things you did, and I kept silent; you thought wickedly that I should be like you, <i>but</i> I will reprove you, and set <i>your offenses</i> before you.


text:
Now consider these things, all you that forget God, lest <i>I</i> tear <i>you</i>, and there be none to deliver.


text:
The sacrifice of praise will glorify Me; and that is the way in which I will show to him the salvation of God.”


text:
A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, when he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the multitude of Your compassions, blot out my transgression.


text:
Against You alone have I sinned, and done evil before You; that You might be justified in Your words, and might overcome when You are judged.


text:
You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified; You shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.


text:
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; <i>and</i> my tongue shall joyfully declare Your righteousness.


text:
For if You desired sacrifice, I would have given <i>it</i>; You will not take pleasure in burnt offerings.


text:
Then shall You be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole burnt sacrifices; then shall they offer calves upon Your altar.


text:
A Psalm of instruction by David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said to him, “David has gone to the house of Abimelech.” Why do you, O mighty man, boast of iniquity in your mischief?


text:
You have loved wickedness more than goodness; unrighteousness better than to speak righteousness. Selah.


text:
Therefore may God destroy you forever, may He pluck you up and utterly remove you from <i>your</i> dwelling, and your root from the land of the living. Selah.


text:
“Behold, the man who did not make God his help; but trusted in the abundance of his wealth, and strengthened himself in his vanity.”


text:
But I am as a fruitful olive in the house of God; I have trusted in the mercy of God forever, even forevermore.


text:
I will give thanks to You forever, for You have done <i>it</i>; and I will wait on Your name; for <i>it is</i> good before the saints.


text:
A Psalm of David upon Mahalath, of instruction. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They have corrupted <i>themselves,</i> and have become abominable in iniquities; there is none that does good.


text:
God looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there were any that understood, or sought after God.


text:
They have all gone out of the way, they have together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, there is not even one.


text:
Will none of the workers of iniquity know, who devour my people as they would eat bread? They have not called upon God. There were they greatly afraid, where there was no fear;


text:
Who will bring the salvation of Israel out of Zion? When the Lord turns the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.


text:
<i>A Psalm</i> among Hymns of instruction by David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “Is not David hiding with us?” Save me, O God, by Your name, and judge me by Your might.


text:
For strangers have risen up against me, and mighty men have sought my life; they have not set God before them. Selah.


text:
For You have delivered me out of all <i>my</i> afflictions, and my eye has seen <i>its desire</i> upon my enemies.


text:
<i>A Psalm</i> among Hymns of instruction, by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer; and do not disregard my supplication.


text:
because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner; for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me.


text:
Day and night he shall go round about it upon its walls; iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness <i>are</i> in the midst of it;


text:
For if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated <i>me</i> had spoken vauntingly against me, I would have hid myself from him.


text:
Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the midst of them.


text:
Evening and morning and at noon I will declare and make known <i>my needs</i>; and He shall hear my voice.


text:
He shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw near to me; for they were with me in many <i>cases</i>.


text:
God shall hear, and bring them low, <i>even</i> He that has existed from eternity. Selah. For they suffer no recourse, and <i>therefore</i> they have not feared God.


text:
They were scattered at the anger of His countenance, and his heart drew near to them. His words were smoother than oil, yet they are darts.


text:
Cast your cares upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.


text:
But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in You, O Lord.


text:
<i>A Psalm,</i> concerning the people that were removed from the sanctuary, by David for a memorial, when the Philistines caught him in Gath. Have mercy upon me, O God; for man has trodden me down; all the day long his warring has afflicted me.


text:
My enemies have trodden me down all the day from the dawning of the day; for there are many warring against me.


text:
In God (I will praise <i>His</i> word); all the day long have I hoped in God; I will not fear; what shall man do to me?


text:
They will dwell near and hide <i>themselves</i>; they will watch my steps, accordingly as I have waited patiently in my soul.


text:
O God, I have declared my life to You; You have set my tears before You, even according to Your promise.


text:
My enemies shall be turned back, in the day that I shall call upon You; behold, I know that You are my God.


text:
For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from sliding, that I should be well-pleasing before God in the land of the living.


text:
<i>A Psalm</i> by David, for a memorial, when he fled from the presence of Saul, to the cave. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me; for my soul has trusted in You; and in the shadow of Your wings will I hope, until the iniquity has passed away.


text:
He sent from heaven and saved me; He reproached them that trampled on me; God has sent forth His mercy and His truth;


text:
and He has delivered my soul from the midst of <i>the lion’s</i> whelps; I lay down to sleep, <i>though</i> troubled. <i>As for</i> the sons of men, their teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.


text:
They have prepared snares for my feet, and have bowed down my soul; they have dug a pit before my face, and fallen into it <i>themselves</i>. Selah.


text:
<i>A Psalm</i> by David, for a memorial. If you do indeed speak righteousness, <i>then</i> do you judge rightly, you sons of men?


text:
Their venom is like <i>that</i> of a serpent; as <i>that</i> of a deaf asp, and that stops her ears;


text:
which will not hear the voice of charmers, nor <i>heed</i> the charm prepared skillfully by the wise.


text:
They shall utterly pass away like water running through; he shall bend his bow till they shall fail.


text:
The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance of the ungodly; he shall wash his hands in the blood of the sinner.


text:
And a man shall say, Verily then there is a reward for the righteous; verily there is a God that judges them in the earth.


text:
<i>A Psalm</i> by David for a memorial, when Saul sent, and watched his house to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O God; and ransom me from those that rise up against me.


text:
For behold, they have hunted after my soul; violent men have set upon me; neither <i>is it</i> my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord.


text:
And You, Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, draw near to visit all the heathen; do not pity any that work iniquity. Selah.


text:
Behold, they shall utter a voice with their mouth, and a sword is in their lips; for who, <i>they say</i>, has heard?


text:
<i>As for</i> my God, His mercy shall go before me; my God will show me <i>vengeance</i> on my enemies.


text:
Do not slay them, lest they forget Your law; scatter them by Your power; and bring them down, O Lord, my defender.


text:
<i>For</i> the sin of their mouth, <i>and</i> the word of their lips, let them be taken in their pride.


text:
And for <i>their</i> cursing and falsehood shall utter destruction be denounced; <i>they shall fall</i> by the wrath of utter destruction, and shall not be; so shall they know that the God of Jacob is Lord to the ends of the earth. Selah.


text:
But I will sing to Your strength, and in the morning will I rejoice <i>in</i> Your mercy; for You have been my supporter, and my refuge in the day of my affliction.


text:
<i>You are</i> my helper; to You, my God, shall I sing; You are my supporter, O my God, <i>and</i> my mercy.


text:
<i>A Psalm</i> by David for instruction, when he <i>had</i> burned Mesopotamia of Syria, and Syria of Zobah; and Joab <i>had</i> returned and struck twelve thousand<i> in</i> the Valley of Salt. O God, You have rejected and destroyed us; You have been angry, yet <i>You </i>have pitied us.


text:
God has spoken in His holiness; I will rejoice, and divide Shechem, and measure out the Valley of Tents.


text:
Judah is My king; Moab is the caldron of My hope; over Edom will I stretch out My shoe; the Philistines have been subjected to Me.


text:
From the ends of the earth have I cried to You, when my heart was in trouble; You lifted me up on a rock; You guided me;


text:
I will dwell in Your tabernacle forever; I will shelter myself under the shadow of Your wings. Selah.


text:
They only took counsel to set at nought my honor. I ran in thirst; with their mouth they blessed, but with their heart they cursed. Selah.


text:
Hope in Him, all you congregation of the people; pour out your hearts before Him, for God is our helper. Selah.


text:
But the sons of men are vain; the sons of men are false, so as to be deceitful in the balances; they are all alike, <i>formed</i> out of vanity.


text:
Do not trust in unrighteousness, and do not lust after robberies. If wealth should flow in, do not set your heart upon it.


text:
A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Edom. O God, my God, I cry to You early; my soul has thirsted for You: how often has my flesh <i>longed</i> after You, in a barren and trackless and dry land!


text:
But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone that swears by Him shall be praised; for the mouth of them that speak unjust things has been stopped.


text:
A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O God, when I make my petition to You; deliver my soul from fear of the enemy.


text:
You have sheltered me from the conspiracy of them that do wickedly; from the multitude of them that work iniquity;


text:
They have set up for themselves an evil matter, they have given counsel to hide snares; they have said, “Who shall see them?”


text:
They have searched out iniquity; they have wearied themselves with searching diligently, a man shall approach and the heart is deep,


text:
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and hope in Him, and all the upright in heart shall be praised.


text:
A Psalm <i>and</i> Song of David. Praise becomes You, O God, in Zion; and to You shall the vow be performed.


text:
Blessed <i>is he</i> whom You have chosen and adopted; he shall dwell in Your courts; we shall be filled with the good things of Your house; Your temple is holy.


text:
<i>You are</i> wonderful in righteousness. Hearken to us, O God our Savior; the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them <i>that are</i> on the sea afar off;


text:
The nations shall be troubled, and they that inhabit the ends <i>of the earth</i> shall be afraid of the signs; You will cause the outgoings of morning and evening to rejoice.


text:
You have visited the earth, and saturated it; You have abundantly enriched it. The river of God is filled with water; You have prepared their food, for thus is the preparation <i>of it</i>.


text:
You will bless the crown of the year <i>because</i> of Your goodness; and Your plains shall be filled with fatness.


text:
The rams of the flock are clothed <i>with wool</i>, and the valleys shall abound in grain; they shall cry aloud; yes, they shall sing hymns.


text:
Say unto God, “How awesome are Your works!” Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.


text:
Come and behold the works of God; <i>He is</i> mighty in <i>His</i> counsels beyond the children of men,


text:
who turns the sea into dry land; they shall go through the river on foot; there shall we rejoice in Him,


text:
who by His power is Lord over the ages, His eyes look upon the nations; let not them that provoke <i>Him</i> be exalted in themselves. Selah.


text:
You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through the fire and water; but You brought us out into <i>a place of</i> refreshment.


text:
I will offer to You whole burnt sacrifices full of marrow, with incense and rams; I will sacrifice to You oxen with goats. Selah.


text:
Come <i>and</i> hear, and I will tell, all You that fear God, how great things He has done for my soul.


text:
A Psalm of David among the Hymns. God be merciful to us, and bless us; <i>and</i> cause His face to shine upon us. Selah.


text:
Let the nations rejoice and exalt, for You shall judge the people in equity, and shall guide the nations on the earth. Selah.


text:
A Psalm by David, a Song. Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Him flee from before Him.


text:
As smoke vanishes, let them vanish: as wax melts before the fire, so let the sinners perish from before God.


text:
Sing to God, sing praises to His name: make a way for Him that rides upon the west (the Lord is His name) and rejoice before Him. They shall be troubled before the face of Him,


text:
<i>who is</i> the Father of the orphans, and Judge of the widows; <i>such is</i> God in His holy place.


text:
God settles the solitary in a house; leading forth prisoners mightily, also them that act provokingly, <i>even</i> them that dwell in tombs.


text:
The earth quaked; yes, the heavens dropped <i>water</i> at the presence of the God of Sinai, at the presence of the God of Israel.


text:
O God, You will grant to Your inheritance a gracious rain; for it was weary, but You have refreshed it.


text:
The king of the forces of the beloved <i>will</i> even <i>grant them</i> for the beauty of the house to divide the spoils.


text:
Even if you should lie among the lots, <i>you shall have</i> the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her breast with yellow gold.


text:
Why do you conceive <i>evil</i>, you swelling mountains? <i>This is</i> the mountain which God has delighted to dwell in; yes, the Lord will dwell <i>in it</i> forever.


text:
The chariots of God are ten thousand fold, thousands of rejoicing ones; the Lord is among them, in Sinai, in the holy place.


text:
You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive, You have received gifts among men, yea, for <i>they were</i> rebellious, that You might dwell among them.


text:
Blessed be the Lord God, blessed be the Lord daily; and the God of our salvation shall prosper us. Selah.


text:
But God shall crust the heads of His enemies; the hairy crown of them that go on in their trespasses.


text:
The Lord said, “I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring <i>My people</i> again through the depths of the sea.”


text:
That your foot may be dipped in blood, <i>and</i> the tongue of your dogs <i>be stained</i> with that of <i>your</i> enemies.


text:
The princes went first, next before the players on instruments, in the midst of damsels playing on timbrels.


text:
There is Benjamin the younger <i>one</i> in ecstasy, the princes of Judah their rulers, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.


text:
Rebuke the wild beasts of the reed; let the crowd of bulls with the heifers of the nations <i>be rebuked</i>, so that they who have been proved with silver may not be shut out; scatter the nations that wish for wars.


text:
Ambassadors shall arrive out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten <i>to stretch out</i> her hand readily to God.


text:
Sing to God that rides on the heaven of heavens, eastward: lo, He will utter a mighty sound with His voice.


text:
God is wonderful in His holy <i>places</i>, the God of Israel; He will give power and strength to His people; blessed be God.


text:
I am stuck fast in deep mire, and there is no standing: I have come in to the depths of the sea, and a storm has overwhelmed me.


text:
I am weary <i>of</i> crying, my throat has become hoarse; my eyes have failed by my waiting on my God.


text:
Those that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. My enemies that persecute me unrighteously have become strong. Then I restored that which I did not take away.


text:
Let not them that wait on You, O Lord of hosts, be ashamed on my account; let not them that seek You, be ashamed on my account, O God of Israel.


text:
For the zeal of Your house has eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached You have fallen upon me.


text:
But I <i>will cry</i> to You, O Lord, in my prayer; O God, it is a propitious time: in the multitude of Your mercy hear me, in the truth of Your salvation.


text:
Save me from the mire, that I may not sink down<i>;</i> let me be delivered from them that hate me, and from the deep waters.


text:
Do not let the floodwater drown me, nor let the deep swallow me up; neither let the well shut its mouth upon me.


text:
Hear me, O Lord; for Your mercy is good: according to the multitude of Your compassions, look upon me.


text:
My soul has waited for reproach and misery; and I waited for one to grieve with me, but there was none; and for one to comfort me, but I found none.


text:
For God will save Zion, and the cities of Judah shall be built; and <i>men</i> shall dwell there, and inherit it.


text:
And the descendants of His servants shall possess it, and those that love His name shall dwell in it.


text:
Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek my soul; let them be turned backward and put to shame, <i>those </i>that wish me evil.


text:
Let all that seek You rejoice and be glad in You: and let those that love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified.”


text:
By David, <i>A Psalm sung by</i> the sons of Jonadab, and the first that were taken captive. O Lord, I have hoped in You; let me never be put to shame.


text:
Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the sinner, from the hand of the transgressor and unjust man.


text:
On You have I been stayed from the womb: from the belly of my mother You have been my protector: of You is my praise <i>offered </i>continually.


text:
Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing hymns <i>to</i> Your glory <i>and</i> Your majesty all the day.


text:
For my enemies have spoken against me; and they that lay wait for my soul have taken counsel together,


text:
saying, “God has forsaken him: persecute him, and take him; for there is none to deliver <i>him</i>.”


text:
Let those that plot <i>evil </i>against my soul be ashamed and utterly fail; let those that seek my hurt be clothed with shame and dishonor.


text:
My mouth shall declare Your righteousness openly, <i>and</i> Your salvation all the day; for I am not acquainted with the affairs <i>of men</i>.


text:
even until I am old and advanced in years. O God, do not forsake me; until I have declared Your <i>mighty </i>arm to all the generation that is to come;


text:
even Your power and Your righteousness, O God, up to the highest <i>heavens, even</i> the mighty works which You have done; O God, who is like You?


text:
What many and great afflictions have You shown me! Yet You turned and revived me, and brought me again from the depths of the earth.


text:
You multiplied Your righteousness, and turned and comforted me, and brought me again out of the depths of the earth.


text:
I will also therefore give thanks to You, O God, <i>because of</i> Your truth, on an instrument of music; I will sing psalms to You on the harp, O Holy One of Israel.


text:
Moreover also my tongue shall dwell all the day upon Your righteousness; when they shall be ashamed and confounded that seek my hurt.


text:
He shall judge the poor of the people in righteousness, and save the children of the needy; and shall bring low the false accuser.


text:
The kings of Tarshish, and the isles, shall bring presents: the kings of the Arabians and Sheba shall offer gifts.


text:
He shall redeem their souls from oppression and injustice, and their name <i>shall be</i> precious before Him.


text:
And He shall live, and the gold of Arabia shall be given to Him, and <i>men</i> shall pray for Him continually; <i>and</i> all the day shall they praise Him.


text:
There shall be an establishment on the earth on the tops of the mountains; its fruit shall be exalted above Lebanon, and those of the city shall flourish as grass of the earth.


text:
Let His name be blessed forever; His name shall endure longer than the sun, and all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed.


text:
And blessed is His glorious name forever, even forever and ever; and all the earth shall be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.


text:
For there is no sign of reluctance in their death, and <i>they have</i> firmness under their affliction.


text:
They are not in the troubles of <i>other</i> men; and they shall not be scourged with <i>other</i> men.


text:
Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.


text:
If I said, “I will speak thus”; behold, I <i>should</i> have broken covenant with the generation of Your children.


text:
Surely You have appointed <i>judgments</i> to them because of their crafty dealings; You have cast them down when they were lifted up.


text:
How have they become desolate! Suddenly they have failed; they have perished because of their iniquity.


text:
My heart and my flesh have failed; <i>but</i> God <i>is the strength</i> of my heart, and God is my portion forever.


text:
For behold, they that remove themselves far from You shall perish; You have destroyed everyone that goes a whoring from You.


text:
But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion.


text:
A Psalm of instruction, of Asaph. Why have You rejected <i>us</i>, O God, forever? <i>Why </i>has Your wrath been kindled against the sheep of Your pasture?


text:
Remember Your congregation which You have purchased from the beginning; You ransomed the rod of Your inheritance, this Mount Zion where You have dwelt.


text:
Lift up Your hands against their pride continually; <i>because of</i> all that the enemy has done wickedly in Your holy places.


text:
And they that hate You have boasted in the midst of Your feast; they have set up their standards for signs,


text:
they cut down its doors at once with axes as in a wood of trees; they have broken it down with hatchet and stone cutter.


text:
They have burned Your sanctuary with fire to the ground; they have profaned the habitation of Your name.


text:
They have said in their heart, <i>even</i> all their kindred together, “Come, let us abolish the feasts of the Lord from the earth.”


text:
Remember this Your creation; an enemy has reproached the Lord, and a foolish people have provoked Your name.


text:
Do not deliver to the wild beasts a soul that gives praise to You: do not forget forever the souls of Your poor.


text:
Look upon Your covenant; for the dark <i>places</i> of the earth are filled with the habitations of iniquity.


text:
Arise, O God, plead Your cause; remember Your reproaches that come from the foolish one all the day.


text:
Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; let the pride of them that hate You continually ascend before You.


text:
A Psalm of Asaph, a Song. We will give thanks to You, O God, we will give thanks, and call upon Your name.


text:
For <i>there is</i> a cup in the hand of the Lord, full of unmingled wine; and He has turned <i>it</i> from side to side, but its dregs have not been wholly poured out; all the sinners of the earth shall drink <i>them</i>.


text:
All the simple ones in heart were troubled; all the men of wealth have slept their sleep, and have found nothing in their hands.


text:
For the inward thought of man shall give thanks to You, and the memorial of his inward thought shall keep a feast to You.


text:
<i>even</i> to Him that is awesome, and that takes away the spirits of princes; to Him that is awesome among the kings of the earth.


text:
For the end, for Idithun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried to the Lord with my voice, yes, my voice <i>was addressed</i> to God; and He listened to me.


text:
In the day of my affliction I earnestly sought the Lord; <i>even</i> with my hands by night before Him, and I was not deceived; my soul refused to be comforted.


text:
And I meditated; I communed with my heart by night, and diligently searched my spirit, <i>saying</i>,


text:
<i>There was</i> an abundant sound of waters; the clouds uttered a voice; for Your arrows went abroad.


text:
The voice of Your thunder was abroad, and around Your lightnings appeared to the world; the earth trembled and quaked.


text:
A Psalm of instruction, of Asaph. Give heed, O my people, to my law; incline your ear to the words of my mouth.


text:
I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter dark sayings <i>which have been</i> from the beginning.


text:
They were not hid from their children to a second generation; <i>the fathers</i> declaring the praises of the Lord, and His mighty acts, and His wonders which He has done.


text:
And He raised up a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, to make it known to their children;


text:
that another generation might know, even the sons which should be born; and they should arise and declare them to their children,


text:
that they might set their hope on God, and not forget the works of God, but diligently seek His commandments.


text:
That they should not be as their fathers, a perverse and provoking generation; a generation which did not set its heart right, and its spirit was not steadfast with God.


text:
The children of Ephraim, bending and shooting <i>with</i> the bow, turned <i>back</i> in the day of battle.


text:
Forasmuch as He struck the rock, and the waters flowed, and the torrents ran abundantly; will He be able also to give bread, or prepare a table for His people?”


text:
Therefore the Lord heard, and was provoked: and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath went up against Israel.


text:
then the indignation of God rose up against them, and slew the fattest of them, and overthrew the choice men of Israel.


text:
But He is compassionate, and will forgive their sins, and will not destroy <i>them;</i> indeed, He will frequently turn away His wrath, and will not kindle all His anger.


text:
He sent out against them the fury of His anger, wrath, and indignation, and affliction, a message by evil angels.


text:
He made a way for His wrath; He did not spare their souls from death, but consigned their cattle to death;


text:
and He struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt; the firstfruits of their labors in the tents of Ham.


text:
And He brought them in to the mountain of His sanctuary, this mountain which His right hand had purchased.


text:
And He cast out the nations from before them, and made them to inherit by a line of inheritance, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.


text:
And they turned back, and broke covenant, even as also their fathers; they became like a crooked bow.


text:
He took him from following the ewes great with young, to be the shepherd of Jacob His servant, and Israel His inheritance.


text:
A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen have come into Your inheritance; they have polluted Your holy temple; they have made Jerusalem a storehouse of fruits.


text:
They have given the dead bodies of Your servants <i>to be</i> food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of Your holy ones for the wild beasts of the earth.


text:
We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them <i>that are </i>round about us.


text:
Pour out Your wrath upon the heathen that have not known You, and upon the kingdoms which have not called upon Your name.


text:
Remember not our old transgressions; let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us; for we are greatly impoverished.


text:
Help us, O God our Savior; for the glory of Your name, O Lord, deliver us; and be merciful to our sins, for Your name's sake.


text:
Why should the heathen say, “Where is their God?” And let the avenging of Your servant's blood that has been shed be known among the heathen before our eyes.


text:
Let the groaning of the prisoners come in before You; according to the greatness of Your power, preserve the sons of the slain.


text:
Repay to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached You, O Lord.


text:
For we are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture; we will give You thanks forever; we will declare Your praise throughout all generations.


text:
A Psalm of Asaph, concerning the Assyrian. Attend, O Shepherd of Israel, who guides Joseph like a flock; You who sit upon the cherubim, manifest Yourself;


text:
and restore that which Your right hand has planted, and look on the son of man whom You have strengthened for Yourself.


text:
Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, and upon the son of man whom You have strengthened for Yourself.


text:
He made it <i>to be</i> a testimony in Joseph, when he came forth out of the land of Egypt; he heard a language which he did not understand.


text:
You called upon Me in trouble, and I delivered you; I heard you in the secret place of the storm; I proved you at the Water of Strife. Selah.


text:
Hear, My people, and I will speak to you, O Israel; and I will testify to you; if you will hearken to Me;


text:
For I am the Lord your God, that brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.


text:
I would have put down their enemies very quickly, and would have laid My hand upon those that afflicted them.


text:
A Psalm of Asaph. God stands in the assembly of gods; and in the midst <i>of them</i> will judge gods.


text:
They do not know, nor understand; they walk on in darkness; all the foundations of the earth shall be shaken.


text:
A Song of a Psalm of Asaph. O God, who shall be compared to You? Be not silent, neither be still, O God.


text:
Against Your people they have craftily imagined an <i>evil </i>plan, and have taken counsel against Your saints.


text:
They have said, “Come, and let us utterly destroy them out of the nation; and let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”


text:
A Psalm for the sons of Korah, concerning the winepresses. How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts!


text:
My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh have exalted in the living God.


text:
Yea, the sparrow has found himself a home, and the turtledove a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, <i>even</i> Your altars, O Lord of hosts my King, and my God.


text:
the Valley of Weeping, to the place which He has appointed, for <i>there</i> the Lawgiver shall grant blessings.


text:
For one day in Your courts is better than thousands. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God, than dwell in the tents of sinners.


text:
For the Lord loves mercy and truth; God will give grace and glory; the Lord will not withhold good things from them that walk in innocence.


text:
A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O Lord, You have taken pleasure in Your land; You have turned back the captivity of Jacob.


text:
I will hear what the Lord God will say concerning me; for He shall speak peace to His people, and to His saints, and to those that turn their heart toward Him.


text:
All nations whom You have made shall come and shall worship before You, O Lord; and shall glorify Your name.


text:
Guide me, O Lord, in Your way, and I will walk in Your truth; let my heart rejoice, that I may fear Your name.


text:
O God, transgressors have risen up against me, and an assembly of violent <i>men</i> have sought my life; and have not set You before them.


text:
Look upon me, and have mercy upon me; give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant.


text:
Show me a sign for good; and let them that hate me see <i>it</i> and be ashamed; because You, O Lord, have helped me, and comforted me.


text:
I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me; behold, also the Philistines, and Tyre, and the people of the Ethiopians; these were born there.


text:
A man shall say, “Zion <i>is my</i> mother”; and <i>such</i> a man was born in her; and the Highest Himself has founded her.


text:
The Lord shall recount <i>it</i> in the writing of the people, and of these princes that were born in her.


text:
A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried by day and in the night before You.


text:
free among the dead, as the slain ones cast out, who sleep in the tomb; whom You remember no more; and they are rejected from Your hand.


text:
You have removed my acquaintances far from me; they have made me an abomination to themselves; I have been delivered up, and have not gone forth.


text:
My eyes are dimmed from poverty; but I cried out to You, O Lord, all the day; I spread forth my hands to You.


text:
Will You work wonders for the dead? Or shall physicians raise <i>them</i> up, that they shall praise You?


text:
I am poor and in troubles from my youth; and having been exalted, I was brought low and into despair.


text:
You have put far from me <i>every </i>friend, and my acquaintances because of <i>my</i> wretchedness.


text:
A Psalm of instruction for Ethan the Israelite. I will sing of Your mercies, O Lord, forever; I will declare Your truth with my mouth to all generations.


text:
For You have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever”; Your truth shall be established in the heavens.


text:
For who in the heavens shall be compared to the Lord? And who shall be likened to the Lord among the sons of God?


text:
God is glorified in the council of the saints; great and terrible toward all that are round about Him.


text:
You have brought down the proud as one that is slain; and with the arm of Your power You have scattered Your enemies.


text:
Justice and judgment are the establishment of Your throne; mercy and truth shall go before Your face.


text:
Blessed are the people that knows the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.


text:
Then You spoke in a vision to Your children, and said, “I have laid help on a mighty one; I have exalted one chosen out of My people.


text:
The enemy shall have no advantage against him; and the son of transgression shall not hurt him again.


text:
Neither will I by any means profane My covenant; and I will not make void the things that proceed out of My lips.


text:
You have overthrown the covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his sanctuary, <i>casting it</i> to the ground.


text:
What man is there who shall live, and not see death? Shall <i>anyone</i> deliver his soul from the hand of Hades? Selah.


text:
Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants, which I have borne in my bosom, <i>even the reproach</i> of many nations;


text:
with which Your enemies have reviled, O Lord; with which they have reviled the recompense of Your anointed.


text:
Before the mountains existed, and <i>before</i> the earth and the world were formed, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are <i>God</i>.


text:
In the morning let it flower, and pass away; in the evening let it droop, let it be withered and dried up.


text:
For all our days are gone, and we have passed away in Your wrath; our years have spun out their tale as a spider.


text:
<i>As for</i> the days of our years, in them are seventy years; and if <i>men should be</i> in strength, eighty years; and the greater part of them would be labor and trouble; for weakness overtakes us, and we shall be chastened.


text:
And <i>who knows how</i> to number <i>his days</i> because of the fear of Your wrath? So manifest Your right hand, and those that are instructed in wisdom in the heart.


text:
let us rejoice in all our days, in return for the days in which You afflicted us, the years in which we saw evil.


text:
Praise of a Song, by David. He that dwells in the help of the Highest, shall sojourn under the shelter of the God of heaven.


text:
He shall overshadow you with His shoulders, and You shall trust under His wings; His truth shall cover you with a shield.


text:
<i>nor</i> of the <i>evil</i> thing that walks in darkness; <i>nor</i> of calamity, and the evil spirit at noonday.


text:
A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.


text:
He shall call upon Me, and I will hearken to him; I am with him in affliction; and I will deliver him, and glorify him.


text:
A Psalm of a Song for the Sabbath day. It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;


text:
For You, O Lord, have made me glad with Your work; and in the operations of Your hands will I rejoice.


text:
When the sinners spring up as the grass, and all the workers of iniquity have watched; <i>it is</i> that they may be utterly destroyed forever.


text:
For the day before the Sabbath, when the land was <i>first</i> inhabited, the praise of a Song by David. The Lord reigns; He has clothed Himself with honor; the Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength; for He has established the world, which shall not be moved.


text:
at the voices of many waters; the billows of the sea are wonderful; the Lord is wonderful in high places.


text:
A Psalm of David for the fourth <i>day</i> of the week. The Lord is a God of vengeance; the God of vengeance has declared Himself.


text:
Who will rise up for me against the transgressors? Or who will stand up with me against the workers of iniquity?


text:
Your mercy, O Lord, has helped me. O Lord, according to the multitude of my griefs within my heart, Your consolation has soothed my soul.


text:
And He will recompense to them their iniquity and their wickedness; the Lord our God shall utterly destroy them.


text:
The praise of a Song by David. Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to God our Savior.


text:
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King over all gods; for the Lord will not cast off His people.


text:
Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, according to the day of trial in the wilderness;


text:
Forty years was I grieved with this generation, and said, “They do always err in their heart, and they have not known My ways.


text:
When the house was built after the Captivity, a Song of David. Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.


text:
Say among the heathen, “The Lord reigns”; for He has established the world so that it shall not be moved; He shall judge the people in righteousness.


text:
The plains shall rejoice, and all things in them; then shall all the trees of the wood exalt before the presence of the Lord;


text:
for He comes, for He comes to judge the earth; He shall judge the world in righteousness, and the people with His truth.


text:
For David, when his land was established. The Lord reigns, let the earth exalt, let many islands rejoice.


text:
Clouds and darkness are round about Him; righteousness and judgment are the establishment of His throne.


text:
The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.


text:
Let all that worship graven images be ashamed, who boast of their idols; worship Him, all you His angels.


text:
You that love the Lord, hate evil; the Lord preserves the souls of His saints; He shall deliver them from the hand of sinners.


text:
A Psalm of David. Sing to the Lord a new song; for the Lord has done wonderful works, His right hand, and His holy arm, have wrought salvation for Him.


text:
The Lord has made known His salvation, He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.


text:
He has remembered His mercy to Jacob, and His truth to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.


text:
For He has come to judge the earth; He shall judge the world in righteousness, and the nations in uprightness.


text:
A Psalm of David. The Lord reigns; let the people tremble! <i>It is He</i> that sits upon the cherubim, let the earth be moved.


text:
And the king's honor loves judgment; You have prepared equity, You have established judgment and justice in Jacob.


text:
Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them that call upon His name; they called upon the Lord, and He heard them.


text:
He spoke to them in a pillar of cloud; they kept His testimonies, and the ordinances which He gave them.


text:
O Lord our God, You heard them; O God, You became propitious to them, though You took vengeance on all their devices.


text:
Know that the Lord, He is God; He made us, and not we ourselves; <i>we are</i> His people, and the sheep of His pasture.


text:
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; give thanks to Him, praise His name.


text:
For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting; and His truth <i>endures</i> from generation to generation.


text:
and I will be wise in a blameless way. When will You come to me? I walked in the innocence of my heart, in the midst of my house.


text:
A perverse heart has not cleaved to me; I have not known an evil man, forasmuch as he turns away from me.


text:
He that secretly speaks against his neighbor have I driven from <i>me</i>; he that is proud in look and insatiable in heart—with him I have not eaten.


text:
My eyes <i>shall be</i> upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he that walked in a perfect way, the same ministered to me.


text:
He that is proud did not dwell in the midst of my house; the unjust speaker did not prosper in my sight.


text:
Early did I slay all the sinners of the land, that I might destroy all that work iniquity out of the city of the Lord.


text:
A Prayer for the Poor; when he is deeply afflicted, and pours out his supplication before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to You.


text:
Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; incline Your ear to me; in the day <i>when</i> I shall call upon You, speedily hear me.


text:
I have become like an owl in a ruined house. I have watched, and have become as a sparrow dwelling alone on a roof.


text:
You shall arise, and have mercy upon Zion; for <i>it is</i> time to have mercy upon her, for the appointed time has come.


text:
Let this be written for another generation; and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord.


text:
In the beginning You, O Lord, laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Your hands.


text:
They shall perish, but You remain; and <i>they all</i> shall grow old like a garment; and as a vesture shall You fold them, and they shall be changed.


text:
The children of Your servants shall dwell <i>securely</i>, and their descendants shall prosper forever.


text:
A Psalm of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all <i>that is</i> within me, <i>bless</i> His holy name.


text:
who satisfies your desire with good things; <i>so that</i> your youth shall be renewed like <i>that</i> of the eagle.


text:
For as the heaven is high above the earth, <i>so</i> has the Lord increased His mercy toward them that fear Him.


text:
But the mercy of the Lord is from generation to generation upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness to <i>the </i>children's children;


text:
Bless the Lord, all you His angels, mighty in strength, who do His bidding, <i>ready</i> to hearken to the voice of His words.


text:
A Psalm of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are very great; You have clothed Yourself with praise and honor;


text:
Who covers His chambers with waters; who makes the clouds His chariot; who walks on the wings of the wind.


text:
You have set a boundary which they shall not pass, neither shall they turn again to cover the earth.


text:
They shall give drink to all the wild beasts of the field; the wild donkeys shall take <i>of them</i> to <i>quench</i> their thirst.


text:
He waters the mountains from His chambers; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Your works.


text:
He makes grass to grow for the cattle, and green herbs for the service of men, to bring bread out of the earth;


text:
and wine makes glad the heart of man, to make his face cheerful with oil; and bread strengthens man's heart.


text:
The trees of the plain shall be full <i>of sap</i>; <i>even</i> the cedars of Lebanon which He has planted.


text:
How great are Your works, O Lord! In wisdom have You done them all; the earth is filled with Your creation.


text:
<i>So is</i> this great and wide sea; there are things creeping innumerable, small animals and great.


text:
When You have given <i>it to</i> them, they will gather <i>it</i>; and when You have opened Your hand, they shall all be filled with good.


text:
But when You have turned away Your face, they shall be troubled; You will take away their breath, and they shall fail, and return to their dust.


text:
You shall send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created; and You shall renew the face of the earth.


text:
Let the sinners fail from off the earth, and transgressors, so that they shall be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul.


text:
Remember us, O Lord, with the favor <i>You have</i> toward Your people; visit us with Your salvation;


text:
that we may behold the good of Your elect, that we may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that we may glory with Your inheritance.


text:
Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders, and did not remember the multitude of Your mercy; but provoked <i>Him</i> as they went up by the Red Sea.


text:
And He rebuked the Red Sea, and it was dried up; so He led them through the deep as through the wilderness.


text:
And He saved them out of the hand of them that hated <i>them</i>, and redeemed them out of the hand of the enemy.


text:
So He said that He would have destroyed them, had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, to turn <i>Him</i> away from the fierceness of His anger, so that He should not destroy them.


text:
They were joined also to Baal of Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. And they provoked Him with their deeds;


text:
and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was defiled with blood,


text:
And He delivered them into the hands of <i>their</i> enemies; and they that hated them ruled over them.


text:
Many a time He delivered them; but they provoked Him by their counsel, and they were brought low by their iniquities.


text:
Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, that we may glory in Your praise.


text:
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting; and all the people shall say, “Amen, Amen.”


text:
He helped them out of the way of their iniquity; for they were brought low because of their iniquities.


text:
And He blesses them, and they multiply exceedingly, and He does not diminish the number of their cattle.


text:
Contempt is poured upon their princes, and He causes them to wander in a desert, and in a trackless land.


text:
A Psalm of David, a Song. O God, my heart is ready, my heart is ready; I will sing and sing psalms with my glory.


text:
That Your beloved may be delivered; save with Your right hand, and hear me. God has spoken in His sanctuary.


text:
Moab is the caldron of My hope; over Edom will I cast My sandal; the Philistines are made subject to Me.


text:
for the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the crafty have been opened against me; they have spoken against me with a crafty tongue.


text:
Let his children wander without a dwelling place and beg; let them be cast out of their habitations.


text:
Let his children be <i>given up</i> to utter destruction; in one generation let his name be blotted out.


text:
Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.


text:
Because he did not remember to show mercy, but persecuted the needy and poor man, <i>that</i> he might even slay the broken in heart.


text:
He loved cursing also, and it shall come upon him; and he did not take pleasure in blessing, so it shall be removed far from him.


text:
Yes, he put on cursing as a garment, and it has come as water into his bowels, and as oil into his bones.


text:
Let it be to him as a garment which he puts on, and as a girdle with which he girds himself continually.


text:
This is the dealing of the Lord with those who falsely accuse me, and of them that speak evil against my soul.


text:
But You, O Lord, my Lord, deal <i>mercifully</i> with me, for Your name's sake; for Your mercy is good.


text:
Let them curse, but You shall bless; let them that rise up against me be ashamed, but let Your servant rejoice.


text:
Let those that falsely accuse me be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their shame as with a mantle.


text:
I will give thanks to the Lord abundantly with my mouth; and in the midst of many I will praise Him.


text:
A Psalm of David. The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”


text:
With You is dominion in the day of Your power, in the splendors of Your saints; I have begotten You from the womb before the morning.


text:
He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill up <i>the number of</i> corpses, He shall crush the heads of many on the earth.


text:
Alleluia. I will give You thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and <i>in</i> the congregation.


text:
His work is <i>worthy of</i> thanksgiving and honor; and His righteousness endures forever and ever.


text:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and all that act accordingly have a good understanding; His praise endures forever and ever.


text:
He has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.


text:
The sinner shall see and be angry, he shall gnash his teeth, and consume away; the desire of the sinner shall perish.


text:
they have hands, but they cannot handle; they have feet, but they cannot walk; they cannot speak through their mouth.


text:
The Lord has remembered us, and blessed us; He has blessed the house of Israel, He has blessed the house of Aaron.


text:
I called on the Lord out of affliction; and He hearkened to me, <i>and brought me</i> into a wide place.


text:
They compassed me about as bees <i>do</i> a honeycomb, and they burst into flame as fire among thorns; but in the name of the Lord I repulsed them.


text:
The voice of exaltation and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord has done mightily.


text:
God is the Lord, and He has shined upon us; celebrate the feast with thick <i>branches, binding the victims</i> even to the horns of the altar.


text:
You are my God, and I will give You thanks; You are my God, and I will exalt You. I will give thanks to You, for You have heard me, and have become my salvation.


text:
Blessed are they that search out His testimonies; they will diligently seek Him with the whole heart.


text:
I will give You thanks with uprightness of heart, when I have learned the judgments of Your righteousness.


text:
The injustice of the proud has been multiplied against me; but I will search out Your commandments with all my heart.


text:
I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are righteousness, and <i>that</i> You in truthfulness have afflicted me.


text:
Let the proud be ashamed; for they transgressed against me unjustly; but I will meditate on Your commandments.


text:
How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment for me on them that persecute me?


text:
I have reckoned all the sinners of the earth as transgressors; therefore have I loved Your testimonies.


text:
Therefore I directed myself <i>according</i> to all Your commandments; I have hated every unjust way.


text:
Many are they that persecute me and oppress me; <i>but</i> I have not declined from Your testimonies.


text:
The beginning of Your words is truth; and all the judgments of Your righteousness <i>endure</i> forever.


text:
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant; for I have not forgotten Your commandments.


text:
I was peaceable among them that hated peace; when I spoke to them, they warred against me without a cause.


text:
For from there the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord, as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.


text:
Behold, as the eyes of servants <i>are directed </i>to the hands of their masters, <i>and </i>as the eyes of a maidservant to the hands of her mistress; so our eyes <i>are directed </i>to the Lord our God, until He has mercy upon us.


text:
For our soul has been exceedingly filled <i>with it</i>: <i>let </i>the reproach <i>be </i>to them that are at ease, and contempt to the proud.


text:
Our soul has been delivered as a sparrow from the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are delivered.


text:
A Song of Degrees. They that trust in the Lord <i>shall be </i>as Mount Zion: he that dwells in Jerusalem shall never be moved.


text:
The mountains are round about her, and <i>so </i>the Lord is round about His people, from this time forth and forever.


text:
For the Lord will not allow the rod of sinners to be upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous should stretch forth their hands to iniquity.


text:
But them that turn aside to crooked ways the Lord will lead away with the workers of iniquity; <i>but </i>peace <i>shall be </i>upon Israel.


text:
A Song of Degrees. When the Lord turned the captivity of Zion, we became as those that are comforted.


text:
Then was our mouth filled with joy, and our tongue with exaltation; then would they say among the Gentiles, “The Lord has done great things among them.”


text:
They went on and wept as they cast their seeds; but they shall surely come with exaltation, bringing their sheaves <i>with them</i>.


text:
A Song of Degrees. Except the Lord build the house, they that build labor in vain: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman watches in vain.


text:
It is vain for you to rise early; you rise up after resting, you that eat the bread of grief; while He gives sleep to His beloved.


text:
Blessed is the man who shall satisfy his desire with them; they shall not be ashamed when they shall speak to their enemies in the gates.


text:
Your wife shall be as a fruitful vine on the sides of your house; your children as young olive-plants round about your table.


text:
May the Lord bless you out of Zion; and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.


text:
Neither do they that go by say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.”


text:
A Song of Degrees. O Lord, my heart is not exalted, neither have my eyes been <i>haughtily </i>raised: neither have I exercised myself in great <i>matters</i>, nor in things too wonderful for me.


text:
<i>I shall have sinned </i>if I have not been humble, but have exalted my soul; according to <i>the relation of </i>a weaned child to his mother, so will You recompense my soul.


text:
The Lord has sworn <i>in </i>truth to David, and He will not annul it, <i>saying</i>, “Of the fruit of your body will I set <i>a king </i>upon your throne.


text:
If your children will keep My covenant, and these My testimonies which I shall teach them, their children also shall sit upon your throne forever.”


text:
A Song of Degrees. See now! What is so good, or what so pleasant, as for brothers to dwell together?


text:
<i>It is </i>as ointment on the head, that ran down to the beard, <i>even </i>the beard of Aaron; that ran down to the fringe of his clothing.


text:
As the dew of Hermon that comes down on the mountains of Zion; for there, the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore.


text:
A Song of Degrees. Behold now, bless the Lord, all the servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.


text:
Who brings up clouds from the extremity of the earth; He has made lightnings for the rain; He brings <i>the </i>winds out of His treasures.


text:
For David, <i>A Psalm </i>of Jeremiah. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat; and wept when we remembered Zion.


text:
For there they that had taken us captive asked of us the words of a song; and they that had carried us away <i>asked </i>a hymn, <i>saying</i>, “Sing us <i>one </i>of the songs of Zion.”


text:
May my tongue cleave to my throat, if I do not remember you; if I do not prefer Jerusalem as the chief of my joy.


text:
Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, “Raze <i>it</i>, raze <i>it</i>, even to its foundations.”


text:
Wretched daughter of Babylon! Blessed <i>shall he be </i>who shall reward you as you have rewarded us.


text:
A Psalm for David, of Aggaeus and Zacharias. I will give You thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; and I will sing psalms to You before the angels; for You have heard all the words of my mouth.


text:
I will worship toward Your holy temple, and give thanks to Your name, on account of Your mercy and Your truth; for You have magnified Your holy name above all things.


text:
In whatsoever day I shall call upon You, hear me speedily; You shall abundantly provide me with Your power in my soul.


text:
Let all the kings of the earth, O Lord, give thanks unto You; for they have heard all the words of Your mouth.


text:
Though I should walk in the midst of affliction, You will revive me; You have stretched forth Your hands against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand has saved me.


text:
O Lord, You shall recompense <i>them </i>on my behalf: Your mercy, O Lord, <i>endures </i>forever: do not overlook the works of Your hands.


text:
If I should spread my wings <i>to fly </i>straight forward, and sojourn at the extremity of the sea, <i>it would be vain</i>,


text:
For darkness will not be darkness with You; but night will be light as day. As its darkness, so shall its light <i>be to You</i>.


text:
I will give You thanks; for You are fearfully wondrous; wondrous are Your works; and my soul knows <i>it </i>well.


text:
My bones, which You made in secret, were not hidden from You, nor my substance, in the lowest parts of the earth.


text:
Your eyes saw my unformed <i>substance</i>, and all <i>men </i>shall be written in Your book; they shall be formed by day, though <i>there should for a time </i>be no one among them.


text:
Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hate You? And <i>have I not </i>wasted away because of Your enemies?


text:
They have sharpened their tongue as <i>the tongue </i>of a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips. Selah.


text:
Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner; rescue me from unjust men; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.


text:
The proud have hid a snare for me, and have stretched out ropes <i>for </i>snares for my feet; they set a stumbling block for me near the path. Selah.


text:
Deliver me not, O Lord, to the sinner, according to my desire; they have devised <i>mischief </i>against me; do not forsake me, lest they should be exalted. Selah.


text:
Coals of fire shall fall upon them on the earth; and You shall cast them down in afflictions; they shall not bear up <i>under them</i>.


text:
A <i>slandering</i> man shall not prosper on the earth: evils shall hunt the unrighteous man to destruction.


text:
A Psalm of David. O Lord, I have cried to You; hear me: attend to the voice of my supplication, when I cry to You.


text:
Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense; the lifting up of my hands <i>as </i>an evening sacrifice.


text:
Do not incline my heart to evil things, to employ pretexts for sins, with men who work iniquity: and let me not unite with their choice ones.


text:
The righteous shall chasten me with mercy, and reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head: for yet shall my prayer also be in their pleasures.


text:
Their mighty ones have been swallowed up near the rock: they shall hear my words, for they are sweet.


text:
As a lump of earth is crushed upon the ground, our bones have been scattered by the <i>mouth of </i>the grave.


text:
Keep me from the snare which they have set for me, and from the stumbling blocks of them that work iniquity.


text:
<i>A Psalm </i>of instruction for David, when he was in the cave—A Prayer. I cried to the Lord with my voice; with my voice I made supplication to the Lord.


text:
When my spirit was fainting within me, then You knew my paths; in the very way in which I was walking, they hid a snare for me.


text:
I looked on <i>my </i>right hand, and behold, for there was none that noticed me; refuge failed me; and there was none that cared for my soul.


text:
Attend to my supplication, for I am brought very low; deliver me from them that persecute me; for they are stronger than I.


text:
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to Your name, O Lord; the righteous shall wait for me, until You recompense me.


text:
A Psalm of David, when his son pursued him. O Lord, attend to my prayer; hearken to my supplication in Your truth; hear me in Your righteousness.


text:
And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight shall no <i>man </i>living be justified.


text:
For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in a dark <i>place</i>, as those that have been long dead.


text:
I remembered the days of old; and I meditated on all Your doings: <i>yes</i>, I meditated on the works of Your hands.


text:
Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit has failed; do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like them that go down to the pit.


text:
Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning; for I have hoped in You; make known to me, O Lord, the way in which I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to You.


text:
Teach me to do Your will; for You are my God; Your good Spirit shall guide me in the straight <i>way</i>.


text:
You shall revive me, O Lord, for Your name's sake; in Your righteousness You shall bring my soul out of affliction.


text:
And in Your mercy You will destroy my enemies, and will destroy all those that afflict my soul; for I am Your servant.


text:
<i>A Psalm </i>of David concerning Goliath. Blessed <i>be </i>the Lord my God, who instructs my hands for battle, <i>and </i>my fingers for war.


text:
My mercy, and my refuge; my helper, and my deliverer; my protector, in whom I have trusted; who subdues my people under me.


text:
Send forth Your hand from on high; rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of strange children;


text:
<i>Even </i>to Him who gives salvation to kings: who redeems His servant David from the hurtful sword.


text:
Deliver me, and rescue me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth has spoken vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity;


text:
whose children are as plants, strengthened in their youth: their daughters are beautiful, sumptuously adorned after the likeness of a temple.


text:
Their garners are full, and bursting with one kind of store after another; their sheep are prolific, multiplying in their streets.


text:
Men bless the people to whom this lot belongs, <i>but </i>blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.


text:
David's <i>Psalm of </i>praise. I will exalt You, my God, my king; and I will bless Your name forever and ever.


text:
They shall utter the memory of the abundance of Your goodness, and shall exalt in Your righteousness.


text:
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion <i>endures </i>throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in His words, and holy in all His works.


text:
He will perform the desire of them that fear Him: and He will hear their supplication, and save them.


text:
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever.


text:
His breath shall go forth, and he shall return to his earth; in that day all his thoughts shall perish.


text:
who executes judgment for the wronged: who gives food to the hungry. The Lord looses the fettered ones.


text:
The Lord gives wisdom to the blind; the Lord sets up the broken down; the Lord loves the righteous; the Lord preserves the strangers;


text:
Alleluia, <i>A Psalm </i>of Aggaeus and Zacharias. Praise the Lord! For singing psalms is a good thing; let praise be sweetly sung to our God.


text:
who covers the heaven with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who causes grass to spring up on the mountains, <i>and green herb for the service of men</i>;


text:
He will not take pleasure in the strength of a horse; neither is He well-pleased with the legs of a man.


text:
He shall send out His word, and melt them; He shall blow <i>with </i>His wind, and the waters shall flow.


text:
Alleluia, <i>A Psalm </i>of Aggaeus and Zacharias. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest.


text:
Let them praise the name of the Lord; for He spoke, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created.


text:
He has established them forever, even forever and ever; He has made an ordinance, and it shall not pass away.


text:
let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His praise is above the earth and heaven,


text:
and He shall exalt the horn of His people, <i>there is </i>a hymn for all His saints, <i>even </i>of the children of Israel, a people who draw near to Him.


text:
to bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles of iron; to execute on them the judgment written: this honor have all His saints.


text:
<i>This Psalm is a genuine one of David, though supernumerary, composed when he fought in single combat with Goliath.</i> I was small among my brothers, and youngest in my father's house: I tended my father's sheep.


text:
He sent forth His angel, and took me from my father's sheep, and He anointed me with the oil of His anointing.


text:
For by the hearing of these a wise man will be wiser, and a man of understanding will gain direction;


text:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and <i>there is</i> good understanding to all that practice it: and godliness toward God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will nullify wisdom and instruction.


text:
If they should exhort you, saying, “Come with us, partake in blood, and let us unjustly hide the just man in the earth:


text:
For they that are concerned in murder store up evils for themselves; and the overthrow of transgressors is evil.


text:
These are the ways of all that perform lawless deeds; for by ungodliness they destroy their own life.


text:
And she makes proclamation on the top of the walls, and sits by the gates of princes; and at the gates of the city boldly says,


text:
So long as the simple cleave to justice, they shall not be ashamed: but the foolish being lovers of haughtiness, having become ungodly have hated knowledge, and have become subject to reproofs.


text:
therefore I also will laugh at your destruction; and I will rejoice against you when ruin comes upon you:


text:
yes, when dismay suddenly comes upon you, and your overthrow shall arrive like a tempest; and when tribulation and distress shall come upon you, or when ruin shall come upon you.


text:
For it shall be that when you call upon me, I will not listen to you: wicked men shall seek me, but shall not find me.


text:
Therefore shall they eat the fruits of their own way, and shall be filled with their own ungodliness.


text:
For because they wronged the simple, they shall be slain; and an inquisition shall ruin the ungodly.


text:
your ear shall hearken to wisdom; you shall also apply your heart to understanding, and shall apply it to the instruction of your son.


text:
to remove you far from the straight way, and to estrange you from a righteous purpose. <i>My</i> son, let not evil counsel overtake you,


text:
None that go by her shall return, neither shall they take hold of right paths, for they have not apprehended of the years of life.


text:
The paths of the ungodly shall perish out of the earth, and transgressors shall be driven away from it.


text:
that your storehouses may be completely filled with grain, and that your presses may burst forth with wine.


text:
And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her. She is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.


text:
For length of days and years of life are in her right hand, and in her left hand are wealth and glory. Out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.


text:
She is a tree of life to all that lay hold of her, and she is a secure help to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.


text:
that your soul may live, and that there may be grace around your neck; and it shall be health to your flesh, and safety to your bones:


text:
And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.


text:
Do not say, “Come back another time, tomorrow I will give”; while you are able <i>today </i>to do <i>him</i> good; for you know not what the next day will bring forth.


text:
who spoke and instructed me, <i>saying</i>, “Let our speech be fixed in your heart, keep our commandments, do not forget them:


text:
Hear, <i>my</i> son, and receive my words, and the years of your life shall be increased, that the resources of your life may be many.


text:
For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with <i>the </i>wine of transgression.


text:
But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go forth and shine, until the day has fully come.


text:
Do not turn aside to the right hand, nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way: for God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are crooked: and He will make your ways straight, and will guide your steps in peace.


text:
that you may keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives you a charge. Pay no attention to a worthless woman,


text:
For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death, and her steps are not established.


text:
Let <i>your</i> loving deer and your graceful colt company with you, and let her be considered your own, and be with you at all times, for ravished with her love you shall be greatly increased.


text:
Such a man dies with the uninstructed, and he is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance, and has perished through folly.


text:
<i>My</i> son, do what I command you, and deliver yourself; for on your friend’s account you have come into the power of evil men: Do not faint, but stir up even your friend for whom you have become surety.


text:
he prepares food for himself in the summer, and lays up abundant supplies in harvest. Or go to the bee, and learn how diligent she is, and how earnestly she is engaged in her work; whose labors kings and private men use for health, and she is desired and respected by all: though weak in body, she is advanced by honoring wisdom.


text:
You sleep a little, and you rest a little, and you slumber a short time, and you fold your arms over your breast a little.


text:
Then poverty comes upon you as an evil traveler, and your need as a swift courier. But if you be diligent, your harvest shall arrive as a fountain, and poverty shall flee away as a bad courier.


text:
And the same winks with the eye, and makes a sign with his foot, and teaches with the beckonings of his fingers.


text:
Let not the desire of beauty overcome you, neither be caught by her eyes, or captivated with her eyelids.


text:
For the value of a harlot is as much as of one loaf of bread, and a woman hunts for the precious souls of men.


text:
So is he that goes in to a married woman; he shall not be held guiltless, neither anyone that touches her.


text:
It is not to be wondered at if one should be caught stealing, for he steals that when hungry, he may satisfy his soul:


text:
but if he should be caught, he shall repay sevenfold, and shall deliver himself by giving all his goods.


text:
<i>My</i> son, keep my words, and hide my commandments with you. <i>My</i> son, honor the Lord, and you shall be strong; and fear none but Him.


text:
Keep my commandments, and you shall live; and <i>keep</i> my words as the pupils of <i>your</i> eyes.


text:
that she may keep you from the strange and wicked woman, if she should assail you with flattering words.


text:
For she looks from a window out of her house into the streets, at one whom she may see of the senseless ones, a young man devoid of understanding,


text:
and the woman meets him having the appearance of a harlot, that causes the hearts of young men to flutter.


text:
For at one time she wanders outside, and at another time she lies in wait in the streets, at every corner.


text:
So with much conversation she convinced him to go astray, and with the snares of her lips forced him from <i>the right path</i>.


text:
And he followed her, being gently led on, as that of an ox led to the slaughter, and as a dog to bonds, or as a deer shot in the liver with an arrow:


text:
The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, insolence, pride, and the ways of <i>the</i> wicked; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.


text:
<i>It is</i> better to have my fruit than <i>to have</i> gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.


text:
that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that happen daily, I will remember also to recount the things of old.


text:
When He prepared the heaven, I was present with Him; and when He prepared His throne upon the winds;


text:
I was by Him, suiting myself to Him, I was that in which He took delight; and daily I rejoiced in His presence continually.


text:
Now then, <i>my</i> son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall listen to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;


text:
But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls, and they that hate me love death.


text:
He that reproves evil <i>men</i> shall get dishonor to himself, and he that rebukes an ungodly <i>man</i> shall disgrace himself.


text:
Give an opportunity to a wise man, and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more <i>instruction</i>.


text:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is <i>the character</i> of a sound mind.


text:
Son, if you are wise for yourself, you shall also be wise for your neighbors; and if you should prove wicked, you alone will bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight; for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own cart to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and <i>a land</i> appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.


text:
saying, “Whoever is <i>the </i>most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me”; and I exhort those that want prudence, saying,


text:
But he knows that mighty men die by her, and he falls into <i>the</i> snare of hell. But flee, do not remain in <i>that</i> place, neither fix your eye upon her, for thus shall you go through strange water; but abstain from strange water, and do not drink from a strange fountain, that you may live long, and years of life may be added to you.


text:
Poverty brings a man low, but the hands of the vigorous make rich. A son who is instructed shall be wise, and shall use the fool for a servant.


text:
The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just, but untimely grief shall cover the mouth of the ungodly.


text:
A wise man in heart will receive commandments, but he that is unguarded in his lips shall be overthrown in his perverseness.


text:
He that winks with his eyes deceitfully procures griefs for men, but he that reproves boldly is a peacemaker.


text:
<i>There is</i> a fountain of life in the hand of a righteous man, but destruction shall cover the mouth of the ungodly.


text:
The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the righteous; it enriches him, and grief of heart shall not be added to it.


text:
When the storm passes by, the ungodly vanishes away; but the righteous turns aside and escapes forever.


text:
As a sour grape is hurtful to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so iniquity hurts those that practice it.


text:
When a just man dies he leaves regret, but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy.


text:
The righteousness of upright men delivers them, but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.


text:
In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens, but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.


text:
A double-tongued man discloses the secret counsels of an assembly, but he that is faithful in spirit conceals matters.


text:
A gracious wife brings glory to her husband, but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonor. The slothful come to want, but the diligent support themselves with wealth.


text:
An ungodly man performs unrighteous works, but the descendants of the righteous is a reward of truth.


text:
Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord, but all those that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to Him.


text:
He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished, but he that sows righteousness shall receive a faithful reward.


text:
There are <i>some</i> who scatter their own, and make it more, and there are some also who gather, yet have less.


text:
He that devises good <i>counsels</i> seeks good favor, but as for him that seeks after evil, <i>evil</i> shall overtake him.


text:
He that does not deal graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind, and the fool shall be servant to the wise man.


text:
Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life, but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.


text:
He that has found favor with the Lord is <i>made</i> better, but a transgressor shall be passed over in silence.


text:
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but as a worm in wood, so a bad woman destroys her husband.


text:
The mouth of an understanding man is praised by a man, but he that is dull of heart is had in derision.


text:
He that tills his own land shall be satisfied with bread; but they that pursue vanities are void of understanding. He that enjoys himself in banquets of wine, shall leave dishonor in his own strongholds.


text:
For the sin of his lips a sinner falls into snare, but a righteous man escapes from them. He whose looks are gentle shall be pitied, but he that contends in the gates will afflict souls.


text:
The soul of a man shall be filled with good from the fruits of his mouth, and the recompense of his lips shall be given to him.


text:
<i>There is</i> deceit in the heart of him that imagines evil, but they that love peace shall rejoice.


text:
A just arbitrator shall be his own friend, but mischief shall pursue sinners, and the way of ungodly men shall lead them astray.


text:
In the ways of righteousness is life, but the ways of those that remember injuries <i>lead</i> to death.


text:
A good <i>man</i> shall eat of the fruits of righteousness, but the lives of transgressors shall perish before their time.


text:
He that keeps his own mouth keeps his own life, but he that is hasty with his lips shall bring terror upon himself.


text:
There are <i>some</i> who, having nothing, enrich themselves, and there are some who bring themselves down in <i>the midst of</i> much wealth.


text:
The righteous always have light, but the light of the ungodly is quenched. Crafty souls go astray in sins, but just men have pity, and are merciful.


text:
Wealth gotten hastily with iniquity is diminished, but he that gathers for himself with godliness shall be increased. The righteous <i>man </i>is merciful, and lends.


text:
Better is he that begins to help heartily, than he that promises and leads <i>another</i> to hope; for a good desire is a tree of life.


text:
He that slights a matter shall be slighted of it, but he that fears the commandment has health <i>of soul</i>. To a crafty son there shall be nothing good, but a wise servant shall have his way prosperous.


text:
Sound discretion gives favor, and to know the law is the part of a sound understanding, but the ways of scorners lead to destruction.


text:
A good man shall inherit children’s children, and the wealth of ungodly men is laid up for the just.


text:
Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean, but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.


text:
You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it, but discretion is easily available with the prudent.


text:
If a man’s mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.


text:
A wise man fears, and departs from evil, but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.


text:
Fools shall have mischief for their portion, but the prudent shall quickly take hold of understanding.


text:
They that go astray devise evils, but the good devise mercy and truth. The framers of evil do not understand mercy and truth, but compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.


text:
With everyone who is careful there is abundance, but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in want.


text:
The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life, and it causes men to turn aside from the snare of death.


text:
The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness, but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.


text:
Anger slays even wise men, yet a submissive answer turns away wrath; but a grievous word stirs up anger.


text:
A fool scorns his father’s instruction, but he that keeps his commandments is more prudent. In abounding righteousness is great strength, but the ungodly shall utterly perish from the earth.


text:
The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abomination to the Lord, but the prayers of them that walk honestly are acceptable to Him.


text:
The ways of an ungodly man are an abomination to the Lord, but He loves those that follow after righteousness.


text:
The instruction of the simple is known by them that pass by, but they that hate reproofs die disgracefully.


text:
An uninstructed person will not love those that reprove him, neither will he associate with the wise.


text:
When the heart rejoices, the countenance is cheerful, but when it is in sorrow, the countenance is sad.


text:
Better is a small portion with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without the fear <i>of the Lord</i>.


text:
Better is an entertainment of herbs with friendliness and kindness, than a feast of calves, with enmity.


text:
A passionate man stirs up strife; but <i>he that is</i> slow to anger appeases even a rising one. A man slow to anger will extinguish quarrels, but an ungodly man rather stirs <i>them</i> up.


text:
They that do not honor counsel put off deliberation, but counsel abides in the hearts of counselors.


text:
A bad man will by no means obey counsel, neither will he say anything seasonable, or of good report.


text:
An unrighteous thought is an abomination to the Lord, but the sayings of the pure are held in honor.


text:
He who takes bribes destroys himself, but he that hates them is safe. By alms and by faithful dealings sins are purged away, but by the fear of the Lord everyone departs from evil.


text:
The hearts of the righteous meditate faithfulness, but the mouth of the ungodly answers evil things. The ways of righteous men are acceptable with the Lord, and through them even enemies become friends.


text:
God is far from the ungodly, but He hears the prayers of the righteous. Better are small receipts with righteousness, than abundant fruits with unrighteousness. Let the heart of a man think justly, that his steps may be rightly ordered of God.


text:
Everyone that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes hand to hand shall not be held guiltless.


text:
The beginning of a good way is to do justly, and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices.


text:
He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness, and they that rightly seek Him shall find peace.


text:
All of the works of the Lord <i>are done</i> with righteousness, and the ungodly <i>man</i> is kept for the evil day.


text:
The son of a king is in the light of life, and they that are in favor with him are as a cloud of latter rain.


text:
The brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence more to be chosen than silver.


text:
The paths of life turn aside from evil, and the ways of righteousness are length of life. He that receives instruction shall be in prosperity, and he that regards reproofs shall be made wise. He that keeps his ways preserves his own soul, and he that loves his life will spare his mouth.


text:
<i>Men</i> call the wise and understanding evil, but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.


text:
The heart of the wise will discern the <i>things which proceed</i> from his own mouth, and on his lips he will wear knowledge.


text:
But the perverse bears destruction upon his own mouth: a foolish man digs up evil for himself, and treasures fire on his own lips.


text:
A perverse man spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischief, and he separates friends.


text:
And the man that fixes his eyes devises perverse things, and marks out with his lips all evil: he is a furnace of wickedness.


text:
A man slow to anger is better than a strong man, and he that governs <i>his</i> temper better than he that takes a city.


text:
All <i>evils</i> come upon the ungodly into their bosoms, but all good things <i>come</i> from the Lord.


text:
Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house <i>full</i> of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.


text:
A bad man listens to the tongue of transgressors, but a righteous man pays no attention to lying lips.


text:
He that laughs at the poor provokes Him that made him, and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless; but he that has compassion shall find mercy.


text:
Children’s children are the crown of old men; and their fathers are the glory of children. Every ornament of wealth belongs to the faithful; but to the unfaithful, not even a farthing.


text:
He that conceals injuries seeks love, but he that hates to hide <i>them</i> separates friends and kindred.


text:
Why does the fool have wealth? For a senseless man cannot purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin, and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.


text:
A friend loves at all times, and let brothers be useful in distress, for on this account are they born.


text:
A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, as he also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.


text:
and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son, but a wise son gladdens his mother.


text:
The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in his bosom do not prosper, and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.


text:
<i>It is</i> not right to punish a righteous man, nor <i>is it</i> holy to plot against righteous princes.


text:
Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom, and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.


text:
A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses, but at all times he will be liable to reproach.


text:
When an ungodly man comes into a depth of evils, he despises <i>them</i>; but dishonor and reproach come upon him.


text:
<i>It is</i> not good to accept the person of the ungodly, nor is it holy to pervert justice in judgment.


text:
A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.


text:
A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city, and is as strong as a well-founded palace.


text:
A man fills his belly with the fruits of his mouth, and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.


text:
He that has found a good wife has found favor, and has received favor from God. He that puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.


text:
Everyone who hates his poor brother shall also be far from friendship. Good understanding will draw near to them that know it, and a sensible man will find it. He that does much harm perfects wickedness, and he that uses provoking words shall not escape.


text:
Delight does not suit a fool, nor <i>is it seemly</i> if a servant should begin to rule with haughtiness.


text:
A foolish son is a disgrace to his father; vows <i>paid out</i> of the hire of a harlot are not pure.


text:
He that has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will recompense to him according to his gift.


text:
The fear of the Lord is life to a man; and he shall lodge without fear in places where knowledge is not seen.


text:
When a criminal is scourged, a simple man is made wiser, but if you rebuke a wise man, he will understand discretion.


text:
He that dishonors his father, and drives away his mother, shall be disgraced and shall be exposed to reproach.


text:
He that becomes surety for a foolish child will despise the ordinance, and the mouth of ungodly men shall drink down judgment.


text:
The threat of a king does not differ from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.


text:
<i>It is</i> an honor to a man to turn aside from railing, but every fool is entangled with such matters.


text:
Diverse weights and diverse measures are an abomination in the eyes of the Lord, and so is he that makes them.


text:
A youth <i>when in company</i> with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and then his way will be straight.


text:
It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for <i>in that case</i> repentance comes after vowing.


text:
Bruises and contusions befall bad men, and plagues <i>shall come</i> in the inward parts of their belly.


text:
<i>It is</i> better to dwell in a corner on the housetop, than in plastered rooms with unrighteousness, and in an open house.


text:
A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly, and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.


text:
He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear <i>him</i>.


text:
<i>It is</i> the joy of the righteous to execute judgment, but a holy man is abominable with evildoers.


text:
<i>It is</i> better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.


text:
A bold and self-willed and insolent man is called a pest, and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.


text:
An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day, but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.


text:
An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.


text:
He that sows wickedness shall reap evils, and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal giver; but a man shall fully prove the folly of his works.


text:
He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained, for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory and honor, however he takes away<i> the</i> life of them that posses them.


text:
Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonors all.


text:
The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable to Him. A king rules with his lips.


text:
The sluggard makes excuses, and says, “<i>There is</i> a lion in the road, and murderers in the streets.”


text:
The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit, and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them, but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.


text:
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction <i>will drive it </i>far  from him.


text:
that you may know that they are good, and if you take them to heart, they shall give you delight and be on your lips;


text:
I therefore teach you truth, and knowledge good to hear, that you may answer words of truth to them that question you.


text:
It is fit that an observant man and <i>one</i> diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.


text:
and apply your hand, knowing that it behooves you to prepare such <i>meats</i>; but if you are very insatiable,


text:
If you should fix your eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle’s are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.


text:
so he eats and drinks as if anyone should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to yourself, nor eat your morsel with him;


text:
for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor, and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.


text:
Listen, <i>my</i> son, to your father who begot you, and do not despise <i>your mother</i> because she has grown old.


text:
Who <i>has</i> woe? Who has trouble? Who has quarrels? And who complains and disputes? Who has bruises without a cause? Whose eyes are livid?


text:
<i>Are</i> not <i>those</i> of them that stay long at wine? Are not those of them that haunt <i>the places</i> where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse with them openly.


text:
For if you should set your eyes on bowls and cups, you shall afterwards go more naked than a pestle.


text:
But at last <i>such a one</i> stretches himself out as one smitten by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.


text:
And you shall say, “They struck me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I did not know: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?”


text:
Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise; the wise do not turn aside from the mouth of the Lord,


text:
Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; do not spare <i>your help</i>.


text:
But if you should say, “I do not know this man”; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and He that gave breath to all, He knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.


text:
Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.


text:
Do not bring an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.


text:
For a righteous man will fall seven times and rise <i>again</i>, but in calamities the ungodly shall be without strength.


text:
For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance <i>inflicted</i> by both? A son that keeps the commandment shall escape destruction, for <i>such a one</i> has fully received it. Let no falsehood be spoken from the mouth of a king, and from his tongue let no falsehood proceed. The king’s tongue is a sword, and not one of flesh; and whosoever shall be given up to it shall be destroyed: for if his wrath should be provoked, he destroys men with cords, and devours men’s bones, and burns them up as a flame, so that they are not even fit to be eaten by the young eagles. My son, honor my words, and receive them, and repent.


text:
And this thing I say to you that are wise, for you to learn: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.


text:
He that says of the ungodly, “He is righteous,” shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.


text:
Prepare your works for your going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.


text:
Do not say, “As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that in which he has injured me.”


text:
If you let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.


text:
The sluggard says, “I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across my breast.”


text:
for <i>it is</i> better for you that it should be said, “Come up to me,” than that one should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have seen.


text:
lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favor and friendship set a man free, which you shall keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.


